Try Bouldering at Boulder World in SM Mall of Asia

(SPOT.ph) The weather in Metro Manila has probably ruined your outdoor plans more than a few times. Extreme outdoor sports like hiking, spelunking, and trekking might not be the best idea during the rainy season but that doesn't mean there's nothing thrilling to do indoors.

Why not trade in a soggy outdoor weekend adventure with a challenging indoor activity? Satisfy your itch for adrenaline-pumping outdoor fun while staying dry at Boulder World, an indoor climbing gym at the SM Mall of Asia which raises the bar for thrilling indoor fun starting at just P650.  

Here's what you need to know if you want to try bouldering in SM Mall of Asia.

Also read: 10 Fun Things to Do In and Around the Manila Bay Area

Check out Boulder World in SM Mall of Asia:

Before you start picturing ropes, harnesses, and elaborate rappelling gear, we'll stop you right there. Bouldering is a back-to-basics, more accessible form of rock climbing sans all the gear—it's just you, a pair of climbing shoes, and the desire to challenge yourself physically and mentally.

As there would be no other safety gear apart from soft foam mats to catch you in case you fall, you won't be dangling from vertigo-inducing heights. Instead, you'll be scaling shorter walls that challenge your upper body strength and mental grit.

At SM Mall of Asia's Boulder World, you have 370 square meters of space dedicated to the thrill of bouldering. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and during this time, you're free to climb as much as your body allows. 

Don't let the colorful walls and climbing holds fool you. Each color represents a specific “problem” you need to solve, so you must follow the set of holds in the same color and figure out the way to the top. There isn't just one solution. You can try different styles, routes, and techniques. Some holds and routes are easy to grasp but others require more strength and skill.

Just as it is in outdoor bouldering and climbing, not all walls are the same. Boulder World’s walls are designed to mimic the different wall angles you can typically experience when climbing outdoors. You have a variety of overhangs, a wall with a steep angle that mimics the interiors of a cave, and a bunch of slabs that curve inward and have smaller climbing holds.

There are lots of courses to choose from on-site. Boulder World rates their climbs according to a "bar" rating. Climbs rated 0-bar are perfect for beginners and are the easiest to climb. As the ratings increase, the courses become more complex and require more skill and strength. TLDR: if you're unsure about which climb to take, don't run for the 8-bar courses as these are meant to challenge even the most skilled climbers.

The great thing about Boulder World is that they are open to climbers of different skill levels. Aside from having a variety of easy-to-difficult courses to choose from, all first-time climbers must go through a 10-to-15-minute safety briefing. During this, climbers are taught about bouldering, the proper falling techniques, the basics of climbing, the house rules of Boulder World, and climbing etiquette. 

By now, you might be thinking: As soon as I'm on top, how do I get down? A unique feature of Boulder World is that, once you complete a course, it requires you to go over the wall rather than simply jumping down. In most bouldering gyms, you'd have to jump down which, if you're a complete newbie, could be daunting and lead to injuries if you don't know how to land properly. At Boulder World, once you reach the top, you'll exit onto a set of stairs safely guiding you back to the main climbing area.

Rates at Boulder World in SM Mall of Asia:

First-timers to the facility can avail of a special first-timers rate of P850. This includes a P200 one-time registration fee, unlimited use of the climbing facility for the entire day, and one pair of rental shoes. 

If you've visited at least once, you only need to pay P650 for the entire day and come and go as you please.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own climbing shoes but if this is your first foray into bouldering, you can also rent a pair for P200. Note that there are only a limited number of pairs for rent and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once you've decided that bouldering is your cup of tea, you can purchase multi-passes or a monthly membership, which will be cheaper in the long run. Here are the available multi-passes and memberships:

Multi Passes

Multi passes provide admission access to Boulder World and are valid for six months from the purchase date. These passes can be used by other people aside from the owner, but note that the owner must be present when other people use the multi-pass

• 5x Multi Pass: P2,925
• 10x Multi Pass: P5,200

Membership

If five or ten multi passes aren't enough to sate your bouldering itch, you may consider a monthly membership to Boulder World. This grants members unlimited access to the facilities for the duration of their membership.

Membership in the facility can be renewed monthly, every three months, or semi-annually. 

• One-month membership: P3,900
• Three-month membership: P10,725
• Six-month membership: P17,550

Both multi passes and memberships are applicable and can be used in both Boulder World and Climb Central Manila.

Here's what you can expect when your boulder at Boulder World in SM Mall of Asia:

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You might not be able to convince your friends to join you in this activity but that shouldn't mean it's the end of the world. The folks at Boulder World are key believers that the sport, despite being largely done solo, is a very social activity. Thus, Boulder World’s open floor plan design encourages climbers to sit beside each other when they’re not climbing so they can talk and meet other people while resting. You can sit back, cheer the expert climbers, and learn from them, too. Next time the weather rains on your parade, and you find yourself craving the thrill of the outdoors, try bouldering at Boulder World at the SM Mall of Asia, instead.

Boulder World is located at Level 3 South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, J.W. Diokno Boulevard, MOA Complex, Pasay City. For more information, visit Boulder World Philippines's Facebook page.

Also read: 5 Places for Indoor Rock Climbing in Metro Manila

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