Whangārei’s Boulder House climbing gym owner Emma Campbell and manager Lee Giles hope the new venture will lead to some Olympic champion climbers from the region.
Whangārei’s Boulder House climbing gym owner Emma Campbell and manager Lee Giles hope the new venture will lead to some Olympic champion climbers from the region.
Bouldering is an Olympic sport and if Emma Campbell has anything to do with it, her new venture will lead to talented Northlanders climbing to the top of the Olympic podium.
Experienced climber Campbell, who also runs the rock-climbing wall at McKay Stadium, has started the first bouldering gym inWhangārei.
The sport is one of three climbing disciplines – with rock climbing and speed climbing – that will be competed for at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Campbell said bouldering was different from the other two climbing disciplines as it did not use ropes, and the walls were not as high. But the fun, excitement and skills learned, were as rewarding.
Whangārei’s Boulder House, on Reyburn House Lane, gives a range of different climbing levels
She said with climbing now an Olympic sport, bouldering gyms were appearing worldwide, and she thought it was a good time to open one in Whangārei to bring an indoor, fun sport for people to get interested in and get fitter.
“Bouldering is climbing in its purest, and funnest, form, just you and the wall. No ropes, no harnesses, no complicated gear. Our walls are low, up to about 4.5m high, and you land on big, squishy crash mats if you fall.
“Each climb is a little puzzle called a ‘problem’. You figure out the best way to move from hold to hold to reach the top. Some climbs are smooth and flowing, others are powerful and dynamic ... and all of them are a good time.”
She said a big part of bouldering was problem-solving as climbers had to work their way up through the “problem” while building strength, stamina and health.
It was also great way for people to work together on the walls.
Whangārei’s Boulder House climbing gym offers a fun, indoor environment for people of all ages, with bouldering a new Olympic sport
“The aim is to get some Northland boulderers up to the standard to get to a future Olympic Games in climbing. I want to get a lot of people up to that Olympic level to offer a great pathway to success. These are world-class bouldering walls, designed and built in New Zealand, that are designed for all levels of skill and fitness, from total beginners to advanced climbers.”
And if people did not reach that international level, they would still have a lot of fun and excitement along the way, she said.
Since the gym opened last week, it had been inundated with people keen to give it a go.
It’s all about the wall at Whangārei’s Boulder House climbing gym.
Campbell said it was wonderful to see youngsters’ confidence soar as they navigated the walls, and feedback so far was overwhelmingly positive .
“The cool thing is that anybody can come to a bouldering gym. It’s suitable for all ages and all shapes and sizes and everybody will get something out of it.”
And if that something for some is future Olympic medals, that will be gold for Campbell.
Bouldering is an Olympic sport and Whangārei’s Boulder House hopes to produce a steady stream of Northland Olympians representing the country.
What is bouldering?
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing performed on small rock formations or artificial walls without ropes or harnesses, focusing on short, intense, and technical routes called “problems”. Typically done under 6m, it emphasises strength and problem-solving, with safety managed by thick floor mats or portable pads.
The sport was originally a training method for roped climbs and mountaineering, so climbers could practise specific moves at a safe distance from the ground.
