Aiming to challenge convention by creating authentic experiences for everyone, Climb Central has opened their latest branch at the newly revamped i12 Katong Mall.

A jungle-themed wall

The fourth outlet to be opened within malls, the i12 Katong outlet is the first to have a jungle themed wall dedicated to kids, illustrated by local artist Hollowist and designed by the in-house Climb Central team.

Said Halil Ngah, Founder, Climb Asia Group and Climb Central, “we are thrilled to be opening our fourth outlet here in the heart of Katong. The East Coast area has always been special to me, having spent most of my younger years here.” 

Ngah continued, “Rock climbing is a sport that has piqued the interest of many over the years and I am proud that we have reduced the barriers of entry to the sport, allowing many to have a taste since our first branch at a shopping mall.”

Checking out the new outlet

Media and influencers were invited recently to check out the new Climb Central Katong outlet at their launch, as well as try out climbing some of the walls.

The jungle themed wall consists of interactive elements such as tyres, ropes and custom climbing shapes, aimed at piquing the interest of kids.

Taking a look at this wall, I did not try it out, but I can definitely see how it caters to the vivid imaginations of kids, with playful elements such as rainbow castles and pirate ships for children to aim to climb up towards.

High-element rope course

The outlet is also in the progress of building a high-element rope course which is targeted at opening in August this year.

This will feature elements to test the endurance and courage of kids while enabling them to develop a taste of adventure – strengthening Climb Central’s initiative in catering not just to serious or recreational climbers, but also to families and to the young.

We were given a sneak peek at this rope course during our media event, but as it is not ready, we didn’t get to try it out. Nonetheless, it looked fun and somewhat reminds me of the forest adventure course at the Bedok reservoir park, with its swaying bridges and rope walls. I can’t wait for it to open.

Trying my hand at climbing

What I did try out at the launch event, was some of the rock walls. Prior to climbing, we were given a safety briefing where we spent a few minutes learning about climbing and belaying using Climb Central’s system.

This climbing gym has both manual and auto belaying rock walls and we were given quick rundown of the the basics of both systems.

I tried out both and to be honest, after reaching the top, I felt much more secure when there was a person below to let me down, rather than putting my trust in the machine to get me safely onto the ground.

As a beginner, I tried to go for the easier rock walls, picking the grippy stones and those with ample space for the feet to stand.

Multiple climbing routes

With multiple climbing routes catering to different proficiency levels which change weekly, Climb central promises fun for those who want a family outing, as well as those who wish for a challenge.

There are sign cards plastered on the walls signifying their level of difficulty, with the tougher rock walls depicting more stars on the sign card.

Still, it felt super shiok to be able to reach the top and I really did feel a sense of achievement.

But by the time I had finished, my arms were aching like crazy. The aches were worse the following morning. 

A hub for young children and families 

Yet the young men and women from Team Climb Asia, which we had seen scaling the walls prior to our own experiences clad in their orange t-shirts, all made it look so easy, even the super challenging looking walls.

Said Ngah, “I hope that Climb Central Katong will become a hub for the young and their families all over Singapore who wish to scale new heights for generations to come.”