By Pauly Suba 

When the sport of climbing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, it wasn’t just a milestone for athletes — it was a spark that ignited a global passion for scaling walls and conquering boulders. In Guam, that spark caught fire with the launch of Climbing Guam in January 2023, a venture that has quickly become a hub for fitness, fun, and community.

But what makes Climbing Guam truly unique? For starters, it’s one of the few places in the world where you can scale a wall and then rally on the badminton court — all under one roof.

Now, as the gym celebrates its second anniversary, co-founder Noah Banez and manager Brett Armstrong talk about their journey, their unique badminton-climbing combo, and their vision for growing the sport in the Mariana Islands.  

GBM: Noah let’s start with the basics. What’s The Climbing Gym all about?

Noah Banez (Co-Founder): Me and two other owners own the climbing gym. We started that two years ago. The other two owners (Rui Wang and Michael Khan) are not originally climbers, but they were badminton players, and they saw climbing — I think — at the 2020 Olympics, the Tokyo Olympics. They saw it, and they, we [said] they can put a wall into their gym.

The only issue is there’s a lot that goes into the climbing space, a lot of setting. I came in and stepped in as a partner. I wasn’t involved with picking the space, but we’re making the space.

GBM: How did you end up partnering with them?

Banez: Actually, I reached out to them. I wanted to start a climbing gym when I came here, and I only came two and a half years ago to Guam. But when I came, I said there’s no climbing, and I’m a climber, so I need something. It was good that we could provide it.

GBM: You moved to Guam sight-unseen?

Banez: I will be honest… I thought Guam was like in South America. We knew one month prior to moving; I just gave notice to my job. My wife, Olivia, got a job with Department of Agriculture’s Coral Reef project. We just kind of went on a hope.

GBM: Not scary. Because your wife is so, so good at what she does, right?

Banez: She’s great at what she does. Guam’s a sweet place. You guys have it so nice here. People are sweet too.

GBM: Why pair climbing with badminton?  

Banez: We share the space. Half badminton, half climbing. There are quite a few badminton-climbing gym combinations. We can’t claim [being the only one], but we’re still special. Only the second climbing gym in Guam. There was one back in the day, I think it started in 2010.

GBM: What’s your secret to keeping climbers hooked?

Banez: Setters take down the rocks and put them back on in creative new ways each week. We got a bunch of these really nice new holds that they use on the professional circuit. We closed the gym just to put all those up. Climbing is one of the most intense workouts — you’re solving problems. It’s you against the rock. But 100% of people here are competitive too. We actually went on to the pro circuit last year… Team Guam. We took athletes to Innsbruck, Seoul, China.

GBM: Brett, what’s the vibe like here?

Brett Armstrong, manager: I would say we have an unbelievable community. Everybody is super welcoming. For climbing, it’s about 50-50 split between military and locals. For badminton, we have a wide range: Chinese, Filipino, Korean, military. The youngest kids are 5-6; older players are in their 60s and 70s. We get a decent number of off-island visitors too. I don’t know who’s … sending them our way.

GBM: Pricing breakdown?

Armstrong: Badminton: $10 day pass, $79 monthly. Climbing: $15 day pass, $85 monthly. Punch cards, rentals, annual memberships too. For climbers, the 5-punch pass is $65 with shoes and chalk. 

I’d say I’m one of the luckiest people on the planet. I show up to work every day and just love it.  

GBM: Final pitch?  

Banez: Come check us out, 3 to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday. We already call Guam our home. Besides our family in California, we don't want to be any other place. Guam's a sweet place.

Nestled off Bello Road in Barrigada Heights, Climbing Guam isn’t just a gym — it’s a testament to the power of passion and partnership. What started as an idea to bring climbing to Guam has blossomed into a thriving space where climbers and badminton players alike gather to push their limits and connect with others.