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Rock climbing gym Bar Fitness center Gym Yoga studioAbout the Club
Whetstone is a world-class indoor climbing facility and Northern Colorado's largest and newest climbing gym. You'll find over 20,000 square-feet of climbing, a fitness center, yoga studio, and The Bivy, a one-of-a-kind cafe serving local beers, wines, and food. We provide youth and adult climbing instruction, auto belays, top rope and bouldering.
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Reviews
Nathan Fisher
โ 5
happy place - 5 stars
Nice staff, nice gym, nice people.
I want to bake the staff a pan of brownies for thanksgiving or Christmas.
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John Baker
โ 5
They really encourage handicap climbers
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Audrey Righter
โ 5
Decided to get a little last minute climb in on our way through FoCo for a wedding and we were so glad we came in. Ryan made belay tests super smooth and enjoyable, route setting was very engaging and well thought out. The whole gym was so well put together, and truly was a climbers climbing gym. My dad was there with me and he loved it just as much. Would love to come here again!!!
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SuperTasticMario
โ 5
I love the community and atmosphere โค๏ธ I am from Greeley and I legit go out of my way to see great people like Robin! I know there is a gym in Greeley and donโt get me wrong they are cool but they donโt got the swag that this place has ๐๏ธ I love the Whetstone crew and Owner, whoever they are have clearly made the right decisions.
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Kyle Sarver
โ 5
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Andrew Schulz
โ 5
Great experience so far! We signed up for a discounted summer pass and love the space, the employees, and the whole vibe at Whetstone. Seeing my seven-year-old climb up high and push herself has been such a sweet experience.
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Felipe Proano
โ 5
Whetstone is one of the best climbing gyms in Colorado and most likely in the West. Everyone has a space to have fun climbing from beginners to experienced climbers that have seen many seasons. The route setting team is extremely qualified and also the instruction team. Whetstone has and will forever prioritize climbing mostly because the owner and staff are longtime climbers. It also has a climbing history museum and a climbing library, no other gym around has even thought of that. Visit Whetstone if youโre a climber or want to learn how to climb!!
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Michael Redmond
โ 5
WhetStone Climbing is an amazing experience. I took my 10-year old grandson to Whetstone and we had a great time. All the staff are friendly, helpful and supportive. The plethora of climbing opportunities are nearly endless! Ryan G. deserves a special recognition for his instruction and support for Jonah's learning how to climb safely. My wife even took notes on how Ryan described climbing to Jonah as his instruction was incredibly helpful to assure Jonah climbed safely. We will be back soon!
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Ben Moody
โ 5
I've been a member at this gym for a year and a half, and it's been my favorite gym I've climbed at. The setting is great, great variety of boulder terrain, tons of top rope (though not the highest walls in town), great community and events - proud to call Whetstone my home gym!
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Jessi Hicks
โ 5
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Frankly Powell
โ 5
I love it
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Philip Zimmermann
โ 5
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Joannie Pharand
โ 5
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Ryder Green
โ 5
Whetstone Climbing Gym is fantastic! This place has such a welcoming vibe, and you can feel the passion everyone here has for climbing. The walls are top-notch, with routes for all levels, so whether youโre just starting or pushing advanced climbs, thereโs something to keep you challenged. The staff is awesomeโsuper friendly, always around to help, and genuinely excited to see you progress. It feels like a real community, too; they run great events, workshops, and have fitness and yoga spaces that are really well kept. Whetstone is hands-down my favorite place to climb in Colorado. Canโt recommend it enough!
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Jarad Heintzelman
โ 4
Tried this place for the first time, and loved almost everything about it. Really just one small complaint: as a moderately color-blind guy, I struggled a lot here. Purple, pink, and blue all look really similar to me, and I found them next to each other on the same rope a bunch of times. I know they can't accommodate for this all of the time, but it stood out to me here more than other gyms. Everything else was great, would recommend!
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Julie Goss
โ 5
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Eric Schnepel
โ 5
Really great climbing gym with a friendly and helpful staff. Props to the dude who gave my wife and I our lead test, Josh (I think). Super professional, friendly, and thorough.
