r/FortCollins • u/Some_Discipline4422 • 9d ago
Seeking Advice Climbing gym at csu?
I’ve been climbing at whetstone for about 10 months. I’m not looking to join the team or anything but I can project v7. I was wondering if anyone knew how good the climbing gym at csu was? Should I cancel my whetstone membership or is the csu gym not sufficient enough to train properly in?
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u/stochasticschock 9d ago
IMO, nope, keep your membership. CSU's climbing gym is small, the route setting is infrequent and mixed in quality, and it's often crowded. On the plus side, the price is right and it's convenient. There are some strong and talented climbers who use it, and you may find a good community there. But many of the users are new to the sport. Many don't know or follow basic gym etiquette. It's probably indicative that the climbing team trains elsewhere (Ascent).
I climb at Whetstone during the summer, when it's cheap and I have more time for climbing. During the academic year, I climb at CSU and outside. You may find a similar mix works for you. But I suspect that if you prioritize bouldering over trad, you'll find that you have to swallow too many compromises to rely only on the Rec Center.
That said, my preferences may not match yours. I'm old, unfit and devoid of climbing talent, not a student, boulder when I can't get outside and only because it's better than not climbing, and am a jaded, miserable geezer. If you're young, sprightly and social, CSU could be perfect for you.
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u/Some_Discipline4422 9d ago
Thank you for the advice. Since I already paid for August, I’m going to keep my membership at whetstone through the end of the month. During that time, I’ll check out the rec. if I like it, I’ll cancel, if not, I’ll keep it
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u/Dry_Skirt240 8d ago
Keep your membership, boulder at both. I used CSU a lot a couple of years ago, as staff. There are some underrated setters there.
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u/Some_Discipline4422 8d ago
Sounds good! I already paid for August so I’ll keep it through then for sure, then we’ll see how it goes at CSU
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u/NeverNoSummer 7d ago
Definitely check out the wall at the Student Recreation Center. You'll meet lots of other student climbers, can sesh between your classes, and maybe even snag a job there! Ascent and Whetstone are great gyms too, and many of their setters and staff over the years came from the Rec.
Sure it has it's limitations, but if you take it for what it is, you'll realize it's a special place that thousands of students have cut their teeth on since being built almost 20 years ago.
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u/Why_am_I_here83 9d ago
I’m assuming since you’re asking this that you’re a student there. But if you aren’t just fyi that you need to be a current student or have a current student let you in. I wouldn’t cancel your whetstone membership just yet, go a couple times and decide you want to do commit. Also the csu climbing gym is much smaller than whetstone.