Climbing is a sport of tremendous privilege.
Climbing has always been a sport of tremendous privilege, and for decades, there’s been a huge barrier to entry. Free time, disposable income, access, and whiteness have often been prerequisites to enter the world of rock climbing.
Thankfully, that’s all changing. Here at The Front, we’re on a mission to make climbing accessible to people of all backgrounds, colors, gender identities, and sexual orientations—because everyone deserves the chance to fall in love with this incredible sport, where we find success through failure, overcoming mental and physical adversity along the way.
The Front is proud to support a tremendously inclusive and welcoming member base, and we’re committed to creating spaces and opportunities where minorities can celebrate their individuality. We’re thrilled to host three pretty amazing affinity groups that promote inclusivity within the climbing community.
1 // Women of The Front
With bi-weekly meetings since 2018, Women of The Front (WOTF) has provided a consistent haven for women of all backgrounds to support and learn from one another.
The gym environment can be a daunting and intimidating place, especially for a new climber. A bouldering wall packed full of men can enhance these feelings of insecurity. Free from the male gaze and unwanted, intrusive beta-spray, WOTF makes room for the women to take center stage. This program has created memories and friendships that reach beyond the climbing gym, and for that, we are very grateful.
2 // Black, Indigenous, and People of Color at The Front
BIPOC at The Front hosted their first meetup at The Front in the summer of 2020.
Founded by superstar members Priyam Patel and Matt Burbach, the BIPOC community group is championing climbers of color and taking big strides toward diversifying our member base at The Front. BIPOC is here to create a sense of family and camaraderie for minority climbers and help make climbing a more inclusive sport. Regular meetups and climbing nights are held at both our Salt Lake and South Main locations.
3 // Salt Lake Area Queer Climbers
Originally founded in 2015, and relaunched at The Front in 2021.
It’s no secret that politically, Utah is not the most welcoming state in the country for LGBTQIA+ individuals. That’s why Salt Lake Area Queer Climbers, or SLAQC, is such an impactful organization. Founded in 2015, SLAQC is a place for LGBTQIA+ climbers to connect, support, and empower each other. Featuring food, fun, and festivities, SLAQC meetups are a fantastic opportunity to mingle with others in the queer community and climb with pride!
Learn more about our community climbing groups, read their leaders’ stories, and see when the next group meetup is happening right here.
