When you think of Push Climbing, what commonly comes to mind is the climbing wall that is currently located in the heart of District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Việt Nam. The Climbing facility that is located within Saigon Outcast. 

But did you know that behind the climbing wall, Push Climbing offers so much more?

  • Paul Massad. Photo by Derek Uerkvitz.
  • Push Climbing.
 

PUSH CLIMBING’S FIRST PROJECT IN HO CHI MINH CITY, Việt Nam – 

We want to go back eleven years and share Push Climbing’s first project : “The OG Push Climbing.”

PUSH CLIMBING PROJECT : Bouldering Gym. 

NAME : Push Climbing. 

LOCATION : Quận 7. Địa chỉ: S 67 -1 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Phú Mỹ Hưng, Tp. HCM

WHEN : 2009-2010.

DETAILS : 150 Square Meter of climbable surface. 

  • Boulder Climbing Wall
  • 1 Top Rope 8 meters high with one anchor system to offer belay practice.

THE FIRST PUSH CLIMBING WALL –

 “A spectacular gym with the soul of the lost boys of Peter Pan.” 

Paul Massad.

Paul Massad, the founder of Push Climbing shares his journey of how Push Climbing started in Vietnam. Massad was a young climber who had finished University in Vietnam. Paul brought his passion for climbing from Alaska. 

“I just wanted to climb all day, every day…” 

Paul Massad.

Massad explains that, “It was the first dedicated bouldering-only climbing gym in Ho Chi Minh. X-Rock Climbing was offering lead and sport climbing at this time, so I decided that it was easier to build a bouldering wall using a smaller space like in Japan, with one Top-Rope anchor to practice belaying.”

  • Paul Massad at The First Push Climbing Gym In Viet Nam.
  • Paul Massad The First Push Climbing Gym in Viet Nam.
 

“It was a passion project and I didn’t really know what I was putting myself into. I was very naive and had some cash on the side saved from teaching English and that was it”, Paul admits. 

Through the process of discovering what it means to just be a climber in the community, Paul learned that owning a gym required a lot more depth than what he visioned on the surface. 

“It was the most challenging project, because at this time, I did not speak any Vietnamese.”

Paul Massad.

Massad shares that, “This project forced me to interact with the suppliers, logistic managers, factories, brands. Gear that was offered in Vietnam needed to be learned. I was able to self teach how to speak Vietnamese to better connect and work to build this climbing wall.” 

Choices were limited, MadRock was just beginning to manufacture rock climbing shoes in Viet Nam. Gear and climbing suppliers were far and between. Now in 2021 Rock Climbing is building more popularity in South East Asia, climbing gear is widely more accessible, but it wasn’t the case back in 2009.

Paul successfully learned and moved forward through the importance of starting from scratch in a new country. This opened up the doors that inspired expanding what else he can offer the community and region of SouthEast Asia. He fell in love with the design and the construction elements that go into building a climbing wall. 

 

The project itself took around one and a half months to build. In that time, Paul discovered that building a climbing gym requires more than meets the eye. 

Massad explains, “This was the project in which I learned how to 3D model which then led to the foundation of Push Climbing’s designs and engineering surfaces.”

Look here for concepts of design, construction and building that Push Climbing and Paul Massad offers. 

FROM PAPER TO WALL – 

This project of “The OG Push Climbing Wall” was the first 3D installation that Massad created and built. 

Paul explains how, “The place was built by 2 people. Myself and Mr. Thân. Mr. Thân was a welding expert and I did the rest. Eventually, we outgrew the location and decided to justify searching for a more affluent public. This drove me to want to be in D2 where we could host a bigger gym. This dream came true in 2016.” 

Massad also shares that, “because it was a Bouldering Gym, it was easier to retrofit, without changing the primary structure of the climbing space. Modularity was a paramount feature. Meaning that, if I ever had to move it, I could just unbolt it and take it out.”

Construction of The Push Climbing Bouldering Gym 2009.  Photos by : Derek Uerkvitz.

WHAT DID THE “OG PUSH CLIMBING WALL” LEAVE BEHIND? – 

Through Paul’s vision, growth and inspiration, The OG Push Climbing Wall brought the momentum that South East Asia, and Viet Nam needed to start building the climbing and adventure scene that we understand now. 

For the last decade, Massad’s adaptability towards the innovation of what is required to build a gym developed the parallel of the design, construction and consulting that Push Climbing offers today across South East Asia.

PUSH CLIMBING CAN TAKE YOUR VISION FROM “ZERO TO HERO” –

Are you inspired to begin your adventure project or do you know someone in your community who could benefit from the consulting with Paul Massad and the Push Climbing team?

To build a bouldering gym,  like “The OG Push Climbing” you will need following:

  • Passion for climbing.
  • Space from 100 m2 and above.
  • Walls height of maximum 5 meters, minimum of 3 meters.
  • Budget from $5000 USD and up.
  • A targeting audience in mind.

Contact us to learn more about how we can assist you to tap into your adventure project. 

Download our visual handbook HERE to take your vision from “Zero to Hero”.

 Paul Massad, Founder of Push Climbing. 

Email : paulmassadg@gmail.com

STAY TUNED – 

Stay tuned to learn how the Push Climbing team constructed the one and only Stainless Steel waterfront Climbing Wall located at California Fitness in District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam in 2010-2011.

Follow us on FB, IG and our Push Climbing Project Blog as we release more about other projects Push Climbing has accomplished in the last 11 years. Plus the projects moving forward. 

Climb on. 

Words + Interview by : Ally Fleckenstein.

3D Concepts and Renderings : Paul Massad.

Photos by : Paul Massad and Derek Uerkvitz.

Translation by: Trang Bui.