\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBouldering, for those not familiar with the term, is a style of rock climbing focused on technique and strength, to limited heights, with no ropes and very well-padded floors.<\/p>\n
“I’ve wanted to open a modern, indoor, climbing gym for a while. I’ve been passionate about climbing for 13 years, and have been doing this for around 20 years,” Cuthbert said, adding he first encountered the sport when he came across a small bouldering wall run by the University of Manitoba Climbing Club while he was taking a degree in kinesiology.<\/p>\n
Cuthbert travelled around Canada and the USA, looking at climbing gyms, before his sister recommended he check out The Hive while on a visit to Vancouver. He thought it wouldn’t hurt to connect with Coffey, on the off chance The Hive’s “king worker bee” might be willing to talk.<\/p>\n
“We were on the phone for an hour that first time, which shows you how well we get along,” Cuthbert said about his becoming the managing partner of the Winnipeg outfit.<\/p>\n
The new gym is currently under construction, with a company from Montreal called Onsite building wood structures and Calgary company Flashed is installing the padded floors. “Everything is built in Quebec and shipped here,” Coffey said, adding the opening date is expected to be late in August.<\/p>\n
Indoor climbing is different than going to a regular gym, according to Coffey, as it’s a more social activity. He believes in four philosophies, or “pillars”, that encompass climbing, education, community, and health and wellness.<\/p>\n
“The Hive is able to take on beginners through to elite climbers. Climbing is something anyone can do, and build up their strength, agility and balance,” Coffey said. “It’s very social. People watch other people try routes up the walls, and call out suggestions. Everyone learns from this.”<\/p>\n
Cuthbert agrees. “It doesn’t matter if you’re short or tall, there are different techniques at use when you go up a wall. Our team will be regularly changing the routes, which challenge people to solve the problem of tackling a wall. In fact, you might find a 12-year-old kid gets up faster than you, and that females have a level playing field with males. Guys might be stronger, but women are more flexible.”<\/p>\n With pandemic precautions at play, the duo quickly decided that it will be simpler to sanitize the people who climb, rather than the walls and climbing holds. Everyone who comes to the gym will have to wash their hands frequently, wear a mask and use liquid chalk on their hands when climbing. The latter has an alcohol base, and being chalky, most people will avoid rubbing their hands on their face and eyes, Coffey said.<\/p>\n Coffey established his first indoor climbing facility in 2012, and has added others in Surrey and on the north shore of Vancouver. The Hive has hosted many climbing competitions at its existing locations, most recently welcoming over 120 young, high-level athletes to The Hive North Shore for the Youth Boulder Nationals in February, 2020.<\/p>\n “Winnipeg has an established climbing community that we’ll tap into,” Coffey said.<\/p>\n Cuthbert agreed. “There are some outdoor locations that climbers go to in Kenora and the Lac du Bonnet area,” he said. “I must admit, some of my favourite days have been spent indoors going up a boulder wall. There aren’t any bugs, and it doesn’t rain indoors.”<\/p>\n Climbing participants can range from toddlers as young as two, under parental supervision, through to youth, young adults and anyone older who still would like to indulge their inner monkey.<\/p>\n “Once people sign a waiver, we go through an orientation where we explain how to climb, do a demonstration and teach how to land,” Coffey said. “Unlike going on a zipline, where you have no choice but to jump off the ledge, here your challenge is by choice. You go step by step, starting low, and gradually going higher.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t