Ostalb experiences climbing boom: New bouldering center with extensions!

Ostalb experiences climbing boom: New bouldering center with extensions!

The DAV Boulder Center Ostalb in Essingen has made a remarkable change since its opening on December 21, 2024. After the bankruptcy of Steinzeit Aalen GmbH in April 2024, Sebastian Heitzmann took over the management and successfully repositioned the center. The great interest of the climbing enthusiasts shows with a pretense of up to 200 people on some days, especially in the evening and on weekends. The age structure of the guests ranges from around 7 to 60 years, with the average under 30 years of age. Visitors come mainly from the Ostalb district, but also from the neighboring cities of Stuttgart and Ulm. At the entrance of the bouldering center there is a bistro that offers regional products and the opportunity to borrow climbing shoes on site.

The admission prices are 14 euros per person, with reduced prices for DAV members, pupils, students and severely disabled people. The 50% discount for trainees and students on Monday is particularly attractive. In addition to regular bouldering sports, the center offers special offers such as a climbing card, annual tickets, children's birthday parties and children's holiday camps.

planned extensions and investments

Extensive expansion plans have been announced for the future. The expansion of the bouldering center by an adjacent hall is planned, which will include a new family and children's area, a seminar room and an extended training area for young and old. A larger climbing wall outdoors should round off the offer. The start of construction is scheduled for autumn 2025, but there are still exact dates.

In the past few months, significant investments have already been made. This includes the renewal of all bouldering routes - two sectors are updated weekly. A new entrance area was created and the changing rooms were partially renovated. There is also a new fitness area and a "moonboard" for advanced climbers. A leisure activities such as sun loungers and a table tennis table have also been added.

The role of the bouldering center in climbing

The bouldering center plays a central role in regional child and youth work as well as in competition training. Talents such as Franka Funk and the brothers Jakob and Moritz Schiefer specifically use the facility to prepare for competition. Bouldering is advertised as a low -threshold access to climbing and complements the existing climbing hall in Aalen.

All of this happens against the background of a steadily growing interest in climbing and bouldering sports in Germany. Over 1 million people practice this sport and the numbers continue to rise. Climbing has developed rapidly in the past 30 years, with more than 550 publicly accessible bouldering and climbing systems nationwide. The popularity of this sport is further inspired by the Olympic Games, where sports climbing has been part of the program since 2016. The upcoming Olympic Games in Paris 2024 promise additional media attention and sporty highlights.

The DAV Boulder Center Ostalb remains an important point of contact for climbing and bouldering athletes in the region, with the aim of creating a comprehensive and accessible sports offer. The positive response and the upcoming extensions promise an exciting future for this location.