JOHN LINDROOS
On most Friday afternoons between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the USFCA Rock Climbing Club buses to Movement San Francisco, an indoor gymnasium in the Presidio, to climb.
“We’re a club here on campus that is trying to make climbing accessible to the USF student body in any way that we can,” said President and senior data science major Benjamin Holderbein. “Our club is open to climbers at any level, beginner or advanced. Most of our members have their first climb with us.”
Members have the choice of participating in bouldering, which is a short distance climb without safety gear, or rope climbing, which includes wearing a harness to reach higher altitudes.
The activities include “projecting”, which is repeatedly working on one difficult climbing route in order to reach the finish, and “belaying,” which is securing the rope of a partner to keep them in position on the wall.
The Rock Climbing Club has been an official club sport since 2017, but had a culture reset during covid, when the club lost most of its members and officers.
Rock climbing is now the largest sports club on campus, capping out at 100 members, due to their contract with Movement. Every climb averages around 50 members, according to Holderbein.
“[Rock climbing] feels like a very naturally fun activity to me,” Holderbein said. “You start at the bottom of the wall, there’s a puzzle that takes a combination of technique, skill and strength, and once you get past that puzzle, you’re at the top, and you get to come down.”
Hank Smith, a junior accounting major, has been a member of the club for three years. Smith joined the club because his brother was into rock climbing and he wanted to try it out for himself.
“What makes the club fun for me is the problem solving aspect of climbing as well as the different ways of collaborating with others in the club,” Smith said. “From projecting a boulder problem to belaying, it’s a great way to connect with people.”
Smith continued, “My favorite memory I’ve had with the club has to be when I first got belayed certified. […] There is a sense of freedom and exhilaration being 20+ feet in the air with only a rope that you tied keeping you there. All my stress and worry from school is put on pause in moments like this.”
Due to liability reasons, the club only holds official climbs indoors, but many experienced members arrange outdoor excursions. Vice President and junior psychology major Alvaro Palabyab, who has been a member for two years, highlighted a day trip in his first year.
“I joined others from the club on a day trip to Mt. Tamalpais for some bouldering in the morning, then we drove closer to a spot called Vent 5, to do some rope climbing by the water until sunset,” he said. “I think being able to [do] something like that on a random weekend while in college is such a privilege and beautiful experience that sums up what it means to be a part of the club and climbing community in general.”
While the club doesn’t compete against other clubs, they sometimes hold internal competitions for merchandise or food.
The club hopes to organize future climbs at different gyms, such as a trip to Dogpatch Boulders, a gymnasium in southeast San Francisco.
Students who are interested in learning more about the club can reach out to clubsports@usfca.edu or check out the club’s instagram page @usfcarockclimbingclub.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, News Editor: Deeya Gupta, Sports Editor: John Lindroos
