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RedBloc is coming!

Our new dedicated bouldering centre is looking stunning and we are aiming to open it this week.

Construction is finished, most of the matting has now been fitted and routesetting is ongoing with the 6000 shiny new holds that we've ordered - we even went to the trade shows in Europe and spent a long time looking through all the new designs and shapes from all the best hold manufacturers before we decided which sets to buy.

This month we have begun the tranformation of the mezzanine to create a top-roping area ready for when we open next door as we begin the final push to complete the expansion. (Don't worry the existing bouldering won't stop till we open next door!)

painting!

Everyone who has had a sneak preview has been really impressed with the space and the inventiveness of the wall designs. Its hard to do it justice in the photos but here's a brief rundown...

We have knocked part of the floor through into the basement to give us space for an 8m endurance board overhanging between 15° and 57°, with a roof length of 40ft! The underside of the new floor will provide an epic stamina cave of even steeper proportions - but that's another story!

But its not all about power - the new bouldering centre will be aimed at everyone, with tons of easy routes, long traverses, colour coded circuits and 'off-piste' problems jamming cracks, corners, grooves and much much more.

At the other end of the room we've finished a large overhanging prow; great for practising those heel hooks, as well as some unique and intricate pebbly slabs.

Mirf's modular approach to construction means any shape or panel can be taken down, turned upside down and rearranged to provide endless variety across every surface.

Other fun stuff will include a systems board for the training freaks right next to a dedicated training room.

If you don't think you are into bouldering we think that when you see this you'll be inspired to give it a go - there's even room for a 300ft traverse!

technicolour prow

prow and barrel

modular in technicolour

If you are still determined to resist the temptation of bouldering, don't worry - the new centre will give us space for more top-roping routes in the main room and extending reception to make more room for chilling out, our famous cakes & cuppas, more food options and a bigger spectator area.

Like we said - something for everyone!

Watch this space for further developments!

[ Published by Phil Minal in News | Comments are CLOSED | Subscribe | Email this article ]

44 Comments...

Comment #2, posted by Siobhan Cotter 24/06/2010 20:16:59

What I've seen so far looks great - well done everyone. If I can have a wish list.....Any chance of a long traverse wall (overhanging or straight) please? Also in the training room, any possiblilty of a section where a person can practice hanging leg raises using a bar or jug holds? How about a small section of (fake) "real rock"?

Comment #3, posted by Jonathon Kresner 24/06/2010 20:20:31

Totally sweet@!!!

Comment #4, posted by Simon Huber 24/06/2010 20:24:31

Man that looks totally sweet! Wish I still lived in the B'ham!!!! :-(

Comment #6, posted by ANON 24/06/2010 20:32:43

raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar good work dudes =]

Comment #9, posted by Simon Cardy 24/06/2010 23:44:54

Great news from the Redpoint team and contratulations on the plans for expansion. I really like bouldering walls but could I make a case for less 'upside down' stuff (as 99% of us do not aspire to do the 'Crack House' or sissors foot work for that matter). I agree with the above comment - we could do with more pump-out traverses and long - easier - stamina problems which stimulate outside climbing? All the best Simon.

Comment #12, posted by Phil 25/06/2010 11:16:46

Thanks everyone for your feedback... we are glad you like it!

By our reckoning the longest continual traverse without using any of the roof sections will be approximately 200ft and longest continual roof will be 40ft.

We will indeed be converting the mezzanine bouldering area into more top-roping for those that don't want to boulder.

We are installing a couple of belay ledges in the main room for possible future multi-pitch routes.

More updates and piuctures soon!!

Comment #14, posted by Daniel 25/06/2010 13:02:43

Hey guys, this looks awesome! Too bad I have now left Brum too, but I am sure I shall be back some time for visits....

I think everything you are doing is great, my sage wisdom for you is simply this:
Ensure you keep the ethos, the vibe and the community as you expand.

One of the reasons we loved coming to Redpoint when it first opened was that it really felt friendly. Compared to the anonymous feeling that Creation centre had, Redpoint felt like home!

So just keep those brilliant staff members that love their job, love the centre and love interacting with customers and even as you expand, you'll still have that feeling of being 'at home'.

Don't lose that great first impression :)

Live long and Prosper! And,

Climb.

Comment #19, posted by Alex 25/06/2010 21:26:01

Looks great!! Can't wait to come n play :)

Comment #20, posted by Dave Walker 26/06/2010 07:05:51

Realy like the work being done on site Phil. Word's would'nt do it justice. Me and the boy's have been a bit lax. We hope to be back soon, so keep up the good work.
Dave. Conal and Arron.