I travel for work and climb at gyms (and outdoors) all over the country, and Whetstone is one of the nicer facilities around. Has everything needed - multiple boards (8x12 TB2, Moon, Kilter), huge bouldering area, weight gym, lead walls, etc.
We primarily lead climbed, and the setting was generally great. Grades were super stout by modern gym or outdoor standards (probably a few notches too hard in my opinion) but things were consistent, which is all that really matters overall.
(Review edited 8/22) - I had some feedback about clipping stances in an initial version of this review. The head setter went out of his way to talk with me about it in person during my next visit, which was super awesome. He was very patient and understanding, and gave some background on their setting philosophy. Great interaction that made me respect this place all the more.
They really put a lot of care and attention into what they do at this gym, and they seem to be truly interested in responding to comments from the community.
Truly a great gym!
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Sarah Peterson
โ 5
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Luke MacHale
โ 5
The best!
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Jude Holladay
โ 2
amenities here are great and staff are friendly but for me the most important thing is the setting and the setting here is awful, everything feels very contrived and nothing flows well; lots of awkward body positions. there was practically no crimps too I just ended up on the mb and tb2. unless you just wanna board climb if youโre looking for somewhere to train during the summer this is not the place.
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Faith Lyons
โ 5
Howdy!! Iโm in CO for a couple of weeks from San Antonio Texas and bouldering is a newer hobby that a cousin introduced me to. I went this morning and had a blast!! The facility was clean, the staff super friendly and willing to show us around and how to use the equipment (thanks Ryan!), and it was all around a great environment. If yโall ever decide to expand, please come to San Antonio!
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Dana DeMarco
โ 5
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Murti Nauth
โ 5
Better than Ascent! This is a standard gym with all the training stuff you need including training boards. I was there for just a few hours, but they emphasized community much more than Ascent.
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Seth Nelson
โ 5
We recently picked up a summer membership here, so we have only been here a few times. But I will say, compared to another local clunking gym we did a trial and class at, this gym blows that one out of the water in terms of amenities and service.
I love how much climbing space they have. There are tons of options, and the layout makes it easy to traverse around. The gym is very nice with plenty of weight and bench options in an enclosed room off of the main climbing area.
The employees are super cool! They helped us buy the right harness and shoes that we needed and were very patient with our newbie questions. Always super friendly and cool when anybody comes in (especially compared to the other gym we tried).
Super excited to continue going here! Thank you to the awesome employees who made the decision to get a membership here very easy!
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tommy hochheimer
โ 1
Bought a week pass, but they wouldnโt let me climb a week from the day the pass was purchased. Bad customer service.
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Melanie McDonough
โ 5
Whetstone is a great place to climb! The community there is amazing and so welcoming. The staff are friendly and incredibly helpful. I started climbing almost two years ago and began with the intro class at Whetstone. I've since taken a handful of their other classes and attended many of the fun events they host. The routes are also very well organized and set. I feel they prepare me for climbing outside while also giving me consistently new ways to challenge myself inside. The setters do a great job!
Overall, Whetstone is a great choice for climbing and finding a solid, welcoming community in Fort Collins!
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Uriah Nevins
โ 5
Very friendly gym. Best setting in the state. STIFF grades, especially in the lower end.
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Cody Prince
โ 5
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Lucero Byers
โ 5
First timer and it was a really easy process. Didn't get their names, but thanks to the staff that helped us out yesterday. Showed us the ropes, and helped me get over my fear of heights and letting go/trusting the auto belay lol. I was terrified, but it was easy to get started. Also my friend got sick and staff was very nice about not making her feel bad about it. In addition really liked that they were not pushy about membership or anything like that. Will definitely return! Such a cool/huge place!
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Jerid Burgett
โ 1
We came in so excited to rock climb for the first time but sadly did not have a good visit at Whetstone. Will the employee at the front desk was not helpful when we told him we were beginners and gave us no tips and wouldnโt even go over the basics with us but luckily as we walked around kind of lost and not sure what to start with we ran into another employee named Tim that was so helpful and actually willingly without asking gave us a tour and helped us gear up as well and was just amazing and did the most to make sure we knew what we needed before starting. Sadly though with how badly we were treated by Will we will not be returning.
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Chrissy Benton
โ 5
Elena, Ryan and Conor were fantastic to work with! They were positive, encouraging and thoughtful when working with our students during a field trip.
