Business Times of Edmond, Oklahoma March 2020 - Page 18

Blocworks: Helping people to find their path
BY TOM FINK | PHOTOS PROVIDED
T
here’s a place on Broadway that’s
going to have people climbing the
walls — literally.
Blocworks Climbing Community is a
soon-to-open rock climbing gym owned and
operated by a local man, Evan Small, whose
own life has been forever changed through
the activity of rock climbing.
Before being a climber, Small was an
avid sports enthusiast, until an injury
forced him to reassess his goals.
“Growing up, it was all about sports for
me, and by the time I went to college, I
played baseball, but after a semester I had
an injury which left me having to come
home, not really sure what was next,” he
said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to study
(in school) or where I wanted to work and
that’s where (rock) climbing came into
play.”
Through climbing, Small found a
renewed sense of purpose and passion, also
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March 2020 | The Business Times
meeting his (future) wife and several friends
because of climbing, realizing that climbing
was anything but a solitary pursuit — it was
a community.
“Having a few jobs in the outdoor
industry, we eventually had an idea that
came to us of having our own gym to show
people what climbing is, to share our love
of climbing with them,” he said.
Small soon found the ideal location in
downtown and has since been working to
make his vision into a reality.
“With the space locked down, we started
designing what our walls should look like,”
he said. “We designed two walls that span
the entire length of the building, starting
right off Broadway from the front, all the
way to the back. These two walls will offer
about 40 boulder problems each, ranging
from climbing up a ladder to the hardest
thing you can imagine — people who
haven’t climbed may not realize that it’s not
just about the physical aspect, there’s also a
huge mental component, of which problem
solving is a big part.”
Blocworks also includes an area to
encourage customers to enjoy outside
together, and such, the patio is designed for
clients to sit outside, enjoy conversation,
coffee, and time to connect and strengthen
their relationships with one another.
Whether amateurs or experienced
climbers, all are welcome, Small said, with
classes available for beginners to learn the
fundamentals of bouldering.
“Bouldering is a form of climbing that
requires minimal effort, consisting of
climbing colored holds to the finishing
hold or top of the route,” he said. “Our
walls are approximately 14 feet tall with
ample padding used as protection.
Bouldering really helps novice climbers to
sharpen their problem-solving skills as they
have to figure out how to move their body