Erding's newest sport attraction: the Alpenkranzl climbing hall
Created: 03/30/2022, 10:01 am
By: Dieter Priglmeir
The BoulderAirea of the Erdinger Alpenkranzl is almost finished.
Our head of sports was allowed to test.
The experience report of a newcomer.
© Hans Sterr
The BoulderAirea of the Erdinger Alpenkranzl is almost finished.
Our head of sports, Dieter Priglmeir, was allowed to test.
The experience report of a newcomer.
Erding – The most beautiful thing about climbing is the moment when you take your shoes off again.
That's what my trainer says as I try to squeeze that bit of black fabric over my toes.
It's like trying to put a tupper lid on a bowl that's too small.
"That's never, never size 45."
“Yes, they are just right,” says Stephan Scherzinger, “they have to fit snugly.
Foot and shoe have to merge into one so that you can work with your toes.” The 42-year-old is my trainer today.
He will take the first steps with me in the new bouldering facility of the Alpenkranzl.
And he will tell me more than once what the “most beautiful thing about climbing” is.
Namely a lot.
That is why the Alpenkranzl Erding has been building a climbing facility, the BoulderAirea, since the groundbreaking ceremony in December 2020.
The association invites you to a taster session next weekend (see box), after Easter it should be open.
I can go in earlier.
My job as a journalist makes that possible.
That's a curse and a blessing.
Because I'm a complete layman - a real newcomer.
On the other hand, I've always been fascinated by these mountain fans hanging in the wall.
But before I can conquer the Großglockner, the Großer Unkel must first be conquered.
Ah, now it's time for the right ballet shoe – that's what it looks like.
Now a few steps up, then Stephan and I are in front of the first wall.
Sorry, before the Sterr-Lechner-Traverse, the hardest route of BoulderAirea.
Where "route" is already wrong.
"They only exist on the climbing tower, here we are talking about bouldering problems," explains Stephan.
He should know because he screwed them all.
He attached around 600 holds to 250 square meters of walls and ceilings - and with them 40 problems for all amateur and professional climbers.
"There should be something for everyone," explains the Canadian, who came to Germany in 2003 for love but has already built routes at home.
Training at the Toronto Climbing Academy, studies in management for sports facilities and alpine climbing experience for almost 30 years, he is also interested in first ascents.
And then he's hanging out with me now?
"Anyone can climb," he says. Well, we'll see that soon.
I have no idea how good I am.
I like to climb in cherry or plum trees, but that has a lot to do with the cherries and plums.
In gymnastics lessons, however, I already failed with the rim upswing – even theoretically, because I always thought it meant field upswing.
But for a report, a reporter takes on a lot.
I already know how it will end: on the Sterr-Lechner Traverse, which no one has conquered yet.
But first things first: get to the gray wall with all the colorful handles that Stephan is explaining to me.
Most are made of polyester or polyurethane.
The shapes couldn't be more different: from the black mini-grip, in which you can't even hide your fingertips, to football-sized hemispheres, which have smooth and rough surfaces but no point of attack.
"And these are the beer handles," says Stephan, pointing to a couple of orange handles.
"You could probably try that with three halfs."
Of course, drinking alcohol while climbing is not an option, says Scherzinger.
He just wanted to make it clear that the BoulderAirea offers options for everyone.
Young, old, newcomers, inclusion groups, blind people - the climbing landscape is there for everyone.
"It's not about mastering the most difficult route, it's about finding fun for yourself," says Scherzinger.
That is the best thing about climbing.
Maybe the Bierhenkel tour is the right place to start for me?
"No, I would have something else," says my trainer and points to a yellow entry point near the ground.
"Try it!"
May I?
And already I'm on the first tour.
I look up at the edge of the wall at a height of 4.50 meters.
Großglockner, here I come.
"Stop!"
"Huh, I only took one step?"
"You have to stick to one color," says Stephan.
(Of course, we mountain enthusiasts use the first name).
Ah, the colorful all sorts is not a matter of optics.
Each color defines a tour, pardon me, a bouldering problem, as the experts call it.
It's getting more complicated, but it's still possible.
The shoes now actually grab the very small handles and I pull myself against the wall with my hands.
"Don't bend your arms," I hear from below, because I'm already about 70 centimeters above the ground.
Hey, that's 463.70 meters above sea level.
"It's much easier for you with outstretched arms," comes the call from the valley.
In fact, it works.
I like the yellow path.
I shimmy up bit by bit - actually more in width than in height, but at some point I've reached the top handle.
Applause from the valley station, time for a summit beer?
Or maybe for the next tour.
No alcohol on the wall and on duty!
Besides, I have to go back down first.
A gem at the Baggerweiher: the climbing facility can be seen in the foreground on the right, behind it is the Erdinger Alpenkranzl clubhouse.
© Ulf Mueller
"It's often harder than climbing up," says Stephan.
"You can also jump down," he adds when I'm stuck a meter above the ground.
The floor would be protected with 50 centimeters of foam.
But no, now I'm getting ambitious.
I'll probably come down there.
"Turn your hips against the wall," advises Stephan.
