“Edinburgh International Climbing Arena”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA:Ratho, formerly the Ratho Adventure Centre) is an adventure sports facility located in Ratho, near Edinburgh, Scotland. Built in a disused quarry, it is the largest indoor climbing wall in the world.

Financial problems months after it opened in December 2003 put the Arena into receivership. It was purchased by the City of Edinburgh Council and fully reopened in May 2007 after a further programme of works costing around {{GBP|6 million}}. The centre is now used by both recreational climbers and for competitions, and is also home to the Scottish National Judo Academy.

History

Originally used for supplying stone to the Central Belt of Scotland due to its proximity to the Union Canal, the quarry expanded from around a third of its present size in 1853 to the current outline in 1895.^[1] Edinburgh climbers Rab Anderson, Duncan McCallum and architect David Taylor formed the Ratho Quarry Company, and purchased the quarry in 1995 as the site for the climbing centre.^[2]^[3] The quarry, which had been unused for around ninety years, was filled with compacted rubble and heavily overgrown with trees and shrubs, making assessment of the site difficult until significant work had been carried out, but the assumption that the floor of the quarry was flat proved to be correct.^[3] Plans unveiled in late 2001 showed the estimated cost to be {{GBP|7 million}}, with funding of {{GBP|1.5 million}} to come from a Sportscotland lottery fund grant.^[2]

The climbing centre is located in the smaller of two lobes of a figure of eight that make up the quarry.^[3]^[4] After {{convert|250000|t}} of rubble was removed, the quarry was shown to have a broadly level floor and be almost {{convert|30|m}} deep.^[3] During construction in April 2002, the partially completed roof was ripped off in a storm.^[5]

When it opened in December 2003, the centre was the largest indoor climbing arena in the world, but problems during construction increased the final cost to {{GBP|22 million}}.^[2]^[6] In March 2004 the centre went into receivership due to a leaky roof, poor management, and a lack of money, leaving a number of contractors unpaid.^[7]^[8] It was purchased by the City of Edinburgh Council in October 2005 for {{GBP|3.87 million}}, and then closed in August 2006 to allow full completion of the venue.^[9]^[10]^[11]

It reopened on 25 May 2007, under the management of Edinburgh Leisure, a non-profit organisation which provides sport and leisure facilities on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.^[7] {{GBP|6 million}} was spent overhauling the roof, the plumbing, improving the car park and converting an unopened scuba diving tank into a dedicated bouldering room.^[7] Under new management, more emphasis was placed on making the centre accessible to families and visitors as well as experienced climbers.^[7]^[11] The roof, consisting of {{convert|8500|sqm}} of tensioned fabric, was replaced at the end of 2013 at a cost of around {{GBP|500,000}}.^[9]^[12]

Climbing

There are over 11,000 bolt-on holds in the centre, with 300 routes ranging in difficulty from grades 2 to 8b.^[13]^[14] The Aerial Assault course is an assault course suspended {{convert|30|m}} above the main hall. As of March 2019 it is closed due to safety issues and there are no plans to repair. As well as a trio of boulders in the centre of the main hall, there is a dedicated bouldering room, with routes ranging in difficulty from V0 to V15.^[15]

Two identical speed walls allow speed climbing competitions to be conducted head to head, and there is an articulated competition wall known as "The Hanger" that can be raised or lowered to change the angle of overhang.^[16]

The larger "lobe" of the quarry is also used for outdoor climbing, although some of the rock is described as "loose and scary".^[1] Formed from dolerite, there are around 65 known routes.^[17]^[18]

Services and facilities

The centre contains the world's largest indoor climbing arena, as well as bouldering facilities, the Scottish National Judo Academy, and an aerial assault course.^[19]

The Tiso outdoor shop closed in March 2019. There is a cafe overlooking the main arena as well as smaller cafe on the ground floor.^[20] The centre has a gym that is available when not in use by Scottish National Judo Academy.^[21] Other classes are held in the Fitness Studio.^[22]

The centre also has a softplay with a café called Scrambles for children aged around 0-7 and additionally, the largest café/play area in Edinburgh, Rocktots.

Events

Competitions

The centre also hosted the IFSC World Youth Championship in 2004 and 2010,^[24]^[25] and the British Lead Climbing Championships every year until Awesome Walls in Sheffield took over in 2013.^[26]^[27]

Theatre

In the Edinburgh International Festival 2013, Leaving Planet Earth used the centre as the stage.^[28]

Politics

On 20 April 2015 the Scottish National Party held their manifesto launch for the 2015 general election in the main climbing arena.

