Santa Barbara Rock Gym will be celebrating their first anniversary on August 23rd, exactly 12 months after opening their doors. Since their Grand Opening they have experienced tremendous growth, offering a place for both Santa Barbara climbing enthusiasts and casual climbers to either enhance or develop their skills. Owner Will Russ said, “We’ve been amazed at how the local climbing community has embraced our gym, as well as the number of first time climbers who come in and want to learn. Watching people develop a passion for climbing has been the most rewarding part of my job for the last year.” Santa Barbara Rock Gym is dedicated to helping novice climbers gain confidence on the wall and places a strong emphasis on teaching correct climbing techniques and safety precautions. Starting with a foundation of these basic climbing fundamentals helps prevent injuries and ensures that everyone has a good time. They currently have twenty employees, nine of whom are CWA or AMGA certified climbing instructors with several years of climbing experience. In addition to focusing on fundamentals of climbing, they provide a positive influence on children through a variety of after school programs, summer camps, and classes.
Their anniversary party is a zero waste event and will feature a raffle and silent auction with proceeds going to the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center. Attendees can bring their own utensils, cup and plate to get a free raffle ticket and help minimize waste. Raffle prizes have been donated by Patagonia, Yoga Soup, Mountain Air Sports, and lots more.