As climbing grows in popularity across the UK, an East London gym is welcoming those interested in a more daring approach to exercise.
Located in Canning Town, Rise Climbing is an independent gym inviting beginners and seasoned climbers alike to join them.
Rise co-founder James Skinner has climbed since the age of 12, and has experienced the evolution of the sport from a niche pursuit to an internationally recognised Olympic event.
Skinner said: “Participation rates have gone up since the Olympics.
“After the Paris games, we had a bunch of kids wanting to try it out so it helped with raising the profile.”
The Olympics’ coverage of indoor climbing, once seen as a training tool for outdoor hikers, has led to steady growth of the discipline into an exhilarating standalone activity.
Skinner said: “You can never have touched a rock outdoors, and in our space you can easily climb indoors.
“This opens up access to a lot of people attending our place, meaning our customer base is extremely diverse.”
Among those participants is Faye Overbeek, 25, who has climbed since childhood in Singapore.
Now a regular at Rise, she credits the sport with helping her stay active, driven, and as a way to unwind from her work in Canary Wharf.
Overbeek said: “As a young kid, I kept climbing things on the streets that I shouldn’t.
“My mum thought it was dangerous, so she signed me up for indoor climbing to practice in a controlled environment.”
The rest is history, and, despite Faye’s youth, she has also taught the sport’s many forms such as bouldering, speed climbing, and lead climbing.
The 25-year old stated the sport feels mainstream in south east Asia, but has noticed climbing gyms popping up across London since she moved.
Overbeek said: “In Singapore, climbing was set up to be a lot more pragmatic – in London – it’s much more about the social aspect.”
Skinner, a young UK businessman, believes the sport is becoming less niche on these shores, with schools investing in climbing facilities, following countries like the US and Germany.
He said: “We put on a lot of sessions for school kids at close-to-cost prices.
“Newham is one of the least affluent boroughs in London, so making sessions accessible to schools around us is something we’re proud of.”
With myriad ways to climb in an all-encompassing space, Overbeek and others have quickly settled into the Canning Town gym.
She said: “At Rise, I never felt like I stood-out.
“I noticed people who attend are often ethnic minorities or immigrants.
“When I started here, I always joked that I felt like I was right back in Singapore because of the mix of people.”
With climbing gyms opening across the capital and grassroots efforts like those at Rise, climbing is embracing communities and broadening access to an under-the-radar sport with something for everyone.
Featured image: Dan Donovan
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