Chalked Up (closed for 36b7)

[Nylonian]

The smell of Mesa's Edge was the first thing that caught Alice's attention. It didn’t smell like a normal gym; there was no sharp tang of bleach or the humid, metallic scent of treadmills.

Instead, the air was thick with a dry, sweet dust that tasted faintly of limes and minerals, underscored by the earthy scent of cedar shavings and old rubber.

Alice stood just inside the threshold, clutching a rented pair of climbing shoes that felt three sizes too small and smelled aggressively of pine-scented disinfectant. She adjusted her glasses, her eyes tracking up the massive, looming topography of the walls. They jutted out at impossible, aggressive angles. Painted in muted shades of slate gray and sage green and punctuated by a chaotic constellation of plastic holds in pastel pinks, blues and yellows.

To Alice, who spent her days as a junior data analyst staring at flat, predictable spreadsheets, the room looked like a physical manifestation of anxiety.

"First time?"

The voice came from behind the front desk, a relaxed guy with a massive beard who looked like he spent his weekends wrestling bears.

"Yes," Alice said, her voice still hesitant and unsure. "A colleague recommended this place to me. I’m looking for the beginner area. Maybe something that's not jutting out aggressively..."

The desk guy blinked. "Oh... You probably want the slabs then. It’s over there in the back corner. Just look for the yellow tags. Those are the VBs and V0s. Keep your hands low and arms straight. Don't look down if you get scared, and remember to fall on the big squishy mat, not your wrists. Make sure you watch the intro video and have fun!"

Alice nodded stiffly and walked toward the designated beginner zone, her feet trapped in the agonising, curled-toe grip of the rental shoes. She felt intensely conspicuous. Everyone else in the gym seemed to possess a casual, effortless grace. They moved like lizards and apes, defying gravity with relaxed smiles. Their hands caked in white chalk, were moving deftly in slow, methodical positions. Alice, wearing an oversized gray t-shirt from a tech conference and a pair of running leggings, felt like a hyena trying to infiltrate a colony of lions.

When she reached the beginner wall, she found a small patch of open mat and sat down, pulling her knees to her chest. She needed a protocol. She needed to observe.

That was when she noticed him.

James is the kind of guy who looks entirely accidental, yet somehow works perfectly. He has a lean, lanky frame that suggests he grew tall a little too fast and hasn't quite figured out where his limbs end yet. This would somewhat explain his inability to accurately position and place his hands and feet on the holds as Alice observed. However, this made James less intimidating and more as someone she could potentially approach.

He somehow managed to finish the V0 slab without too much fuss (with height to his advantage) and turned to notice Alice staring at him in deep focus. James bowed awkwardly and jumped down from the boulder and nodded at her.

James had on clothes that favour comfort and aesthetics over athletic performance. Faded, oversized Purity Ring tee with slightly cracked print, loose shorts, and a chalk bag that seemed like it was most likely a hand-me-down.

He approached Alice and reached out a hand...

 

[36b7]

“What climbing? are you mad? Why on earth would I want to do that? You know I don’t like heights. I even get giddy on a bar stool.” I said, looking down at the floor of the bar.

My friend Amy and I were having after work cocktails.
“Because it’s fun, better than that, it’s exhilarating. You’ll get a fantastic high from doing it and the reason you get giddy is the mojitos.”
Amy was trying to persuade me to try climbing on a wall. There’s a centre not far from where we work.

“Yes, and high is what I don’t want. Down here, ground level is enough for me thanks and in any case, I don’t have any kit.”

“You don’t need anything special, your gym leggings and a T will do, apart from the shoes and you can rent those at the centre, y’know like people do at ten-pin bowling?

“So I’m going to rent some manky shoes that I’ll probably catch athlete’s foot from and climb up a fucking wall? I don’t think so.”

“Look, I know you used to climb trees as a kid, you were a tom boy, you’ve got the scars on your knees to prove it. Just give it a go.”

I stirred my mojito.
“I don’t know.”


And here I am a week later sitting on my ass, trying to pull on some shoes that look like condoms for gorillas while some handsome guy has just climbed the wall in front of me like he was running up the stairs.
And he’s looking at me.

My eyes flick from his face to his outstretched hand and back again and he’s still looking and I don’t know if I’m supposed to shake hands with him or if he’s offering to help me up.

 

[Nylonian]

"I'm James. I noticed that you were studying the problem I was working on? It's not too bad if you use the jugs and watch your footing on the volume..."

Being relatively new to the sport myself, I think it pays to be open and friendly to anyone who's curious about climbing. I knew it to be intimidating from the start but I've found it to be incredibly rewarding as a hobby. It's a great mental challenge and a full body workout that's not as tedious as picking up and putting down weights.

I've never been the athletic type but living in the inner city, I've walked past Mesa's Rim many times and the aesthetics and layout of the place has always intrigued me.

Now sitting before me was someone that seemed a bit anxious and unsure about the activity. It was my opportunity to make it a bit less intimidating for her and perhaps make a new friend in the process. Someone I could see myself coming back to the gym with.

"Hmm. Sorry. I realise the language is a bit much so if there's anything you don't understand. I'm happy to clarify! I'm still trying to get a grasp of all the bouldering lingo..."

I carried on, but at the back of my mind I was wondering if I had come on too strong.