It’s warped. It’s tall, and it can make a grown man squall. It’s the warped wall.
On Friday, Evolution Sports Gym in Stoney Creek unveiled its newest addition, a 14-foot, 6-inch warped wall, made to challenge the most athletic visitors to the gym. It looks just like its name implies.
The wall, painted red and black, is not straight up and down. It curves upward much like a halfpipe used in skateboarding. Those who attempt the tall climb must get a running start, and about half way up, the climber must leap toward the ledge at the top and grab it before pulling themselves up.
So far, only two brave souls have been able to conquer the wall, and no one has done it in one try. The first to do it was Elizabethon’s Cody Anders, who climbed the wall on his second attempt Friday. The second climber was ETSU’s Dylan Appleton, who also ascended the wall on his second try. Appleton who is 6 feet, 8 inches tall, believes his height gave him an advantage.
The warped wall is iconic part of the now popular “American Ninja Warrior” TV show that airs on NBC. On the show, contestants must complete grueling obstacle courses. The warped wall featured on the show stands at the end of the course and is the last challenge the tired contestants must complete.
Like the show, Evolution Sports Gym also has a course that the climbers can complete before attempting the warped wall. The Ninja Rig is 30-feet long and consists of a variety of grips and bars that participants much hang onto while making their way across the course.
After climbing the warped wall Friday, Appleton said he enjoys the show and said that actually climbing a warped wall was much harder than the show made it seem.
“It’s really high up there,” he said. “Once you get up there, holding on and pulling yourself up can be scary.”
The wall that stands inside Evolution Sports Gym took two weeks to construct and was assembled in North Carolina.
When talking about the new wall, gym owner Joey Carrier can do nothing but show a proud grin. And Carrier is not stopping with the warped wall. He hopes to add more to the course, and maybe hold contest much like the ones on American Ninja Warrior.
Anyone who has membership is free to try the wall as much as they please, Carrier said. And as for him trying it.
“Nope,” Carrier said. “I’m old enough to know better.”