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Jeffery Booth
โ 5
I absolutely love this place. The staff is friendly, the equipment is amazing, they have auto-belays and the people climbing are always kind. I recommend getting a membership as paying the day rate gets very costly.
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Melissa Yoder
โ 5
Great place to learn and start climbing!
The staff are understanding and helpful. And I like the atmosphere. Good vibes
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Carolyn Wentler
โ 5
Whetstone hosted the R42 youth Regional comp. They did an outstanding job - from taking care of volunteers, to the member support with volunteering to just an overall great venue to watch a competition. Truly great experience for all! Thank you!
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Diana LLA
โ 5
Awesome friendly staff, Esteban and Derek are the best! The gym has fantastic setters and is very nice and cozy. I love that the grades are very close to the outdoor ones and give you a realistic assessment of your performance.
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Myckala Baker
โ 5
This is a great gym. A relaxed feel with lots of options for routes and bouldering. Also they have a pregnancy harness! Im so glad i could still climb while pregnant.
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L F
โ 5
This is hands down the best gym in Colorado! The setters are amazing and truly want to make you a better climber! Staff is amazing! I was a member here for over two years and visit often as itโs truly a community. Itโs like going home and actually liking your family and having so many amazing cousins! Whetstone will forever be my home gym!
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Josh
โ 5
Great climbing gym, strong recommendation for kids lessons here the package is a good deal for what you get. My son loves climbing here and really enjoyed his time in the climbing classes!
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Anna Johnson
โ 5
What a great experience! Super easy check-in. Clean space and fun people all around. They were incredibly kid friendly for our little guys as well (5yr to 1yr) Canโt wait to come back!
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Karuna Ash-Noda
โ 5
The pickles from the Bivy are excellent quality. Nice crunch, color, and taste. Would recommend to a friend. Also the climbing is great ๐ซต
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Kelly Dryer
โ 5
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Jhonny On The Spot
โ 5
An amazing place to hang out with friends and enjoy rock climbing, the facility itโs amazing.
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Ryan Hart
โ 5
Incredible community and ethos here. Kudos to Darrell and the team for building a standout climbing experience. A fun place to pull plastic whether with the fam or your mates. Good grades for all.
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Rickey Anderson
โ 5
Great place to go climbing!
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joseph kreimier
โ 5
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Kendall Hewins
โ 5
Best gym in NOCO! Amazing sets and coolest community
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Anthony Gallegos
โ 5
Great place to climb, have amazing staff that are helpful and knowledgeable.
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Shea Richards
โ 5
I absolutely love this place! This has become my new home away from home and fav place to be. The staff is incredibly friendly! The community/people here are so nice. There are plenty of auto belays for when I go by myself. Also the pricing is great for a membership with everything they offer, climbing, yoga, gym, bar, guest passes, community get together events, ectโฆ..
10/10 recommend ๐๐ป๐ค
Thanks for being awesome yโall!
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Matthew Anderson
โ 5
Excellent route setting and very helpful management. Owner Darrell was patient and productive with a billing issue. Make sure to check out Whetstone and the Bivy after your session is done!
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Diego Aguilar
โ 5
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David Roeske
โ 4
Tons of routes, nice walltopia walls
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Matthew Staheli
โ 5
This is an awesome place to climb with a very helpful, non-judgemental staff and patrons. It has hundreds of climbing paths that are regularly modified, with varying levels of difficulty. It's an amazing place to climb.
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Colin Erskine
โ 4
This gym is HUGE!!
Top over 200+ boulder problems, tons of auto belay walls, top ropes, leading, they have a full workout studio and yoga classes. Oh and a bar. Wow. Prices are great for what they offer.
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Jacob D
โ 5
Quite a nice gym- sets are interesting and leading is fun on their lead wall.
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Laura Hayes
โ 5
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Kati Kunisch
โ 5
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J Holmes
โ 5
Expansive facility with numerous walls of varying degrees. 5 auto belay walls available. Two different bouldering areas. Gear for sale, bar on site, food available. This was a fantastic afternoon spent with with family. We climbed every auto belay available and spent over 3 hours there. The atmosphere here is really great.
