5th Birthday Shenanigans
On April 12th, Parthian celebrated five incredible years since opening its doors to the Southampton climbing community. Hitting the half decade mark felt like the perfect excuse to throw a full weekend of fun, especially with the sun finally making an appearance!
Saturday kicked things off with a collaboration with Psychi, hosting a fun and friendly competition that tested not just technique, but creativity of our contestants too. Featuring 25 blocs, climbers tackled a range of unique climbs, some featuring suction cup holds, others requiring velcro attachments, and a few that were quite literally hanging around! Alongside that, we ran a campus, and a no-hands slab challenge, giving everyone a chance to push their strength and skills in different ways. Those who made the podium got their hands on some Parthian chalk buckets, free shoes as well as Psychi duffel bags and more!
Sunday shifted into a more family-friendly vibe, packed with light hearted challenges to enjoy with friends. A standout was the pad stack challenge, which quickly became a crowd favourite as competitors wobbled their way to the top, only to come crashing down like a giant game of Jenga. The prize? A well-earned, delicious pizza from the café! We also hosted a raffle perched at the top of the impressive King and Queen lines, adding a little extra excitement to the day, with Beta Outdoors kindly donating Beta Skin Care bundles.
As a thank you to our community, we offered free auto-belay inductions and tasters all weekend, welcoming both new and returning climbers to get involved.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Parthian birthday without our iconic canvas decorating! This year we mixed it up a bit by taking some polaroids to accompany your beautiful drawings and you can see it all displayed in our main seating area!
Fun fact, The Font Wandsworth also celebrated its 5th Birthday on the same day as us so to commemorate this awesome event and the funny coincidence, Karolina designed limited edition t-shirts that celebrate and honour both of the gyms, so if you visit us anytime soon make sure you grab one before they run out!
Tying it all together were the unbeatable good vibes: sunshine, a live DJ set from DJ Badja party, and a classic BBQ serving up juicy, mouth-watering burgers. It was a weekend to remember, and the perfect way to celebrate five amazing years.
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our climbing community over the years, whether you’ve been a long-time member or just dropped in for a single visit. Every bit of support has helped shape what Parthian is today, and we’re incredibly grateful to have you as part of the journey.
