OUTDOOR CLASSES
OUTDOOR CLASSES
WHO WE ARE
Our guiding pillars, ROCK:
Routesetting
Sportrock has some of the best routesetters in the country and one of only a handful of level 5 USA Climbing Certified Routestters. They work hard to set the most creative, challenging, diverse, and fun boulder problems and routes. With all of our expansions over the years, we offer state of the art climbing terrain with the tallest walls in the Metro DC area.
Original
We are one of the first indoor rock climbing gyms in the country. Sportrock was founded in 1994 by a group of climbers who outgrew a home wall in Zich’s Garage, an unused auto garage shop. Even after 5 expansions over 26 years, we have stayed true to being a climbing gym rooted in top-notch climbing and building a strong community of climbers.
Community
Whether it’s within the walls of Sportrock or on a larger scale reaching out to various audiences. We use rock climbing as a platform to expand our community. We host a weekly Parkinsons Group, adaptive climbing, at-risk youths, fundraisers for various causes are just some examples.
Routesetting
Sportrock has some of the best routesetters in the country and one of only a handful of level 5 USA Climbing Certified Routestters. They work hard to set the most creative, challenging, diverse, and fun boulder problems and routes. With all of our expansions over the years, we offer state of the art climbing terrain with the tallest walls in the Metro DC area.
WHO WE ARE
Our guiding pillars, ROCK:
Original
We are one of the first indoor rock climbing gyms in the country. Sportrock was founded in 1994 by a group of climbers who outgrew a home wall in Zich’s Garage, an unused auto garage shop. Even after 5 expansions over 26 years, we have stayed true to being a climbing gym rooted in top-notch climbing and building a strong community of climbers.
Community
Whether it’s within the walls of Sportrock or on a larger scale reaching out to various audiences. We use rock climbing as a platform to expand our community. We host a weekly Parkinsons Group, adaptive climbing, at-risk youths, fundraisers for various causes are just some examples.
Knowledge
We are committed to being a teaching/learning gym. With the addition of the Sportrock Performance Institute, Sportrock is committed to developing youth and adult athletes of every skill level, from beginner to high-performance athletes. Whether they only climb indoors or want to venture outside, we are committed to educating and preparing climbers to reach their goals.
Knowledge
We are committed to being a teaching/learning gym. With the addition of the Sportrock Performance Institute, Sportrock is committed to developing youth and adult athletes of every skill level, from beginner to high-performance athletes. Whether they only climb indoors or want to venture outside, we are committed to educating and preparing climbers to reach their goals.
CLINICS AND EVENTS
Every month Sportrock hosts a variety of clinics and events. Clinics can be a fun way to meet fellow climbing enthusiasts, cross-train, or further develop your skills.
Events
Lady Lock-Off Photo Clinic
Climbing Photography Clinic
Sportrock is thrilled to host Irene Yee, who you might know as @ladylockoff, for a 1.5-day Climbing Photography Clinic! The clinic consists of a 4-hour session at Sportrock, and a full-day outdoor session at Great Falls.
The clinic is designed for people with some climbing and photography experience, who want to learn to shoot top-down from a fixed line, and start to take next-level climbing photos!
Clinics
Sensory Climbing
On the first Sunday of every month from 8 am to 9 am we are open for sensory-friendly climbing with no overhead lights (natural light only), small group sizes, no music, and encouraging and experienced instructors.
Sensory-friendly climbing is open to kids living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Our sensory-friendly climbing empowers individuals living with autism by teaching goal setting, pushing through fear, and the value of hard work, all while having fun!
American Alpine Club
Sportrock is proud to partner with the American Alpine Club to offer a series of educational clinics designed to get recreational climbers up to speed on best practices and the newest techniques.
Rappelling is one of the most dangerous parts of climbing. Join this 2 hour clinic to learn how to extend and back up your rappel, as well as best practices for single and double rope rappels. The clinic is free for Sportrock and AAC members, or $30 (including a Day Pass to stay and climb after the clinic). AAC members who wish to stay and climb after the event may purchase a day pass for half-price.
Cerebral Climbing for Parkinson's Disease
Rock climbing is an amazing activity for those living with Parkinson’s Disease. While there is no sure way to cure this neurodegenerative disease, exercise unquestionably helps slow the process , gives relief to some of the symptoms and creates a social network. Not only does climbing almost inherently force you to work at a high level, but it also challenges participants greatly with varied movements and repetitive movements, balance and stability, big dynamic movements and small controlled movements as well as flexibility. Perhaps most importantly though, are the cognitive skills acquired through climbing and neuroplasticity changes that can occur.
Join us for our free climbing hour in Alexandria on Thursdays, 9-10am or inquire about private instruction.
Contact: molly@sportrock.com
Catalyst Sports
Sportrock is proud to partner with Catalyst Sports to teach an adaptive rock climbing clinic for people of any age living with a physical disability. Please note, this is not a program for people with intellectual, sensory, and/or behavioral challenges. They would be better suited for our Sensory Climbing event.
If you have any additional questions or are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Andrew Hogan at greaterdc@teamcatalyst.org