Comment #21, posted by noah 27/06/2010 08:02:52

it will be the best bouldering wall ever

Comment #22, posted by Juan Diablo 29/06/2010 09:23:10

Another fine job by the Redpoint tee-nutters then. Keep up the hard work guys as it looks Amaaaaaazing. nice one phil

Comment #23, posted by Phil 29/06/2010 10:52:45

(In reply to Comment #22 by Juan Diablo, 29/06/2010 09:23:10)

All credit to Mirf and Geoff (the Machine), Simon P, Big Tom and all the other guys. They are doing an amazing job!

All I did was negotiate the premises!

Comment #24, posted by Mark 30/06/2010 20:58:24

Just had a guided tour of the new bouldering area by Phil this afternoon. What can I say absolutely awesome...can't wait to come and play. This will have the guys up the road and for many miles around running for cover!!! Gotta be the best in these here parts by a mile! Well done to all the lads

Comment #25, posted by Siobhan Cotter 01/07/2010 17:00:15

Saw the area about a week ago and again today and so much has changed in a week. It's really taking shape. The l..o..n..g overhanging section will be awesome - a superb training opportunity (but I hope the mats will be close as I think I'll spend a lot of time falling off!) You guys are working really hard and in this heat - keep it up.

Comment #26, posted by Rose 03/07/2010 00:58:16

How about a section or route that ends in a font-style top-out. It wouldn't need to be high, just super slopey and rounded at the top. holds could be added to make it easier. And I guess people could practice mantleshelfing onto it too. Just an idea!
Had a look the other day and it looks amazing!
:-)

Comment #27, posted by John 06/07/2010 17:33:27

New bouldering area is coming on in leaps and bounds! It looks like it's going to be an amazing area to climb in :)
Looking forwards to the winter months to get some training done in there!

Comment #29, posted by Umbreen 13/07/2010 13:18:05

Excellent work guys! Vast progress each time I'm down the wall :)

As much of the customer attention is now focused on the developments of new bouldering area, much of the effort in main climbing area (top ropes and leads) sometimes goes un-noticed. After fun-tastic session last night (and many others) I'd like to thank the route-setters for continually setting delightful, technical routes. Being only 5ft 2/3" doesn't prevent me from enjoying the routes, if anything it makes it more interesting having to find a different way of climbing them.

Redpoint are still setting imaginative and creative routes that require some thought. Finding that crucial feature or unlocking a devious sequence makes the route so much more rewarding!

Don't stop setting these great routes it's what makes you guys different and better than other walls! Loving it!!

Comment #38, posted by Jamie Endres 14/07/2010 14:19:15

Hi Guys,
I was lucky enough to have a tour around the expansion on Monday and have to say the whole thing looks amazing. Its starting to come together really well and already looks a maze of inventive new features of all shapes, sizes and orientations, meaning everyone will be catered for! Also the new overhanging endurance board looks set to have everyone strong as an ox, and by the looks of it we will all benefit being as there will be hundreds of new creative problems for us to get our teeth stuck in to! Can't wait to get in there, keep up the good work guys!
Jamie

Comment #39, posted by Adam 15/07/2010 20:24:54

Can't believe how quick its all coming together. Well done! And it looks totally awesome! I can't wait!

Comment #40, posted by Andrew snushall-smith 17/07/2010 16:30:09

I'm really looking forward to bouldering there

Comment #41, posted by Kirsty 30/07/2010 22:26:03

Lucky enough to get a guided tour today, the shapes are amazing, it's like walking round a piece of 3D art!

Might even be enough to start me bouldering ;-)

Comment #42, posted by Jack Marshall 02/08/2010 21:31:53

I get a guided tour every 2 weeks. It changes so much every time. The place looks amazing. I caunt wait.

Comment #43, posted by Martine 05/08/2010 08:14:16

Saw the new bouldering wall yesterday. It's unbelievable! You guys work so hard, it is going to look and be terrific not to mention enormous. I'm amazed how much you've got done in such a short space of time. Keep up the good work, look forward to seeing the new wall completed.

Comment #44, posted by Ray 08/08/2010 02:23:52

Please please please use contrasting colours when setting routes and problems. As a colour blind wall user I am really put off centres that poorly choose similar coloured holds very close to each other.

Comment #45, posted by Phil 12/08/2010 15:27:08

(In reply to Comment #44 by Ray, 08/08/2010 02:23:52)

Hi Ray, you aren't the first person to ask this! Its quite a common problem for the colour blind and we do our best to make sure the holds are in contrasting colours. Quite often chalk dust can cause similar issues. If you do find routes at Redpoint which are difficult for you to distinguish, then please do come and talk to us and maybe we can schedule a reset!

