Gripping stuff

Resistance Climbing route-setter Dominic Oberhumer tries a new route he has laid out on one of the walls at the Dunedin facility before it reopens under Alert Level 2 today.

Manager Olivia Jarosz said the new alert level conditions meant the number of climbers in the building would be limited to 30 so the 2m social distancing rules could be maintained, and climbing sessions would be restricted to one hour.

Signing in, mask wearing and social distancing were also mandatory.

Those returning to the facility would find new challenges had popped up since the lockdown, she said.

‘‘We’ve used this time wisely.

‘‘We’ve been working as much as we can during Level 3, to get ready to open again.

‘‘We’ve been doing route-setting — that’s when you put different holds on the wall in different formations, to create a difficult path up the wall.

‘‘We’re absolutely stoked to be opening again.’’