Yes, we are! At the moment there is a lot of construction work going on outside our building, as it was due for a massive upgrade. The entry door is signposted 'Entry'. Please be wary of builders and things that can be tripped over. Parents - please keep a close eye on your children at all times. We are also developing a new climbing area with 35 exciting new walls aimed at children (and older children :-) ). this area is roped off inside the climbing facility, and should be finished before Christmas!
How does it work?
Indoor rock climbing is a fun sport which has many safety measures in place. When you know how to use the equipment we have, rock climbing is a great activity for families and friends. When you come in, you will receive full lessons on how to use the equipment. It is vital that you listen to the instructors at Extreme Edge.
The ropes set up at Extreme Edge require that the person climbing has a person at the bottom of the wall belaying them (holding the ropes). How to safely do this will be covered in the introductory lesson. The belayer (person at the bottom) must be 12yrs old or older, this is for safety reasons. For a group of say, 6 children, 2-3 adults/older teenagers would be sufficient, but the more people you bring who are capable of belaying, the more people you can have climbing at any one time. Belaying is not strenuous.
There are areas at Extreme Edge where you can climb without ropes, which is great if kids are taking turns. This is known as 'bouldering' - a sub-sport of rock climbing. There are thick mats underneath these areas.
Do I need to book?
Bookings are preferred if you are bringing more than four (4) people in. Groups of ten (10) people or more are likely to require an extra instructor to be rostered on, so make sure you give us a call a week or so before you want to come in! For birthday parties and school groups, bookings are essential.
How old do you have to be to go climbing?
We have people as young as 3 years old climbing, right through to Mums, Dads and beyond.
To do belaying (holding the ropes at the bottom to keep the climber safe), you must be 12 or older. This means that children will need to be accompanied by alduts, and for groups you will need a similar number of adults to children under 12yrs old.
What does the entry fee cover?
Paying the entry fee entitles you to an entire day climbing. You can leave for lunch or a rest and come back later, but you don't have to leave until we close (see 'hours').
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept Cash, Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, and Cheques.
What will happen when we arrive?
When you arrive the instructors may be helping another group of people. We will be with you as soon as we can. There are a list of safety guidelines that we will get you to read, as well as a release form to be filled out by all people climbing (you may read this, and ask us to clarify anything you don't understand).
What clothes should I wear?
- Shoes (covered in shoes like runners)
- Short/Pants (rather than a skirt - these don't work well with harnesses)
- Long hair should be tied up
- Jewelery should be left at home (you can't wear it climbing and we would hate for you to leave it behind)
Can we eat at Extreme Edge?
Yes! We have a picnic table outside, and beanbags to relax on. We sell snack food here as well.
Are there any physical limitations?
We have people of all shapes and sizes climbing. If you have any heart problems we advise that you discuss your climbing involvement with your doctor/specialist, as climbing is a physical activity. To discuss this further, call the Extreme Edge Team on 8475858.
Is there a competitive side to climbing?
There are in-house, regional, and national competitions in both climbing and bouldering (a sub-sport involving free climbing). Entry to these may require a higher level of experience than can be gained by just climbing once a month, as advanced styles of climbing can be included in competitions. Training in these areas can be provided at Extreme Edge (see next question or call 8475858 to talk to the staff about it).
Are there weekly lessons or clubs?
At Extreme Edge we run a kids group on Wednesday evenings during the school term, which is focussed on fun, learning, and building trust between children and parents and between the climbers themselves. For more information click on the 'kids club' link at the top of the page or call 8475858 to find out more.
We also run a group on thursday night which is focussed on developing lead climbing skills and preparing for competitions. A substantial amount of experience is required. Call 8475858 to discuss how this works.
