Azel-Hana Brunet

Contributor

Photo via @cafe_bloc on instagram

It’s four o’clock in the afternoon and Thomas Gregoire, a 19-year-old psychology student, just finished school and headed toward his new favourite spot in town, Café Bloc. On his backpack hangs a funny pair of shoes. Looking like elf slippers, they are actually rock-climbing shoes. This downtown bouldering gym constitutes the perfect place for the young man. “I can train, do a couple of routes and when I feel tired, the café section is ideal to study. I can easily stay there until closing time,” confesses the climbing enthusiast.

Since the pandemic, this branch of rock-climbing has become extremely trendy. Leaving ropes and harnesses behind, bouldering’s goal is to climb short, but often tricky routes with only shoes and hand chalk. Of course, safety mats are on the ground in case of unwanted falls. According to the Boulder Brighton climbing center’s website, it is “rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials.”

Bouldering gyms are proliferating like never before and have more devotees every day. Café Bloc opened in 2019, but it is far from being the only climbing gym on the island. Bloc Shop now has three locations in Montreal, and other centers like Allez Up and Horizon Roc keep gaining fanatics.

A January 2019 article in The Cut magazine, titled “Why Is Everyone I Know Bouldering All of a Sudden?” attributes the activity’s popularity to its accessibility. Compared to the original form of top-rope climbing, it does not require a lot of equipment and can be practised alone, without a belayer spotting the climber. It also does not demand immediate strength or a specific body type. It is easy to learn, and everybody can do it. Even if it still requires total concentration toward a goal, the sport does not have the punitive and disciplinary aspect of other forms of training. “Bouldering is a full-body workout, but you just feel like a kid in the park’s modules. It is playful and challenging,” argues Laurent Demers, a 19-year-old climbing lover and a media student at Vieux Montreal Cegep.

Indeed, the problem-solving aspect of the activity reinforces its charm. “I love that bouldering is like a physical puzzle. The issue is clear and remains the same, it is up to you to figure it out,” declares Mazir Brunet, a 21-year-old boulderer. The animation student enjoys the sport because he feels that it targets his logic and reflection. Boulderers have to try, fail, and repeat, until the route is climbed to the top.

The sport is often appreciated for being social. Since the ropes do not limit the number of people on a wall section, there are often a bunch of people stuck on the same problem. Analysing a specific climb as a group, all the participants can work together toward a solution. By exchanging tips and ideas, nice connections are created between the climbers. Laurent asserts that “it is really not a competitive activity where everyone is against each other. When someone manages to finish a tough route, we’re just all happy for them.” Thomas supports this statement by saying that “the bouldering community is one of the least toxic.”

Thibaud Maret, a Bloc Shop employee in his twenties, believes that bouldering is for the outdoor lovers. “It can be similar to cliff or ice climbing, but with a far more accessible thrill. You can climb easily and regularly, without being restrained by distance, weather or equipment. Plus, it is notably less damaging for the environment,” says the bouldering expert. In the collective imagination, climbing necessitates an exterior stone surface and a trip to the mountain. With the amount of bouldering gyms in the city, a simple subscription and climbing becomes always possible.

Even if bouldering’s pros are many, it is important to consider the sport’s monetary restrictions. Climbing shoes are approximately 150$, and a monthly subscription is around 100$, which can be quite discouraging. Yet, bouldering’s growing celebrity does not seem to be fading. As Maret declares, “people will continue to boulder. It is the perfect combination of fun, dexterity and self- care.”

*For any interested students, Rock Climbing is available at Dawson on Mondays (6-9 p.m.), Thursdays (1-1:50p.m.) and Fridays (4-5:30 p.m.) for only 5$. Go and try it, you only have to bring your student ID.