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Tennessee Bouldering Authority
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And you are? Luis Rodriguez: founder/owner/manager/builder/main floor cleaner
Years in operation: 10
Nearest crags: Little Rock City (Stone Fort), Rocktown, T-wall, but really there’s not much to climb ‘round these parts!
What’s in it? Bare bones essentials; we have about 3,000 square feet of unadulterated steep bouldering with wall-towall king-size posturepedic mats covered with the finest Cordura fabric for protection; campus and system boards, free weights, and a lounge with surround sound and free WiFi, topped off with our pro foosball table.
Standout feature: Our latest addition is a wavy, 55-degree steep monster of a wall with an intimidating and powerful finish. Also, our padding system; without it, we would not gun so hard for the top. Some folks climb to the top just to backflip onto the mats. They really give you the courage to push your limits.
Any comps? The comps at TBA rock! We host two ABS comps per year which bring competitors in from ATL (Atlanta, Georgia), the Big Salty (Birmingham, Alabama), and Nashville, Tennessee.
We also do a three-month locals’ comp series every spring and fall. Comps are really an excuse to get more folks together to climb and to change all the problems in one manic setting session!
Do you have a youth team? The TBA Ballers; they range in age from seven to sixteen. We’ve been working with some of them for seven years now. When we climb, we all become kids again! They make it so worthwhile. The Ballers are the soul of our gym. Shout outs to all of them!
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Anything else? TBA began homegrown from meager, humble resources but has persevered and expanded through the years on account of our dedicated customer base. TBA is more of a gathering place than a gym. We take pride in the community built around this minimal facility, and the warmth that is felt when you enter the room is beyond comparison. This is what truly makes TBA unique: comradery and shared experiences. Isn’t that what climbing is all about?
Contact info:
tbagym.com
tbagym@tbagym.com
3804 St. Elmo Ave. Ste. 102 Chattanooga, TN 37409
423-822-6800
Monday-Friday 4pm-10pm
Saturday 12pm-8pm
Sunday 1pm-6pm (if it’s raining)
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THE LOCAL
Name: Anna Fox
Age: 11
Employment: Student
Years climbing: 7
Years climbing at TBA: 7
What’s your favorite feature at the gym? The
people who work there. They are all really strong
climbers, and they always encourage me to take on new challenges.
When are the best sessions? My brother Evan
and I really like climbing on Friday night, which is
“kid night” at TBA and the night we have climbing
team practice.
Who’s your favorite route setter? Lu, Jimmy,
and Kasia all put up fun problems, so it would be
really hard to pick a favorite. They let me help set
problems sometimes which is really cool.
Inside info? TBA is in the St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga,
right next to downtown, so after
climbing, I love to go down the street to La
Altena for Maria’s awesome guacamole and a
chorizo torta.
Two words to describe TBA: Laid back
Think your gym is a Plastic Paradise? Email us at plasticparadise@urbanclimbermag.com. If we feature your spot in the mag, you’ll win a custom XXL feature designed and poured by Three Ball Climbing (threeballclimbing.com). This issue’s featured gym will receive a mondo Limestone 47 hold.
