Rio 2016 has wrapped. Tokyo put on a show as the host for the 2020 Games during the closing ceremony, and with those games comes the introduction of indoor climbing as an Olympic sport.

So I took a trip down to the Annex to give this unique and challenging workout a try.

Basecamp Climbing is Toronto’s most central rock climbing gym. Located directly across from the Christie subway station, it boasts over 7,000 square feet of climbing surface and 104 routes. They have slab, flat wall climbs, overhang climbing, a large prow for tough lead climbs and walls that are nearly 40 feet tall.

Mark Smith, the program director, meets me at the Black Rock Coffee Shop (fabulous lattes by the way).

First, I get suited up in the equipment — a safety harness and rock climbing shoes — which is available to rent.

Smith walks me through putting on the safety harness and the safety checks that must be performed before climbing. Indoor climbing is actually a very safe sport with statistically less incidents than indoor badminton.

Next, we go over tying into the rope using a figure-eight knot and retracting it when properly fed through the harness.

Now it’s time to belay, which is the role of pulling the extra rope while someone is climbing so that if they slip or fall they stay floating where they came off the wall. Basecamp also offers auto-belay climbs, so people can come in and climb by themselves. 

Smith then shows me how the difficulty level of the climbing routes is displayed and the basic techniques to get up the wall.

It can take up to two hours to get through the lesson and get on the wall. Once you master the skills, you move on to climbing in pairs.

Climbing, as you can imagine, was a great workout. I was using my entire body as I made my way up the wall, but there was also a mental component.

It demanded my complete focus. It was great because I’m completely inept at meditation.  As I began climbing, the everyday stresses of life vanished, and without even realizing it, I had an intense workout.

The next day I especially felt it in my arms, but that didn’t stop me from wanting more.

I was pleased to see families enjoying the sport together and parents bringing in their babies too. This is a sport the entire family can enjoy together.  Basecamp also offers recreational classes for kids, which run concurrently with school timelines for fall, winter 
and spring.