Inside Game no. 3: Henry Fitts
Henry Fitts was scared the first time he tried climbing. The thirteen year-old kid from Pine Point walked into the Maine Rock Gym one day with his Boy Scout troop, but he got so terrified that he failed to reach the top of any of the climbs he tried. “I used…
Break Camp: A Day in the Life of a Camper
By Kai Brown Our goal is to create an environment filled with fun, learning, and community with all of our #saltpumpkids offerings. Salt Pump Break Camps, taking place during Maine school breaks in December, February and April, are appropriate for novice and more advanced climbers alike. What exactly will we be…
Metabolic Conditioning for the Season of Indulgence
By Tino Fiumara It’s December already and we are smack dab in the season that we identify with high caloric intake and reduced physical output – aka the drink, eat, and be merry season! As climbers, we always want to maintain fitness so that we see as little regression as…
Retail Store and Member Benefits News: We Now Price Match!
We seek to provide great value for your hard earned money — including at our humble little retail store. We’ll price match any identical item you might find online. Details on the Price Match: Price match may only be requested at time of purchase at Salt Pump. Item must be identical…
New yoga teacher and time!
Please join us in welcoming Stephen Kirsch, our newest yoga instructor. He will be teaching our Friday evening Vinyasa Flow class at a new time, 7:15-8:15pm. From his website, http://www.stephenkirsch.com/about/: Stephen Kirsch fell in love with yoga several years ago when he looking for a way to balance an active running…
Got Skills? Big Wall Climbing with Freddie
In an effort to share our excitement about the new Skills Series programs, we thought we’d introduce you to each Series’ instructor and have them tell you about the program in their own words. The Big Wall Climbing Series, scheduled for the evenings of December 1, 8 and 15, will be taught by Freddie Wilkinson. …
Got Skills? Ladies Sport Climbing with Janet
In an effort to share our excitement about the new Skills Series programs, we thought we’d introduce you to each Series’ instructor and have them tell you about the program in their own words. The Ladies Only Sport Climbing Series, scheduled for the evenings of October 27, November 3 and November 10, will be taught…
Competition Climbing: The Future Generation of the Sport
Imagine a world where 10 year old kids climbed 5.14, 15 year old girls boulder v15, and dozens of kids warmed up on your V5 gym projects! Sounds crazy, right? Wrong! This fantasy world is the reality of indoor competition climbing. Since the recent surge of indoor competition…
Got Skills? Trad Climbing with Zack
Salt Pump’s new Skills Series programs are three part programs that encourage more comprehensive skill development on a given subject matter. This fall we’re offering two different Trad Climbing Skills Series, one of them on October 5th, 12th and an outdoor day on the 15th, the other one on November 30th, December 7 and December 14…
Got Skills? Sport Climbing with Tino
In an effort to share our excitement about the new Skills Series programs, we thought we’d introduce you to each Series’ instructor. The Sport Climbing Series, scheduled for the evenings of October 6 and 13 plus an outdoor day on October 15, will be taught by Tino Fiumara. SP: Which skills series are you…
Lydia Ball: Member Spotlight
The next participant in our Member Spotlight series is Lydia Ball. Lydia’s 25 years old and works in sustainability with the Ahold Delhaize Group. She’s only been climbing for two years, yet she has an acute understanding of the mental aspects of the sport and an appreciation for the community that a gym climbing…
Five Phases to Maximize Your Potential!
To normal people, when they think of climbing training, phrases like “feel the burn”, “train to failure”, “P90X” or, even better, “no pain, no gain” seem to jump to the front of their minds. While this may be the case for many sports, it couldn’t’t be more different for…
Breathe Easy: Member Benefits
Breathe Easy. That’s our mantra as we reclaim our autumn routines. You can breathe easy knowing that Salt Pump doesn’t charge initiation fees for membership. Not sure membership is for you? Perhaps try it out for a month (if only to join our Fall Equinox Celebration on September 22!) and if you’re not loving being part of our family, you…
Inside Game no. 2: Andrew Drummond
There are 48 mountains over the elevation of four thousand feet in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For peak baggers dwelling across New England, collecting each one of these summits represents a lifetime goal. Really motivated climbers might do them all in winter, or over the course of…
CLIMBING NOW AN OLYMPIC SPORT: SALT PUMP LEADING THE WAY
Climbing will newly be part of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Salt Pump Climbing Co., which opened its doors in summer 2015 with the goal of being the leading center for climbing, including training and coaching, welcomed this development by announcing the creation of Team Salt Pump,…
Inside Game no. 1: Matty Zane
Matty Zane grew up in the small town of Freedom, Maine. Both his parents worked at the nearby college in Unity, and growing up, Matty and his older brother Cody lived for soccer. Then, at the tender age of 14, Matty’s adventurous mother Nancy took him climbing for the first…
September 22 Fall Equinox Celebration: Breathe Easy!
Join us for our quarterly celebration on the Fall Equinox! Food, beer, games, and the ‘BREATHE Easy’ Climbing Competition with prizes for all. Free for members, $5 after cost of entry for not-yet-members. https://www.saltpumpclimbing.com/event/fall-equinox-celebration/
Fall Kids Programs Open Houses
Join us to hear more about our fall youth programming, including after school programs and the newly forming youth team! Meet ‘Team Salt Pump’ coach Matty Zane and the rest of the #saltpumpkids program staff.
Scarborough Leader: “Double Thrill Beckons at Surf-Climb Camp”
Surf’s Up and so’s Rock Climbing in Scarborough At first blush surfing and rock climbing don’t have much in common. One is focused on mastering the waves of the oceans and the other on mastering the rocky terrain of Mother Nature. This summer two Scarborough businesses are coming together to…
A Number-Free Environment : Boulder Problem Grading
At Salt Pump, we are deeply invested in the climber’s experience. Whether you are a first time climber or a grizzled veteran of the vertical, we want your experience at Salt pump to be exceptional. We do not want grades to get in the way of this experience. Normally after…