References

1. ^¹{{cite web |url=http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/6930/1/EarthHeritageRathomaeb.pdf |title=Scaling the heights of your local geodiversity: The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) |publisher=NERC Open Research Archive |first=Martin |last=Smith |first2=Mike |last2=Browne |accessdate=2 February 2014}}
2. ^¹²{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6690625.stm |title=£30m climbing centre's rocky road |first=Jonathan |last=Lessware |work=BBC News |date=25 May 2007 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
3. ^¹²³{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/ratho-adventure-centre |title=Ratho Climbing Wall, Edinburgh |publisher=edinburgharchitecture.co.uk |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
4. ^{{Google maps |url=https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=edinburgh+international+Climbing+Arena&ll=55.923453,-3.397173&spn=0.00183,0.005284&t=h&z=18 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
5. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/no-rock-solid-opening-date-for-climbers-1-866915 |title=No rock-solid opening date for climbers |date=29 May 2003 |work=The Scotsman |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
6. ^{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3047298.stm |title=Adventure sports climbing high |publisher=BBC News |date=5 July 2003 |accessdate=31 January 2014}}
7. ^¹²³{{cite web |url=http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=37433 |title=Ratho Re-Opens |date=May 2007 |publisher=UKClimbing |accessdate=1 February 2014 |first=Mick |last=Ryan}}
8. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/climb-base-firms-won-t-get-a-penny-1-1019812 |title=Climb base firms 'won't get a penny' |work=The Scotsman |date=16 June 2004 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
9. ^¹{{cite news |url=http://news.stv.tv/east-central/216719-council-faces-550000-roof-bill-for-edinburgh-international-climbing-arena/ |title=Council faces £550,000 bill to replace roof on climbing centre |work=STV News |date=7 March 2013 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
10. ^{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4228540.stm |title=Centre climbs out of money woes |work=BBC News |date=9 September 2005 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
11. ^¹{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6689179.stm |title=Climb centre reopens after refit |work=BBC News |date=25 May 2007 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
12. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.basestructures.com/us/in-the-news/news/edinburgh-international-climbing-arena-press-release.html |title=City of Edinburgh Council selects Base for 6 figure membrane roof contract for the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |publisher=Base Structures |accessdate=1 February 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203114827/http://www.basestructures.com/us/in-the-news/news/edinburgh-international-climbing-arena-press-release.html |archivedate=3 February 2014 |df=dmy }}
13. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.eica-ratho.co.uk/facilities/climbing-arena-0 |title=Climbing Arena |publisher=Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
14. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/biggest-climbing-wall-is-finally-on-the-up-1-881018 |title=Biggest climbing wall is finally on the up |date=29 May 2003 |work=The Scotsman |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
15. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.eica-ratho.co.uk/facilities/bouldering-room |title=Bouldering Room |publisher=Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
16. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.wyc-2010.com/content/arena-walls/2858/ |title=Arena Walls |publisher=wyc-2010 |accessdate=1 February 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203141819/http://www.wyc-2010.com/content/arena-walls/2858/ |archivedate=3 February 2014 |df=dmy }}
17. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=12 |title=Ratho Quarry |publisher=UKClimbing |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
18. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.scottishclimbs.com/wiki/Ratho_Quarry |title=Ratho Quarry |publisher=scottishclimbs.com |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
19. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.judoscotland.com/national-training-centre |title=National Training Centre |publisher=Judo Scotland |accessdate=1 February 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218205139/http://www.judoscotland.com/national-training-centre |archivedate=18 February 2014 |df=dmy }}
20. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.eica-ratho.co.uk/facilities |title=Facilities |publisher=Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
21. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.eica-ratho.com/content/gym/1132/ |title=Gym |publisher=Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |accessdate=1 February 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113020833/http://www.eica-ratho.com/content/gym/1132 |archivedate=13 November 2012 |df=dmy }}
22. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.eica-ratho.co.uk/facilities/fitness-class-studio |title=Fitness Class Studio |publisher=Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
23. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.raremanagement.co.uk/ratho_world_cup_finals.htm |title=Ratho UIAA-ICC Climbing World Cup Finals |publisher=Rare Management |accessdate=18 March 2014}}
24. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.raremanagement.co.uk/ratho_youth_champs.htm |title=Ratho UIAA-ICC World Youth Climbing Championships |publisher=Rare Management |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
25. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.wyc-2010.com/ |title=IFSC World YOuth Championships 2010 |publisher=Edinburgh International Climbing Arena |accessdate=1 February 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203131807/http://www.wyc-2010.com/ |archivedate=3 February 2014 |df=dmy }}
26. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.thebmc.co.uk/british-lead-and-speed-climbing-championships-2013 |first=Rob |last=Adie |title=British Lead and Speed Climbing Championships 2013 |work=British Mountaineering Council |date=6 September 2013 |accessdate=1 February 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203002229/https://www.thebmc.co.uk/british-lead-and-speed-climbing-championships-2013 |archivedate=3 February 2014 |df=dmy }}
27. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=64041 |publisher=UKClimbing |date=September 2011 |title=First ever British Speed Climbing Championships |accessdate=1 February 2014}}
28. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-23574868 |title=Edinburgh International Festival leaves planet Earth |first=Steven | last=Brocklehurst |work=BBC News |date=9 August 2013 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}