Business is climbing in Kimberley

Spirit Rock Climbing Center is adding an attractive building and vibrant business to Kimberley’s Platzl area

by Kristen Mitchell — September 05, 2013

Three guys hold on to a rock-climbing wall with holds on plywood, and smile at the camera.

1 of 2From left, James Gray, Ryan Tarves and Kevin Blades look forward to opening Spirit Rock Climbing Center this autumn. — Verena Tarves photo

An artist rendering of a red building with decks out from that lead to an outdoor climbing wall.

2 of 2The completed Spirit Rock building will be an asset to downtown Kimberley. — Photo courtesy Kevin Blades

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Take three local guys with a passion for the active Kootenay lifestyle. Throw in a business idea. Next thing you know, Kimberley’s Platzl is getting a sharp-looking new building.

Kevin Blades is a top-rope climbing instructor and a backpacking hiking guide, certifications that have served him well since he moved to the Kootenays six years ago. Now he’s also part owner of Spirit Rock Climbing Center, a brand-new climbing gym being constructed in Kimberley, along with James Gray and Ryan Tarves.

“James Gray is a BC Parks ranger and he worked during his school years at a climbing gym, which he really, really enjoyed,” said Blades. “He’d always wanted to bring a climbing gym into fruition. James and I are old friends and we both ended up living in Kimberley. There was a community group of climbers and we all got together and started talking about building a small community bouldering area/climbing gym. Through that we met Ryan Tarves and the three of us sort of wanted to take it a little further. We got talking and our visions were aligned so we decided that it was worth going for it.”

Building for climbing

The building was designed by an architect in Toronto, and Sustainable Spaces, also from Kimberley, did the drafting. There will be outdoor walls on the back, a bouldering area with a 16-foot top-out, and walls of various heights that will serve any level of climber from beginner to advanced. A unique design feature will be the highest wall, at 47 feet, which starts in an area called the pit and extends 12 feet into a skylight.

Once it opens, Spirit Rock Climbing Center is ready to offer an exciting array of programs. Learn to Rock is geared towards beginning climbers who want to learn basic moves and top-rope climbing. Those already comfortable with belaying and gym climbing can take the Climb On program, which will provide skill development to help climbers move forward—and upward. The Climb On program will teach the fundamentals of lead climbing as well as more advanced moves and techniques.

Youngsters ages nine through 14 can get on the wall with the After-School Spirit, a 12-week program that provides coaching once a week. Spirit Rock Climbing Center will also offer flexible school programs for classes from throughout the region in addition to summer camps.

A community focus for fitness and enjoyment

Blades looks forward to operating a gym that will be a great place for any age group or level of experience. He’s excited to host the local climbing community, young families and grandparents with their grandchildren.

“We’re really striving for a community focus for fitness and enjoyment,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of the teaching over the years for the rock climbing part of the outdoor program at the Selkirk high school and it’s always fun getting kids on rock and getting them climbing. It’s fun teaching and seeing minds open up to climbing and to sport and everything. We’re going to have a really strong, excellent opportunity to do that with people. It’s inspiring and confidence-building for people.”