Rock climbing center offers adventure

It's summertime — the season when everybody tries to get their beach bodies ready by putting in extra hours at the gym and giving little more thought about what they digest.

Instead of using those extra hours to run on the same treadmill or use the same weight machine, why not try something different?

Aiguille Rock Climbing Center is a fun and different way to stay in shape throughout the summer season.

UCF students should be familiar with the rock climbing wall in the Recreation & Wellness Center, but Aiguille Rock Climbing Center offers 27 different types of top-roping walls, which all include three different routes.

Aiguille offers two different types of rock climbing experience. The first is bouldering, where a climber climbs a fairly short wall without the use of a rope or harness.

This type of rock-climbing requires more strength than technique.

The more popular top-roping allows climbers to climb higher with the use of a rope and a harness. Top-roping always requires two people — a climber and a belayer.

No one is ever allowed to just start climbing, though. Every new customer must go through an introduction that lasts 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the group.

During this introduction, customers will learn the safety rules as well as how to tie knots, belay and climb correctly.

All customers must sign a climbing waiver acknowledging that they are aware of the dangers of rock climbing before they can participate.

"We never send someone off that we don't think will be able to catch the climber if he or she falls," Aubrey Wingo, a third-year climbing instructor, said. "It's important that every person knows how to do everything correctly because while rock climbing is fun, it is still pretty dangerous."

The walls are labeled very clearly with their degree of difficulty. The degree of difficulty ranges from 5.6, the easiest, to 5.13, the hardest.

Each route is taped off in a different color so climbers don't get confused. Aiguille is open to both new and experienced climbers.

"For each other's birthdays we always do something new" Byron Trimble, local resident and new rock climber said.  "Last year we went horseback riding. This year it's rock climbing. I didn't know all about the knots and stuff, but it's fun."

Jennifer Johnson, a recent UCF graduate and experienced climber, was supposed to go climb actual rocks in Alabama with her family, but her plans were altered by the rain.

"Obviously, it's totally different than real rock climbing, but it's still pretty sweet," Johnson said. "I'll actually start coming back a lot more now that I'm here."

The center also offers weekly events where anyone can participate.

Every Monday is Challenge Night, where climbers are tested mentally and physically through a series of team building and physically challenging exercises.

Students may rent gear and climb for $12 on Fridays during the school year, which excludes summer sessions. 

Hero Day takes place every Friday all year. The same reduced price is extended to  police officers, firefighters, military personnel, EMTs and teachers. 

Wednesdays are known as Women's Wednesdays because the cost of climbing and rental gear for women is $12.

Aiguille Rock Climbing Center is located just off Ronald Reagan Blvd. in Longwood, Fla.