Following the success of the Touchstone Bouldering Series, Touchstone launched a potential Roped Series for their members at Mission Cliffs on April 28th, where the participation would determine a continuation of a Touchstone Rope Series for their other four gyms.

An impressive large number of members turned out for this event with over 150 competitors that signed-up and just over 100 turning in their scorecards. The event consisted of three categories –beginner, intermediate and advanced.

This was the first time that Touchstone hosted a member roped climbing event for their members. “It was fantastic to see members from so many of our other gyms participate in this event”, recalls Donna Dunlap, Mission Cliffs manager.

One of the many highlights of the night was when Mission Cliffs’ member, Simon Benkert, 15, flashed the hardest route in the comp, a 5.13c on lead. The phenom pulled a no-hands knee bar rest after clipping the third draw. The crowd went wild. For complete results, check out the comps page.

With the amazing success of this event, we are proud to announce the inaugural TRS (Touchstone Roped Series). Stay tuned for upcoming TRS dates.

Labels: climbing, comps, touchstone

Class 5 in San Rafael is excited to offer a new kind of class, AcroYoga.

AcroYoga offers a chance for you and your partner to develop trust strength and flexibility and have a lot of fun doing it. This emerging art blends partner acrobatics with partner/contact yoga with Thai Massage and Deep Partner Stretching. It is a dynamic healing practice that encourages exploration of trust, connection and playfulness.

Class 5 is offering a 4 weeks of class in May to try it out. If things go well, we hope to add AcroYoga to our regular schedule. This is the only place in Marin currently offering AcroYoga so get here early. As you know there isn’t a ton of space up there.

May 9th, 16, 23 and 30th Tuesdays at 7:30 -9 pm. FREE to Members, $10 non-members.

Labels: class 5, fitness

Join us at Sacramento Pipeworks in welcoming adventure journalist Jason Paur and action sports photographer Corey Rich, who will sign their collaborative book “My Favorite Place” on Wednesday May 10th at 8pm. Their book follows some of the world’s greatest outdoor athletes to their favorite places to play. While providing heart stopping photography and enlightening text, My Favorite Place is also a soulful look at the relationship between the adventurer and the landscape. The event will be a combination of photo exhibit, multimedia show, and book signing. Books will be available for purchase and we will be displaying large format photographic prints of the best images from the book, both before and after the presentation.

Labels: climbing, pipeworks

Sacramento Pipeworks is proud to offer a new fitness class, Guts & Butts. A 50 minute blast that focuses only on the legs, abs and core muscle groups. This class is designed to tone, strengthen and improve the stamina of these muscles using props and your own body weight. All fitness levels welcome! Every Thursday at 12:10 in the yoga room, starting May 4th. Click here to see the current Pipeworks calendar.

Instructed by Adrienne Robinson

Labels: fitness, pipeworks

Touchstone San Jose was recently featured in the Spartan, San Jose State University's newspaper. To check out the article click on the headline below. And if you still have not checked out Touchstone's only bouldering gym, what are you waiting for?

Rock climbing provides relief from the rain

Labels: climbing, san jose

Thanks to the generosity of Pipeworks members over the last several months, 32 unused bikes were gathered to benefit Quinn Cottages, a facility near Pipeworks that provides transitional housing and life skills for the formerly homeless. That’s seven bikes beyond the stated goal of 25! The donated bikes are to be used by Quinn residents and families for recreation and transportation. On one recent Saturday, 18 Pipeworks Bike Club members, friends and family spent a day cleaning and repairing the donated bikes in preparation for the April bike give away. A big thanks to all who donated their time, a bike or money to this worthy cause!

Labels: community, cycling, event, members, pipeworks

Following the success of the Touchstone Bouldering Series, we’re proud to introduce a Roped Climbing Comp on April 28th from 6 to 10 p.m. at Mission Cliffs. Potentially this could be the first of a five-part roped climbing series. This will be a redpoint format, where each competitor will have multiple tries on any route they choose. The top three scores will be totaled for the final score. There will be three categories for both male and female climbers. Beginner 5.8-5.10d (Top Rope), Intermediate 5.11a-5.11d (Top Rope), Advance 5.12a+ (Lead). This event is free to members and $10 for non-members. There will be free pizza and beer following the comp.

Labels: climbing, comps, mission cliffs

In addition to the Monday and Wednesday lunchtime childcare, Pipeworks will now offer childcare on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Let us keep your children entertained in a controlled environment while you work out, climb or take one of our spin or yoga classes. Best of all, this service is free for all members!

Labels: kids, pipeworks

Touchstone is proud to announce the start of the second season of the Touchstone Climbing Women’s Elite Cat 1/2 bicycle team. Last year the team came in second for the Best All Around Team in the Northern California and Nevada region, the most competitive region in the United States. Three of our women placed in the top 10 in the Best All Around Rider category, including our spinning and boxing instructor, Pat Ross. We congratulate the 2005 women’s team and look forward to a successful 2006 season. To keep up to date on the team’s results and stories please visit the Touchstone Bike Page and click Women’s Elite Team to their website.

In addition to the Women’s Elite Cat 1/2 team Touchstone is proud to announce the new Men’s Masters Cat 4/5 team. They already have started the 2006 season with a bang with six top 10 finishes. The team includes members Dave Chen, Craig Steinmaus, Berkeley Ironworks spinning instructor Mark Nielson, and Touchstone’s Operations Director, Markham Connolly. To see the team bios, photos, and race reports please visit the Touchstone Bike Page and click on Men’s Masters Team.

Labels: cycling