BEND, Ore. — Unlike in mainstream sports, climbing’s top athletes can sometimes be found training right alongside beginners at a public rock gym.
“Climbing’s a weird sport, where the highest-level athletes at the World Cup level are training in commercial climbing gyms next to people who just walked in and got rental shoes for the first time,” said Mike Rougeux, executive director for Bend Endurance Academy. “Which is pretty cool, because you wouldn’t go to a basketball court and have LeBron James working out next to you.”
But on the flip side of that, as the Bend Endurance Academy youth rock-climbing program has continued to grow, it has needed to find its own space.
And now it has, announcing plans last week for a new main office that will also serve as the organization’s primary climbing facility. The facility will house all of Bend Endurance Academy’s operational offices while also serving as the main site for its indoor climbing programs and as a venue for competitions, clinics and training camps for competitive climbers throughout the West Coast.
According to Rougeux, the climbing area and office space is around 6,000 square feet, and the climbing terrain will have 3,000 square feet of wall surface. The facility is in the same building as Boardworks Climbing, a 24-hour climbing gym that opened earlier this year, near the intersection of Third Street and Reed Market Road in Bend.
“Our climbing programs have continued to grow over the years as both the sport and the Bend community have grown, and the time has come where our programming needs will best be served by being in our own location,” Rougeux said.
He said Bend Endurance Academy will be only the second organization in the country with a youth program-specific climbing facility. The first one is ABC Kids Climbing in Boulder, Colo.
Climbing since 2011
Founded in 2009, Bend Endurance Academy initially offered programs in the sports of Nordic skiing and mountain biking. Climbing was added to the organization in 2011, and the academy has continued to grow across each of the three disciplines over the past 12 years, according to Rougeux. Last year, more than 100 kids participated in Bend Endurance Academy climbing programs and more than 1,000 took part in its offerings across all three sports.
“We are anticipating being able to serve more with the new space as we increase program offerings as well as host regional and national-level training camps and clinics,” Rougeux said.
He added that the goal is to start conducting climbing programs at the new space by mid-July. The new location will be built to accommodate climbing classes and practices for novice to expert climbers.
“One of the trends we’re seeing in our state across all youth sports is a high demand for space for practices as well as competitions or events,” Rougeux said. “Climbing hasn’t been immune to those demands, which are currently outpacing the actual supply of space.”
The announcement of the location for the Bend Endurance Academy facility comes on the heels of Boardworks Climbing opening in the same building just a few months ago. Boardworks is a climbing center with adjustable training and climbing walls designed for both the novice and expert climber.
“Boardworks couldn’t be more excited for BEA to open their headquarters and climbing center right next door,” Boardworks Climbing owner Lily Kral said. “From the potential of adding additional climbing terrain for Board members, to creative and fun community competitions, the opportunities for collaboration are endless.”
The close proximity of the two spaces will help facilitate collaboration between Bend Endurance Academy and Boardworks, as well as create a hub for movement sports in Bend.
“Lily was a youth climbing competitor, and she knows firsthand the positive impact a youth sports organization like ours can have on the lives of kids,” Rougeux said. “Plus, it’s always a win when you can work in close proximity to other like-minded people and collaborate on making awesome things happen together.”
