Video and review of the Gainesville Rock Gym.
Video: Gainesville Rock Gym
By MATTHEW GONZALEZ
Vertical Adventure
By LIDIA DINKOVA, Alligator Contributing Writer
Swimming and canoeing are popular activities for many UF students, but others opt for a more vertical adventure. Gainesville Rock Gym, located on 704 S. Main St., offers rock climbing and bouldering to those who want to escape weekend monotony with a little unconventional exercise.
"We've created a rock climbing culture in the middle of Florida where there wasn't one," said Robert Easton, founder and manager of the Gainesville Rock Gym. The gym is popular among those who enjoy rock climbing as an exercise and a social activity and among those who use it to prepare for professional outdoor climbing. Mallory Peterson, a UF sophomore majoring in biological engineering, enjoyed her first time at the rock climbing gym so much that she came back for a second visit. "Basically it's just a really great place to rock climb," Peterson said. "They make it easy for you and it's a good deal."