TOP TEAM
The £5.25m extreme sports facility in Hemel Hempstead combines skateboarding, climbing, high ropes and caving with a one- stop-shop for youth services. Karen Maxwell takes the plunge and talks to its top team
I
certainly don’t fall into the age range of XC’s target au- dience – adrenaline-seeking 13- to 19-year-olds – however,
after throwing myself (quite literally) head-first into some of the hair-raising activities the centre has to offer, I’m likely to don a hoodie and head back for more! The result of a partnership between
Dacorum Sports Trust, Dacorum Borough Council and youth services provider Youth Connexions, the XC houses activities
and services chosen by young people for young people – many of who shy away from traditional indoor sports such as badminton, basketball and netball.
My XC experience There were no shuttlecocks or shin pads to be found in the retail outlets at the entrance to XC. Instead, rock climbing, skateboarding, BMX biking and scooter equipment filled the shelves – as well as skateboarding brands such as Vans shoes, Emerica clothing and Nixon watches. On entering the facility, I was greeted by
friendly staff in an open-plan, ultilitarian reception/café area, which offered floor- to-ceiling views of the climbing wall on one side, and the skatepark on the other. Double doors at the end of the café
area led to Youth Connexions’ youth services area on the first floor – compris- ing a media suite, recording studio and counselling offices – with views to the climbing and skateboard areas below. The 150m organic, indoor caving system,
built into the fabric of the building, and the high ropes obstacle course are also ac- cessed from this part of the building. This
The fibre-glass, pitch black 150m caving system is said to be the largest of its kind in Europe
28 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital
is where I met up with former skateboard- er Declan, my caving guide. After a safety and navigation brief, we
switched on our helmet lights and em- barked on a 20-minute crawling exercise of twists and turns as we stretched and squeezed ourselves in and out of a net- work of confined tunnels – at the end of which I was very happy to see daylight! I then donned climbing shoes, helmet
and harness and joined Declan and Chris (ex-skateboarder and climbing enthusi- ast) in the open- (air) ended 60m x 14m climbing area. Starting with the basics – I placing my feet on nooks and stretching to holds to walk across a transverse wall, pro- gressed onto a bouldering wall and then climbed 12m, while attached to a safety pulley. The final feat was a 12m climb onto a flat ridge before abseiling down – with Declan belaying from the ground. I’m not keen on heights, but after the
climbing and some gentle persuasion, Chris harnessed and attached me to the high ropes obstacle cable system – 12m above the ground – and helped me to sway and stumble through the course. Once back on firm ground, I reflect-
ed on a terrifying but hugely enjoyable experience. I’d had a unique, full-body workout in an open air environment and both Declan and Chris helped me to push myself beyond what I thought possible.
Issue 1 2012 © cybertrek 2012
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