Whether you love dynos and hate beta sprayers — or you have no idea what either of those words are supposed to mean — Horizon Climbing is about to become your new favorite spot. 

Managing owners Natalie Broadhurst and Mika Malter will open Horizon Climbing in Champaign on Aug. 16. Women-owned and route setter-operated, Horizon will offer routes and amenities for every type of climber.

“Climbing gyms can be kind of intimidating as a space,” Broadhurst said. “Our vision is a space that’s really welcoming and inclusive for everybody.”

Broadhurst started climbing as an adult and has been at it for the past nine years. Meanwhile, Malter grew up rock climbing in Tucson, Arizona, and has been route setting since her first job in 2016 with Campus Recreation.

“I had never been very athletic at all in the past, so it was exciting to find a physical activity that I loved, that helps me build strength and coordination,” Broadhurst said.

She also expressed her love for the climbing community, which led her to Malter. Women are still a minority in the climbing industry, and the two bonded as the only women on a route setting team. Then, what began as a joke between them eventually became a plan to open their very own gym. 

Collectively, Malter and Broadhurst have worked at 14 different climbing gyms, from long-term employment to one-time route setting gigs. 

“We’ve worked together in the climbing industry for a while now and we found that our visions for an ideal climbing gym really aligned,” Malter said. 

For Broadhurst and Malter, Horizon is their dream gym come true. They say gyms owned by route setters are rare, which is one of many reasons Horizon stand out. 

Route setting can make or break the climbing experience for many gym guests. It’s important that routes are accessible to both shorter and taller climbers, and that routes geared toward beginners are still challenging and help them build technique. 

“A lot of gyms just don’t really put a ton of thought into the lower level climbs,” Broadhurst said. “But you can get really creative with beginner climbs, without requiring a lot of strength and technique.”

Broadhurst said their main focus is being intentionally inclusive and welcoming. Part of that includes creating climbs for beginners that are challenging but not intimidating. They also plan to host events for beginners such as guided tours and boulder basics classes.

Other events will be geared towards local families, such as boulder basics for kids and summer camp — where Malter’s background in early childhood education will come in handy.

“One of the things we noticed was that Champaign-Urbana needed more indoor activities for kids and families, especially during the cold winter and hot summer months,” Malter said. 

Outside of events and classes, kids will also be welcome to use Horizon’s kids climbing room. The room will not only be for little ones to climb on shorter walls, but also for relaxing and hanging out in the reading nook. 

On the flip side, Horizon would also like to help experienced, dedicated climbers develop their skills with their training boards, the tread wall and fitness equipment. 

Fitness equipment will be available to all guests, along with locker rooms, showers, saunas, and yoga and group fitness classes included in memberships — making Horizon a full-service gym.

“It’s ambitious, but we really are trying to make a space for everybody,” Broadhurst said. “Whether you’re completely brand new or you’ve been climbing for years.”

Fortunately for University students, they are included in “everybody.” Malter and Broadhurst plan to host college nights, offering discounts if you show your student ID. Horizon will also be very accessible via bus lines, such as the 5 and 50 Green, for those living near campus without a car. 

Malter is a former member of the UIUC Climbing Club, along with University alum Matthew Krauss, who speaks for the entire club when he says he’s excited for Horizon’s opening.

“Beyond just route setters, they’re both very dedicated climbers and I think that’s really important for a climbing gym — for the owners to really have the climbers in mind when making a lot of decisions,” Krauss said.

Krauss says the club hopes to have a good relationship with Horizon, and that it will be exciting to have new places for club members to climb and attend events.

Luckily, Horizon’s list of events is never-ending. Malter also mentioned plans for an annual competition, holiday events and events geared toward getting underrepresented groups involved in climbing.

With the grand opening less than two weeks away, Horizon has been sharing its building and preparation progress online as it puts on the finishing touches. Walls are up, and guest route setters from gyms across the Midwest are already building Horizon’s opening set of climbs. 

“One thing people might notice is that the actual walls in our gym are relatively simple in design,” Broadhurst said. “Instead of building out complicated features within the walls themselves, we made the geometry pretty simple so that we can get really creative with building climbs.”

“Almost like a blank canvas,” Malter added.

Seeing these final stages of construction has been especially exciting for the new business owners, continuing the anticipation that began the day they first revealed their plans to the world.

“My favorite part, hands down, was the day we announced the gym to the public,” Malter said. “We just received an outpouring of support and positive feedback.”

Thanks to this support, Malter and Broadhurst’s dream gym is becoming a reality — and it’s on the Horizon for climbers, families and students alike.

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