Another step, another, then a short, much too dramatic groan - done!
where to go next
I reach for the green slopers (hangers), then the bright red tour follows.
Jugs (handles), crimps (bars) – I have everything under control.
Running.
Am I a natural, or is climbing not that difficult after all?
The answer is provided by my red forearms.
"Flash pumps", says Stephan and grins.
Yes, suddenly muscles are pumping in me that I don't even know.
It burns, it pulls.
What is it?
"Shake it out," advises Stephan.
"Take your time, it's the lactic acid, it will go away." He's already looking for the next boulder problem: an overhang.
Not serious, right?
Should the 56-year-old, who failed at the second pull-up at the age of 22, go up there?
And what about my sore muscles?
"He won't come until tomorrow," Stephan reassures me.
Feeling your muscles is the best thing about climbing.
He points to the entrance for the overhang: "Take this and that!" My toes cling to it.
I have already found two handles for my hands.
And that's where I'm stuck now and can't get any further.
"Body tension," calls Stephan.
He points to the next handle.
"But it's unattainable." - "Not if you reach over with your right hand." I doubt and think, while at the same time my 80 plus x kilos remind me of gravity: How did Stephan just do that?
He previously climbed the Pink Panther, his favorite tour.
As he did so, he hung from the ceiling with one hand, the rest of him dangling in the air, searching for the nearest pink bite-something to dig his fingertips into.
How did he do that?
He failed early on at the Sterr-Lechner Traverse.
© Hans Sterr
A "pinch your ass and up!" brings me back to my problem;
me, the spider monkey in the overhang.
What was that again?
spread.
I fail the first attempt.
Then it works.
Well, Stephan supports me slightly from below.
In general, help when climbing is always important, he says.
Then he lets go.
And I'm hanging in the mountain - down.
But I'm still stuck.
Where is the next grip, how are the feet doing?
I believe in the next step for three or four seconds.
Time enough for our photographer.
He will take a spectacular photo, at least for me, which I will then post on social media.
The reactions: Nice people call me "Spiderman", family members agree to the Simpsons classic "Spider Pig", others turn the picture doubtfully, colleague Wolfi posts a photo of a sloth hanging on a branch.
Does not matter .
I have my moment.
I defeated gravity for four seconds, then I take the shortcut - down.
Stephan Scherzinger designed 40 tours – here he climbs the Pink Panthr.
© Hans Sterr
Time for the final act: off to the Sterr-Lechner Traverse.
At least the first half a meter is possible?
I can't even manage an inch.
It all starts sitting down.
Stephan shows me the two entry handles, the thickness of a ballpoint pen, from which I am supposed to squat down while sitting on the ground in order to get to the starting point at all.
To cut a long story short, I can't get my butt up an inch.
So I fail even before the start - and plan the end of the report.
The Boulderairea © Hans Sterr
Maybe the beer handle at the end?
"Sure," says Stephen.
Yes, that almost looks like a ladder that I just have to climb up.
"But what do you mean here?" My Flash pumps plagued forearms let me know.
I can't get two meters.
"Everything in its time," says Stephan, and I look for a new happy ending for the report.
The shoes!
Forget tight ski boots.
Anyone who peels off climbing shoes knows what freedom of feet means.
But this much is certain: I will torture myself into it again.
The fun on the wall is just too big for that.
I would even say: limitless, even if the same were clearly shown to me.
By the way, I don't want to say whether the easing of sore muscles on day three is the best thing about climbing.
But it's so good.
Trial days next weekend, opening after Easter
Over the past four years, the Alpenkranzl Erding has created a club site on 2500 square meters south of the Kronthaler Weiher, which currently fulfills many sporting and social wishes for its 3277 members.
It offers space for club meetings and lectures.
In February 2020, the foundation was laid for the climbing park, which should have opened last autumn.
"In the meantime, however, Corona has caused considerable construction delays," explains Hans Sterr, chronicler of the plant.
After setting up the hall, everything was done in-house.
Under the direction of the tireless construction coordinator Wolfgang Lex, who also built the porch in front of the climbing walls, the members worked 1250 hours on a voluntary basis on the BoulderAirea (for the entire club complex so far more than 5000 hours).
However, since only two people were allowed to be on the construction site at the same time due to the pandemic, everything was delayed.
Nevertheless, the club remained within budget.
240,000 euros were estimated for the bouldering facility,
But now the BoulderAirea is ready to the point that the Alpenkranzler can invite you to a taster day next weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, 2./3.
April, those interested can try climbing between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. under the professional supervision of the Alpenkranzl trainers.
The club has also set up a small supporting program, more information on the website, aktiv.alpenverein-erding.de.
The facility will be finally opened after Easter, when the remaining work, such as the installation of the locking system, has been completed.
Then the fenced arena will be approved for members or climbers with a small climbing license.
In addition, day tickets and annual tickets are planned in order to bind climbers who are not yet members to the association.
And the next project is already on the agenda: a 17 meter high climbing tower, which will also be completed this year.
The 2.50 meter deep foundation for this will be poured in May.
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