The University Recreation Center will host its “Climb for Love” event from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 10 through 14 on the Edinburg campus.
Student Assistant for the University Recreation Center Juan Zermeno said the event helps students engage in teamwork.
“Our ‘Climb for Love’ event is [an] event that we have here at the Edinburg Recreation Center for our climbing wall,” Zermeno said. “We’re basically incentivizing people to either climb together for our date-climb option. They’re climbing up a rock wall, conjoined together with a rope, attached to their harnesses [and] they have to climb up at approximately the same time. It’s to help promote, like, teamwork, camaraderie, that sort of thing.”
Education senior Aurielle Ayala said she attended the event before with her partner.
“I’ve done it with my partner,” Ayala said. “It’s really fun. If one of you falls, you kind of have to support them and then if you complete your route, you get a rose.”
Zermeno said the event is not only for couples. There is also a challenge for single individuals as well.
“We also have a blind climb as well just so in case if you’re by yourself, and you still want to get a rose, you can climb up blindfolded completely safe,” he said. “[It] just adds a little bit of extra challenge.”
Visual communication sophomore Brandon Vribe said he also enjoyed the event in the past with his friends.
“I believe it was mainly with me and a group of friends, and it was a lot of fun,” Vribe said. “[You’re] completely [blindfolded] and you just don’t know [where[ the [rock-climbing] wall is, [and you] don’t know [where] the holes are. It’s really difficult, but I managed to get up to the top with the help of my friends.”
Zermeno said if students are not experienced in rock climbing, this is a way to get involved and get active.
“If you have climbed [or] you’re looking forward to the event, it gives the extra incentive of you [getting] a rose in order to give away or keep for yourself,” he said.
Vribe said this isn’t his first experience rock climbing and he recommends the event to students.
“I’ve been rock climbing for about a year and a half ever since I started coming to UTRGV and it’s been such a great experience, and I recommend people coming here,” he said.
Zermeno said “Climb for Love” is a form of health and wellness for students.
“The University Recreation Center, as a whole, provides the students a place of stress relief,” he said. “We’re out here promoting wellness through our various sports. The climbing wall is just one of those various forms. Some people love climbing [the] wall, other people enjoy our group fitness classes, such as yoga, boxing. We’re including pilates this semester.”
For more information about the “Climb for Love” activity, email urec@utrgv.edu or call 665-5969.
This is Jasmin Espinosa for Vaquero Radio.
