BY JERMEL-LYNN QUILLOPO / Special to the Star-Advertiser
Looking for a new way to workout? Try out Volcanic Rock Gym, which opened three years ago in Waipio and recently moved to a new location in Kaka’ako.
Owner Justin Ridgely was introduced to rock climbing, also known as bouldering, by a friend while attending college in Tennessee. Curious about what it involved, Ridley took his friend’s offer to get out and climb.
A member of Volcanic Rock Gym practices on an interior wall inside the gym’s new Kaka’ako location. (Courtesy Jermel Quillopo)
“We didn’t have pads at that point because we were in college and didn’t have money, so we would just go out in tennis shoes and just climb,” he said.
The ironic thing about Ridgely is he’s afraid of heights — but conquered his fear through bouldering. Knowing that rock climbing required ropes and a partner, Ridgely used his fear of falling as motivation while mastering his craft.
“With bouldering, I know that if I fall, I’m going to hit the ground and that is why I set up pads underneath me,” Ridgely said. “But it is more enticing to hold on to something while climbing knowing that falling is a possibility.”
Bouldering to heights as high as 40 feet, Ridgely considers himself lucky since the craziest injury he’s suffered to date was chipping a bone in his foot during his first week of learning how to climb.
Before coming to Hawaii, Ridgely worked construction in Maryland and eventually moved to California to build luxury homes. He said he worked hard in order to save money so he could travel and rock climb. After visiting places like Peru and the Virgin Islands, Ridgely eventually moved to Hawaii to be closer to his son.
Wanting to create a business out of his passion, Ridgely discovered there isn’t a big rock climbing presence in Hawaii.
“I was planning on doing a climbing gym on the mainland for a while but I wanted to do it around the Midwest,” he said.
Often climbing Waimea and around the North Shore, he found himself wanting to share rock climbing with others.
Justin Ridgely. (Courtesy photo)
“We started in Waipio and we created our brand identity,” said Ridgely. “We started to have a big following by word of mouth and social media but noticed that everyone was coming in from town.
“We had a big client base from the North Shore areas, but it wasn’t as consistent as the people coming from town.”
Ridgely said because of his business, he has helped change the face of rock climbing in Hawaii. His gym is not just any old gym — you can climb on the different panel of walls that change all the time, but in the back of the facility there is an area for weight training designed to help you become a better climber. Volcanic Rock Gym also holds special clinics, inviting professional climbers to sit and engage with gym members.
Volcanic Rock Gym member and Kaimuki resident Liko Downing has climbed for about a year. He said he doesn’t like the traditional gym because it becomes repetitive.
“Rock climbing really challenges you physically and mentally,” he said. “It’s fun and it’s mentally challenging but totally works your body out at the same time without you really being aware of it.”
Ridgely said rock climbing has created a sense of community for many of people that walk through his gym.
“This is a place that can work you out while having fun and you will see a different side to the term working out,” he said.
For more information about Volcanic Rock Gym, follow them on Facebook.
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Jermel-Lynn Quillopo is a multi-faceted, energetic individual with experience in both print and broadcast journalism. “Social Encore” aims to tell diverse stories about Hawaii’s food, events and people; share your tips with Jermel via email or follow her on Twitter.