VANCOUVER: Which Gym is best????

[Steve Townshend]

I Need some Advice...

This winter i want to stay in shape and climb in the gym regularly (for the first time in many many years!). For several years now, i don't climb all winter long and when spring rolls around, it takes 2 months or longer just to get back in the same shape as i was in at the end of the season the year before... by then i'm half way through the climbing season, and since i work full time, that doesn't leave much time to work on new projects!

So my dilemma is this: Which Gym do i get a membership too? the only gym i've had one at in the past was Joe Rockheads in Toronto.... but that's pretty far from BC!

I work/have an apartment in Ladner (near Tsawwassen), but my girlfriend and i also have a place in Squamish, so i'm back and forth across the city several times per week (i spend 3-4 nights a week in each place).

I've sampled all the gyms (except the Hangout in Richmond) and i like them all the same... i only boulder in the gym, NEVER EVER do routes in the gym.

I think i will climb a little at each gym, but buying day-passes every time will be too expensive... i think in 90 days (next 3 months) i will try to climb 40 days in the gym...

Here's the Cost Breakdown (3 month Membership):

North Van = $200 / 17 visits (@ $12.00 each) to be worth it
Downtown = $250 / 18 visits (@ $14.50 each) to be worth it
Coquitlam = $230 / 17 visits (@ $14.00 each) to be worth it
Richmond = $165 / 15 visits (@ $11.00 each) to be worth it

i don't expect that i will get the membership in Richmond... it's cheapest so if i go there i'll just buy day passes. Coquitlam is WAY WAY outta the way if i am driving to Squamish from work so i probably will only buy day passes there too....

So that leaves The Edge or The New Cliffhanger (downtown)....????....????....

memberships to both would be $450... cheaper still than day passes if i climb as much as i'd like to....

Any advice from the Climbing Community would be greatly appreciated.... i know i'm going to get some replys that say "yeah, here's your advice! you're a geek" or something along those lines.... but i'm at home sick today and have nothing better to do than sit here on the computer and waste time....

Cheers,
Steve Townshend

[dakine]

do you plan on climbing at all in the gyms? you stated that you only boulder. if that is the case (no climbing) i'd recommend the hangout or the Edge. I climb at CH Coquitlam but like bouldering at the Edge and the Hangout.
the other gym you may want to consider is Vertical reality in Surrey.

[Steve Townshend]

you stated that you only boulder. if that is the case (no climbing)

HA HA HA HA!!! that's so funny you say that (i might be mis-interpreting what you said).... are you saying that "bouldering is not climbing"???? hahaha! that's what i tell my girlfriend all the time!!! [she gets mad at me]; i say "Bouldering is just "training for REAL climbing" (ie. Routes: both trad and sport); some would say the same about GYM CLIMBING!!! [that it's not "real" climbing either]....

it's all in good fun. i climb routes 100% outdoors; for me, bouldering is just training for routes (also, i'm scared bouldering outdoors; you HIT THE GROUND every time you fall! it's like "free-soloing" very hard routes where you most likely WILL fall, just low to the ground, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! broken ankles!!!!).... and Gym Climbing (like bouldering) is only training for routes in the spring when the sun comes out again and it gets warm once again!!!

Thanks for the beta about the gym in Surrey, i'll for sure check it out!

Steve