Rock it out

OBSERVATORY is home to the largest indoor rock climbing facility in South Africa, which was started on the corner of Collingwood and Anson Road ten years ago.
City Rock is owned by climbing enthusiasts Robert Breyer and Charles Edelstein. Observatory was the location of choice due to it being very central for many as well as being close to various outdoor rock climbing areas.
Tarryn Maclean, the gym manager, said it often happens that Observatory residents are unaware of City Rock and accidentally stumble into the premises in search of something else and are amazed at what they had found. The premises are situated in the industrial area of Observatory, and do not hint at any rock climbing facilities from the outside, looking exactly like any one of the small factories in the street.
Tarryn, who has been working for City Rock for eight and a half years, says that they receive many clients from Obs, especially the foreign students who have experience in rock climbing.
The business has picked up a lot over the last three years, she says, with people becoming more aware of it. The hosting of kiddies parties has also boosted turnover.
They currently have 25 personnel and 500 members, including famous climbers, such as Paul Robertson, Marius Smigelski, Joe Mole, and Matthew Bush.
City Rock offers three styles of rock climbing - top rope, where the ropes are already set up for the climber; bouldering, which is about climbing large boulders two to four meters off the ground without ropes, and sport-lead-climbing, where a team of climbers use clips as they ascend.
Lead climbing gives more of a thrill for the climber because it is riskier.
City Rock, with its high walls covered in brightly coloured grips, offers 190 different climbing routes, including caves, spread over 450 square meters of climbing wall and a further 250 square meter bouldering area. The most difficult route is graded 27.
Tarryn says the climbing equipment shop at City Rock is the largest in South Africa. Members or visitors who don’t have their own gear can hire it at R50 per session.
Apart from lessons for first-time climbers, at R200 each, yoga classes are also offered.
At City Rock kiddies parties, held for six or more, the children climb for one and half hours. Gear and facilitators are included.
City Rock opens seven days a week. Monday to Thursday they are open from 9am to 9pm, Fridays they open from 9am to 6pm, and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, they open from 10am to 6pm.