Every evening, at around 6pm, 10 to 15 youngsters gather in a corner of the Nandadeep High School playground. They are driven by their love for a rather unconventional sport- rock climbing.
Rock climbing is a sport on the rise, but lack of infrastructure and government support might see it take a tumble
Every evening, at around 6pm, 10 to 15 youngsters gather in a corner of the Nandadeep High School playground. They are driven by their love for a rather unconventional sport — at least in India — rock climbing. And it is in this school that you will find the Arun Samant Climbing Wall, on which many have scaled their dreams and allowed themselves new ones.
"This wall was built by the renowned mountaineer Arun Samant's family. For 30 years, Samant participated in expeditions to the Sahyadri and Himalayan ranges and scaled several virgin peaks. He died in an accident on May 31, 1999, and on the fourth anniversary of his death, in 2003, his family erected this wall in the school," says Parashuram Vengurlekar, who works in a company that supplies safety equipment for climbers.
But to the youngsters assembled, he is their rock climbing coach, Ram. Ram has coached at the school ever since the wall was erected, and has been into the sport for more than 10 years. "There is a thrill attached to this sport which is incomparable to any other," says Ram.
There are three main forms of rock climbing – speed climbing, lead climbing and bouldering. What one learns on walls in the city is usually the beginner level wherein you are taught the rules and safety. You are also trained in increasing stamina and the strength of your limbs. "Rock climbing strengthens the shoulders, the back, forearms and legs, and increases endurance. Rock climbing for half-an-hour is the equivalent of running on the treadmill for one hour," says Ram. Thus, rock climbing is also a great sport in order to remain fit and lose weight.
It also inculcates a love for the environment. The youth take pains to keep the mountains clean, and when they go camping, they make sure no plastics are left behind and no damage is caused to the environment. Several NGOs have collaborated with rock climbing schools on campaigns like Plant a Tree.
Although rock climbing is a rather unusual sport in Mumbai, there is increasing awareness about it, as more people are taking it up as an activity. Parents, too, have started encouraging their children to learn it. At Arun Samant Wall alone, there are two climbers who – just two weeks ago – achieved district level fame at a tournament held in Pune. There is tremendous scope for climbers in India, as there are regular tournaments at both the national and international levels. "Soon rock climbing is going to be part of the Olympics. Then the interest levels and recognition will be even higher," says Ram.
However, a glitch exists in the infrastructure available for rock climbing. It is an expensive sport. Rock climbing gear – including shoes, belt etc – for one person, can cost anywhere between Rs12,000 and Rs15,000. Also, none of the equipment is manufactured in India, so availability is another issue. Erecting a wall is also an extremely expensive affair, and it is not easy for clubs and schools to be able to invest that kind of money into one sport. This is where the sport needs the support of the government, which it fails to get, as yet. "Even though students are performing well and winning tournaments with whatever little they have, the government is not willing to provide them with the infrastructure to perform better. This is what hampers the growth of both the sport as well as the sportsperson," laments Ram.
Namita Swant, 14, who came first in the Girls Open category in a rock climbing tournament, held in Pune says, "I wish to pursue rock climbing as a career. My parents are supportive. I've been training for five years now and will be appearing for national selections in August this year," says Namita. She has won 10 zonal and national tournaments. There is no age limit. Whether you are nine or 50, you can always take it up. It is a great way to connect with nature, acts as a stress buster, and makes you stronger and healthier both externally and internally. So get off that couch and scale to new heights. Ladies and gentleman, your pinnacle awaits you.
s_avantika@dnaindia.net
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