LIFESTYLE
Friday, May 17, 2024
Rock climbers scale up effort, engagement Although not as popular as sports like basketball or football, rock climbing has found its niche within the Gunn community. For many students, rock climbing isn’t just a sport to train and compete for — it’s a hobby that fosters camaraderie and personal growth among the demands of school life. One of these climbers is junior Cameron Ennis, who began his rock climbing journey in middle school after his dad brought him to a climbing gym on the Stanford University campus. Ennis shares his personal journey of improvement using the V scale, where the difficulty of climbs increase from V0 to V14. “(At first), I didn’t take (rock climbing) that seriously,” he said. “Then when COVID hit, I stopped entirely. About a year ago, I got back into climbing, but this time, a lot more seriously. When I started, I could only climb V1’s and occasionally V2’s. The progression that you get from working your way up the grades was really motivating for me. A year later and I’m climbing V5’s and V6’s.” According to Ennis, rock climbing is especially appealing to students due to its inclusivity regarding one’s physique and skill level. “A lot of sports are significantly easier for people who have a specific body type that’s optimal for that sport, like basketball with tall people,” he said. “Climbing, on the other hand, is a lot more accessible since people of any height or weight can climb and have fun. Climbing gyms are made to be for everyone, and the community is super supportive, so you don’t have to feel embarrassed about not being able to climb stuff that really experienced people can.” Sophomore rock climber Annika Kulawik echoes Ennis’ points about the inclusivity of the rock climbing community, saying that accessibility is one of the many common misconceptions that deter participation in the sport. “Some people think in order to rock climb you have to be super strong and need a ton of special equipment,” she said. “You don’t. Gyms make climbing way easier and more accessible now, and you are unlikely to hurt
yourself falling.” According to Ennis, many people, especially those afraid of heights, believe that rock climbing is dangerous. In reality, many safety precautions are taken before even one begins climbing. Sophomore Joshua ReneCorail believes that the importance of rock climbing comes from the necessity of perseverance and character building. “Rock climbing is for everyone, because it can be both an individual and team sport, and you don’t need a lot of experience to start out,” he said. “It’s all about setting goals and challenging yourself.” Rene-Corail has been rock climbing for five years, during this time, he has achieved a healthy balance and between his schoolwork and sport. “(Rock climbing) definitely removes a lot of pressure and stress that I have with different classes or assignments,” he said. “It’s an easy way to escape work sometimes.” To Kulawik, although rock climbing takes up a lot of time, she believes that its benefits greatly outweigh its costs. “I’ve met friends at the gym and it can be fun to work on climbs together,” she said. “It does take a lot of time. Sometimes I spend three hours from when I leave my house to when I get back, which gives me less time to do homework, but it’s worth it.” Rock climbing at Gunn embodies the spirit of community and resilience, welcoming all students to challenge themselves and find solace in a sport that transcends mere physical activity. As rock climbing continues to establish itself in the Gunn community, it fosters student connections and inspires individuals to pursue their own unique paths. According to Ennis, Gunn’s Rock Climbing Club
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readily invites those who are curious about or interested in climbing. “If you’re thinking about trying out rock climbing, I’d recommend getting in contact with climbers at Gunn, such as people who go to Climbing Club,” he said. “We do regular meetups at the nearby climbing gyms, and we’re totally down to introduce you to climbing and give advice.” —Written by Roy Lao Chaewo
n Lee
Sailing team navigates in passion, finds success Sailing as an international sport was first introduced to the world at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. Since then, it has steadily gained popularity and interest, with over 250 million viewers globally watching sailing events during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Although the sport has gradually gathered traction within college and high school athletics, it has only reached a handful of students at Gunn. One of these sailors is junior Bosco Zhang, who is in the Penninsula Youth Sailing Foundation. Zhang was introduced to the world of sailing by a family friend, who was his first coach. After coming to the United States, he joined a sailing team in order to improve and meet new people.
“I have been sailing for 8 years,” he said. “My mother’s friend was a former world champion, and he asked me if I was interested in sailing during a summer vacation. I wanted to try it, and I liked it. The reason why I joined (the sailing team) is that I want to continue to improve my skills.”
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“When you’re on the water, you cannot just quit. It’s just like life. When you make a mistake, you need to rethink and learn from it.” —Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation coach Juan Pablo Del Solar Goldsmith
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PYSF coach Juan Pablo Del Solar Goldsmith, who coaches Gunn’s team, also began sailing at a young age, and through his commitment and perseverance was able to compete at international competitions. “I have sailed since I was six years old, I lived right around the sea,” he said. “So as a young kid, I started sailing, I competed at the World Championships and I went to the Olympics three times as a coach. I’m very competitive in any sport.” According to senior Gunn sailor Naomi Lowenthal, the unique appeal of sailing and what makes it different from other sports can be summarized in a quote by sailing coach Dave Perry, a five-time national match racing champion. “I think Dave Perry said it best: ‘Sailing is the most complex sport in the world (because) it requires split-second decisions based on a variety of strategic and tactical considerations.
To execute successfully, you need to gather the right information, evaluate your options, and communicate clearly,’” Lowenthal said. “(Sailing) also teaches you how to control what you can in unpredictable situations. We can’t control the weather, but we can learn to adapt to (it).” Goldsmith believes that more high schoolers should consider sailing as a sport due to the important values and qualities it can develop in the athlete. “If you were on a soccer field or a rugby field, quitting is very easy, where you just walk out and you’re out,” he said. “When you’re on the water, you cannot just quit. It’s just like life. When you make a mistake, you need to rethink and learn from it. And just by doing (sailing), it kind of teaches you that right away.” Zhang believes that the allure of sailing comes not from the learning, but from the excitement and enjoyment it brings. “(Sailing) is the one (sport) that allows me to relax and just focus on doing this one thing,” he said. “And it doesn’t have the constraints of the venue. I can go anywhere I want. It’s more free, and I just like the feeling of not being bound.” Like Zhang, Goldsmith finds that sailing gives him a sense of liberation that could not be otherwise obtained. “When you’re sailing, it’s like living twice. I enjoy being in the water and competing against others.” While sailing is still mostly unexplored at Gunn, to the students it does reach, sailing is a large portion of their lives. From reducing stress to teaching life lessons, sailing offers a unique experience that extends beyond the confines of traditional sports. It fosters a sense of freedom and strategic thinking that resonates deeply with those who partake in it. —Written by Roy Lao
Sarah Xie