Goodbye to boring retirement: the adventure sport people over 60 are trying that's safer than it looks - Silicon Canals

"When my neighbor Tom celebrated his 65th birthday last month, his kids threw him what they thought was the perfect party: comfortable chair, cozy slippers, and a stack of crossword puzzles. Meanwhile, three doors down, 68-year-old Margaret was booking her first skydiving lesson. The contrast struck me-why do we assume retirement means slowing down when some people are just getting started on their biggest adventures?"

"Here's what surprised me: indoor rock climbing has become the fastest-growing sport among retirees in the past five years. Not golf. Not water aerobics. Rock climbing. When I first heard this, I thought it had to be a mistake. But the numbers don't lie, and neither do the stories I've been collecting. One woman I spoke with started climbing at 62 after her doctor suggested she needed weight-bearing exercise for bone health. She laughed when she told me, "I thought he meant walking. Three years later, I'm scaling walls twice a week.""

"The beauty of indoor climbing for older adults lies in its adaptability. Unlike outdoor climbing, you're in a controlled environment with adjustable difficulty levels. You can start on walls with holds as big as doorknobs and angles as gentle as a staircase. The safety systems are redundant-harnesses, ropes, auto-belays, and trained staff watching every move."

Indoor rock climbing has surged as the fastest-growing sport among retirees over the past five years. Controlled gym environments allow adjustable difficulty, large holds, and gentle angles that support gradual progression for beginners in their 60s and beyond. Redundant safety systems—harnesses, ropes, auto-belays—and trained staff reduce risk and enable confidence. Some older adults begin climbing for bone-strengthening, weight-bearing exercise after medical advice and then continue for social, fitness, and challenge reasons. The trend challenges assumptions that retirement requires slowing down, showing many seniors pursuing adventurous, strength-building activities instead of only low-impact options.

Read at Silicon Canals