Christmas is getting closer – and we’ve got some announcements to make! December is looking like an exciting month here at Blue Spider, and we’ve got tons going on. Read on to find out about our Christmas Opening Hours, Gift Ideas for Climbers and our brand new Winter Lead Climbing Competition!
First up, the important stuff!
Our Christmas opening hours are as follows:
We’re running a bunch of different sessions over the Christmas break, so you can climb to your hearts content. From tasters and kids’ sessions to learn to climb courses – there’s something for everyone. These sessions prove to be very popular over the Christmas period, so get booking now to secure your slot!
Which reminds us – have you done all of your Christmas Shopping yet?!
If not – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We have tons of ideas for gifts for climbers! Check out our handy gift guide over on White Spider’s website, or read on!
1- Accessories:
Buying chalk is a lot like buying toilet roll. You need it in your life, but buying it is a chore! This makes chalk a great gift for climbers. Almost every climber uses some form of chalk. There’s loose chalk, chalk balls, liquid chalk – the possibilities are endless!
We’ve got a bunch of options at Blue Spider. Simply pop in and speak to the guys on the desk to purchase!
2- Spider Climbing Merch
Climbers in general love being cosy! We stock a range of Blue Spider merch (comfy hoodies included!) in our reception area. We have kids and adults tees and hoodies available in a range of sizes and colours, so there’s plenty to choose from!
Or, if you want something a bit more eco-friendly, we also stock a selection of Spider Climbing branded Keep Cups. These are great for the busy on-the-go climber – and if you use it at any of the Spider Climbing cafes, you get a discount on your hot drinks!*
*This offer does not apply to Bart’s Café at Blue Spider Climbing
3- Gift Cards!
Most people who have made climbing a regular hobby will have most of what they need, or will have specific preferences when it comes to chalk and other climbing essentials. The best way to get around this, but still provide these loved ones with a gift they’ll love, is a Spider Gift Card!
Our Gift Cards can be used at all of the Spider Climbing sites (Red Spider – Fareham, White Spider – Surbiton, Yellow Spider – Sutton, Green Spider – Hereford) for casual entry, Spider merch, chalk, shoes and coaching.
Purchase an online gift card here or pop in to buy a physical one!
Winter Lead Comp!
Yep – you read that correctly. It’s been a while since we’ve run any type of competition at Blue Spider – and we’re bringing them back!
We’ve organized for international IFSC route setter Yann Genoux to come back and give our Lead Comp Wall a full re-set! He’ll be working on the wall on the 13th and 14th December, alongside in house setter Alex Patterson, setting us some routes ranging from grade 5+ to 8a.
This comp will be a self-scored comp, with points awarded depending on the number of attempts to reach the top without falling or resting on the rope.
The Rules:
- You have from the 14th December to the 31st January to send as many of the competition routes as you can.
- Routes must be climbed “cleanly” bottom-to-top, without resting on the rope.
- After each fall or rest on the rope, you must lower off and retry from the floor. You cannot project the moves unless attempting the problem from bottom to top.
- Belayers may not assist the climber by holding their weight on the rope while climbing.
Sounds easy, right?!
Here’s an example of the scorecard for you, where our participant sent the route cleanly, from bottom to top on their 3rd attempt:
There are 4 categories for this comp:
- Adult Male
- Adult Female
- Junior Male (under 16)
- Junior Female (under 16)
The top-scoring winner from each category will win a FREE Blue Spider Merch package. Every other entrant will be entered into a raffle to win a FREE coaching session for up to 4 people with one of our instructors!
We know that a lead climbing competition isn’t for everyone, so we’re planning to make competitions and events at Blue Spider a regular occurrence. Watch this space for updates…
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