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Chelsea Sue Holmes
โ 5
If you're a family with kiddos and deciding which gym to come to for afternoon of fun or a membership, choose Whetstone. We just spent 3hrs here and everyone was able to climb. There was something for my oldest at 14 and youngest at 5 and my 2 in-between. Belay and Bouldering! Prices are fair. For members there is a fitness room and bar. They offer a kids climbing club as well.
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Travis Bieber
โ 3
This facility huge and it has some room to grow. Massively large, so large it's easy to spend hours here and never repeat a climb. A sizable weight training room, yoga studio, in house physical therapist, bar; the bivy, and a gear shop. Three different training boards, along with a full campus board with wood rungs. All climbs are either top rope or can be climbed on lead, no auto belays which is something I think they could add in the future. Two very large boulders with hundreds of problems, at times it seems like the difficulty of climbs will leans to the harder side. There are easy to moderate climbs but a large percentage reside on the top end of the scale. Resets are nice because you can only repeat the same climbs so many times before they become boring.
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Hayden Anderson (Haydonist)
โ 5
Whetstone is a great place to climb and hang out. You get a great sense of community. The routes change often and are creative. The hangout areas keep the climbers climbing and the people who just want to hang out away from plugging up the walls.
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K Willets
โ 5
We came here for the USA Youth Climbing Divisional Bouldering meet and we were really impressed by this facility! Clean, friendly staff, easy parking, and incredible walls.
We hope to come again!
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Cory G
โ 5
Nice new space with lots of room to move around. Seems to have been built in the building of an old ice rink. Bouldering is American style but there are lots of good climbs. Also lots of routes, but they are not very high. Great spaces to sit and relax as well. Really liked the gyms feel.
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Zac Horton
โ 5
Love the gym, setters, staff, and members!
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Giovanni Repola
โ 5
Great facility, great staff
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Rob Martin
โ 5
Best climbing gym I've been to. The owner and staff are outstanding, route setters are A-class. Always clean, great coaching. It's my indoor climbing home.
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Mile High Videography
โ 5
Amazing place with lots of new people to meet. I made a friend in the first week of going here and Iโm a pretty extreme introvert. Everyone there is really kind and friendly. Have fun!
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Chelle Costello
โ 5
Soooo much space. Love the bivy.
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Ben Hartman
โ 5
Awesome staff, new routes set often. Overall great gym.
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Kate Johnston
โ 5
This place is AWESOME! Definitely the best climbing gym in the area - it's huge, has a great gym and a super neat little cafรฉ corner. Great vibes and super fun routes.
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Jonah Bryan
โ 5
This gym is amazing, super friendly staff, great classes and programs, family friendly, great workout room, beer, seriously, they have everything!
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Lisa
โ 4
I like the bouldering here more than the sport climbing. Overall itโs a good gym with plenty of variety.
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John Raguse
โ 5
Great place to go climbing and have a beer afterwards with your friends.
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Alexandra Martin
โ 5
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Rich Feit
โ 5
My daughter went climbing here this morning. The routes were quite nice, the staff were friendly, and overall the gym had a nice vibe.
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Tyler Hysell
โ 5
I have been rock climbing for about a year and a half now, and I can say this is the best gym I have experienced. The busiest times don't seem overly crowded, and the atmosphere there is great!
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Bonnie P
โ 5
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Alex Kuretz
โ 5
Love Whestone!
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Jessie Burnside
โ 5
Attentive and and intuitively helpful staff, awesome big gym. My boys love coming here.
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Caesar Garduno
โ 5
Very welcoming and friendly staff! Great and varied setting!
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James Rookwood
โ 5
I was in town for a few days and wanted to get a couple of training sessions in. The gym has a great bouldering area, with an awesome selection of problems. Overhanging to slab, tons of stuff to work, plus a Moonboard, kilter, and tension boards for real dedicated workouts. Add the weight room and hangboard area in, and the gym has everything you need to get better and stronger! If I lived in FT Collins this would definitely be the gym I would join.
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Seano
โ 5
Switched over to Whetstone from another local gym and glad I made the move. Way more space, better variety of holds and problems feel closer to climbing outside. Excited to be training again.