Comment #46, posted by Nadia 15/08/2010 22:21:25

After having a sneak peak at the new bouldering area today I am absolutely amazed. All I can say is that people really are in for a treat, the area is massive, and the angles are kind of like a maths professors nightmare, everywhere you look you just kind of go WOW ! Oh and then just when you think you have seen all of the available space, there is more. The team are doing a great job, and I can't wait to see the Rock Monkey's rolling down that slope on a Sunday morning and calling it a warm up !!

Comment #47, posted by charlie 16/08/2010 17:50:14

(In reply to Comment #5 by Ian Merther, 24/06/2010 20:28:00)

hey hey, :)
i climb both routes and boulder problems and feel that although there are a good variety of boulder problems at Redpoint, surely compared with the 49 panels of slabs, stals, corners, bridges, stepped and progressive overhangs and generally awesome routes in the main room, what's comprised upstairs and in the cave doesn't constitute 'ample bouldering'.
i for one am well happy that the new build is going to be all bouldering and look forward to working HARD boulder problems and transferring new found strength and technique to the already brilliant routes in the main room.
keep it up guys i can't wait

Comment #48, posted by Lindsey Nicholson 01/09/2010 11:15:20

oooh ooh´, this is not a constructive comment in any way, just that the wall and the bouldering look ace - good one! I better get back to brum!

Comment #49, posted by Jon 04/09/2010 00:34:57

Really like the different floors in the new bouldering. Can you set up a circuit with 'alphabet circuits' where you have to move between holds to spell words/complete the alphabet?

Comment #50, posted by Adam 04/09/2010 23:11:24

Thanks to Phil for showing us 'round, it looks ace, can't wait for it to be finished.
A lot of thought has clearly been put into it, well done guys.

Comment #51, posted by staceyjg 09/09/2010 13:33:14

Had a look last night, absolutely fabulous! Great work by all involved, looking forward to it opening in a few weeks. :-)

Comment #52, posted by Rich 12/09/2010 20:40:01

I had a sneak preview recently and I must say that this is an amazing space .
It's going to be a truly unique place to climb in.
I can't wait to come and play .
Nice work , everyone thats been involved.

Comment #53, posted by Martin 15/09/2010 23:31:44

We had the grand tour tonight of the double-decker climbing wall and the whole area is truly amazing. There is going to be acres of climbing to complement all the imaginative stuff going on in the leading wall.

There is an obvious flaw which will become apparent when it is all done; you will arrange to meet your mate at redpoint, climb all night cursing them for not showing up, then bump in to them at kicking out time to discover that they've been in a different part of the mansion all along.

I'm going to use breadcrumbs to help find my way back to reception.

Great job.

Comment #54, posted by Jack Marshall 21/09/2010 17:17:09

One word EPIC !!!!!!!

Comment #55, posted by Liam Llewellyn 22/09/2010 13:27:12

That looks totally awesome!! Look forward to having a go!!

Comment #56, posted by jen 24/09/2010 10:43:07

love love love love love it

Comment #57, posted by jen 24/09/2010 10:44:15

well done all red point team from jenny fishwick whoop whoop gotta get my climbing shoes back on and hands chalked up lol x

Comment #58, posted by Martin Harrell 25/09/2010 07:56:14

Wow 6000 new holds. Whens the next Trade show? I'd like to go.

Comment #59, posted by Siobhan Cotter 26/09/2010 16:46:40

Love the warm vivid colours - they make me feel happy just looking at them. Rest time between training routes will never be the same again.

Comment #60, posted by Rachel Rock On Pearce 27/09/2010 10:16:09

wahoo wahoo wahoo

Comment #61, posted by david wardle 01/10/2010 00:00:18

got to have a peak at the new bit on wednesday,
cant wait to get in when it opens,
it looks amazing :) and its brightly coloured, looking pretty snazzy XD

Comment #62, posted by Amy Knight-Archer 01/10/2010 18:28:14

the new bouldering wall looks like it going to be simply AWESOME! had a sneak preview last week and its well on its way to being done, welldone to the team at Redpoint! :)

Comment #63, posted by Joe Brownhill 01/10/2010 18:30:32

was shown around it recently and the range of angled walls, volumes, barrels, overhangs and campus boards will make for a really varied set of routes and training options - BRILLIANT!

Comment #64, posted by Dave Macleod 05/10/2010 16:56:15

What can I say guys, this looks like one of the finest bouldering walls I've ever seen. Its so refreshing to see great climbers building great walls with great problems. Keep up the most excellent work!


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