Valley Rock Gym Circuits

Why VRG Circuit Grades?  

Every persons climbing experience is unique.  

How one discovers climbing, the mental and physical challenges and triumphs, the memories of past climbing adventures and the dreams for future ones…. All of these are unique to each individual.  

The subjectivity and diversity of the climbing experience is what makes this sport so beautiful.  

A problem may feel different on different boulders, different days, different seasons, and of course between different people. The subjectivity of the climbing experience comes from the diversity of each individual's style, body type, energy, experience, goals, individual strengths and challenges and on some days, even luck.  

As a way to celebrate the uniqueness of the climbing experience, we have adopted a grading system known as circuits.   

In our Color Circuit, each color corresponds to a range of difficulty. Our Color Circuits offer a gradual progression of difficulty through the overlap of grades between each circuit. Each circuit offers a wide range of movement styles, as well as physical and mental difficulty. We encourage you to try a circuit simply by climbing some or all of the boulders in the color of your choosing. While navigating the boulders in your chosen color freely, put aside personal expectations and let the circuit guide you through a diversity of challenges and movement.   

By de-emphasizing grades, we hope to celebrate the diversity and subjectivity of the climbing experience. When embraced, our circuit grading system encourages new climbers to find their own path into the sport, help regulars add new dimensions and fun in their sessions, and can be a powerful training tool for dedicated athletes.