Climbers Learn the Ropes at Christ School
Safety paramount to after-school activity for Greenies
David Cashio '18 accepts the inherent risk and reward of his after-school activity. The trade-off is part of joining the Christ School rock-climbing team.
However, before the Greenies ever touch a local mountain, they have been trained in the basics. Everything from how to properly fit into their helmet and harness to the art of tying good, secure knots.
"I like the challenge," David said. "It is challenging getting to the top, and a little scary at times. When you get the top though, it's worth it. That view is great, just getting to see what you've done."
There are a dozen climbers who meet each weekday afternoon under the tutelage of instructors Brent Kaneft and Les Thornbury. Those boys are David Cashio '18, Davis Crook '18, Flynn Cruse '18, Robert Dong '21, Will Dubose '19, Bronson Gatts '18, Reid Heaton '18, Philip Hodges '18, Alex Lontz '21, Dixon Molloy '18, Beau Simmons '18, and Khalil Vinson '22. The environment is both safe and non-competitive. Climbers only have to push themselves as hard as they want.
"I've always played team sports. And while I've had a blast, there is always a moment of stress where your teammates are counting on you to make a shot," said Will Dubose '19. "With this, there is none of that pressure. You're doing it for yourself."
Belaying is a climbing term for fixing a rope around a cleat, pin, rock, or other object to secure it. The Greenies use these ropes to climb and depend on one another to watch the ropes. "We always have a backup belayer to account for human error," Will said. "But it is weird at first when you're trusting a ninth grader you've never met with your life."
Christ School climbers are never more than about a half-hour away from some of the Southeast's top crags, including Looking Glass Falls in Brevard and Table Rock in Morganton. Kaneft said that one of the best parts about the climbing team is the Red Hat Program, which allows the most-polished students to take over teaching duties from he and Thornbury.
Bronson is currently the Red Hat for the climbing team, while Davis and Will are in training.
