Since nobody drinks or parties anymore, where are we meeting potential lovers in person?
They said run clubs were athletic Hinge. But for who? Only a specific strain of finance and tech bros and blonde girls with ponytails. And you have to be in your 30s, when everyone suddenly decides it’s time to run a marathon.
I found the equivalent for all the open minded, creative, healthy people. The climbing gym.
I know this is nothing new, but for the Coqueta girly girl, she has not yet explored the vertical planes due to her long nails. But today she got her hands dirty with chalk and had several Coqueteos with regular boulder boys & girls. Catching them off guard mid intense focus, grappling to the wall for their lives, asking hard hitting questions about love and dating. Catching them on the wall.
I entered the gym in my two piece Pilates set and was welcomed by a woman who I rented some very uncomfortable velcro shoes from. The gym was vast, with all sorts of aromas lingering, a mix of natural deodorant wearers unprotected body scent and rubber. It was busy with people climbing tall walls with a harness, assisted by a partner, you could say a couples sport.
Further inside, smaller walls were populated with social groups taking turns and watching each other boulder.
I feel like everyone had a pair of hemp capris on, but I’m just exaggerating.
The crowd was young and alternative, and most of all well built.
I started my climbing sesh by putting my hands into a little pouch you’d imagine would hold trail mix, but instead it was filled with chalk to tighten your grip.
Curious about the social climate and dating scene of the climbing world, I interviewed Hot Guy #1. A mid 20s male who had been climbing for 3 years and was clearly advanced. I watched him scale a tunnel-like roof with the agility of a squirrel. He climbs 3 times a week and says that the climbing gym is a very social sport, as you need little breaks in between climbs and it’s the perfect time to socialize. He has met 3 past lovers at the gym and runs into them from time to time.
I needed details. Lovers? Not long term relationships. Casual dating in your home gym sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I pressed further. He claimed things just fizzled out, but I’ll need confirmation from the three ladies before drawing any conclusions.
Yet again, another climb with no clear destination. I guess not all walls are the same.
Yet again, another climb with no destination. I guess not all walls are the same.
Next, I spoke with Hot Girl #1, who is in her early 20s and has been climbing for 6 years. I’m assuming at this point she grapples with just her toes. I asked her about the scene and if she had ever dated at the gym.
“I met my boyfriend through climbing. I think when you start getting integrated in gyms and start to see familiar faces, it’s really easy to connect with people and to build relationships, whether it’s a friendship or a romantic one. The climbing world is also so much smaller than it seems, so once you know someone, then you’ll know someone who knows someone.”
Tight knit community, full of muscles, elevated surfaces, and compromising positions, what could happen?
Besitos A