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Lucas Capasso
โ 5
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Emily Fischer
โ 5
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F C
โ 5
Best gym in town, cool family like atmosphere and the staff are super helpful!
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Leah Day
โ 5
Love this place! Great environment. I've top roped, bouldered, and even gone to some yoga classes. I always feel welcomed, safe, and enjoy myself every step of the way!
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Luke Friese
โ 5
This is the best climbing gym I have ever been to. Excellent routes, super friendly and welcoming staff, very reasonably priced membership, and great classes. Awesome for beginners and experienced climbers. I canโt recommend it enough.
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Graham Johnson
โ 5
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Andrew
โ 4
Great gym had a small hiccup a while back due to them not accepting cash, but they gave me a couple free passes to make up for it! The lead and top roping is great the bouldering was pretty fun too all arpujd a solid gym!
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Leandro Taraborrelli
โ 5
Moderno gim de escalada, el รกrea de boulder es excelente, el seteo de vรญas es muy divertido.
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Tom Trujillo
โ 1
Had a birthday party at Flying High Trampoline Park- the men's restroom was out of order and was instructed to go next door to Whetstone. Upon entry, I was instructed to fill out a waiver form... What? Seriously? I just needed to use the restroom . The gentleman who was at the front desk could have cared less. He instructed me that it was their policy for a waiver form to be filled out. Even for the restroom I asked. It was filled out and restroom was used and I will never step foot in this place again. They couldn't help a neighboring business in a time of need.
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Nathan Ogren
โ 5
Best climbing gym in Fort Collins! Excellent setting and great atmosphere.
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Shikhar Dey
โ 5
Best climbing gym I have been to
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Mik D
โ 5
My husband and I always love to go to whetstone. We have been a member of this gym for almost one year. All staff are super friendly and kind. I enjoy not only climbing but also yoga classes as well. This place is great!
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M Fulling
โ 5
I always have a blast here and the employees are always so kind. This place always has a killer vibe.. LGBTQ+ friendly
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Morgan Steinman
โ 5
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Matt Williams
โ 5
Awesome facilities, staff, and routes. The boulders felt challenging for the grades and were quite inventive in their setting. They covered a myriad of styles, which made them fun without feeling stale or repetitive after 4 hours climbing. And the rope routes were much the same!
Overall, a top-quality gym with a very reasonable day price!
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Matthew Oliver
โ 5
Best in class
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Weston Boldt
โ 5
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Andrew Scelzi
โ 5
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Dwayne T
โ 5
From the moment i arrived i knew i wanted to become a member. They have stuff for all ages and skill levels! Right now i see they have a fun summer camp that the kids love! They're constantly changing up the routes and it's a pretty large facility. The staff is friendly and remembered me by name after i visited only a handful of times and all the other members are friendly and welcoming.
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Jonathan England
โ 5
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David Thomas
โ 5
Rock solid climbing
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Kat Nelson
โ 5
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Tyrel A
โ 5
Amazing staff and amazing climbing for beginners and vets alike.
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Nicki Wolff
โ 2
First time visiting this place and i can't say that it was one of my favorites. The staff was super rude that i encounter, they really didn't explain anything to me. They charge for every little thing, so make sure you bring everything you need,so you won't have a big bill at the end.
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John Homan
โ 5
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Sarah
โ 5
Love this place! We bought a day pass and bouldered for a few hours. The place was huge, super clean, and not busy at all during the late morning. We were pleasantly surprised to find their day passes were 50% on Thursday when we went. (Not sure if thatโs still the case; staff mentioned prices were changing the following week.)
First time climbing in quite awhile so we were rusty for sure, but there were a good variety of routes that were challenging but still within our skill level. Itโs cool that you can top out on the bouldering routes. We didnโt do any top rope climbing but they did have a few auto belays.
Plenty of cubbies to stash your belongings, extra clean bathrooms and a no-climbing-shoes-in-bathroom rule (thank god lol). Their gym was also pretty nice, with a squat rack, a variety of free weights and other equipment to round out your fitness.
Used to be a member at the Spot in Boulder and I must say I think I prefer Whetstone. Not in the budget right now to be a full-on member since weโre already members at a different (non-climbing) gym, but we will definitely be dropping in often!
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Scott Fraser
โ 5
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Creighton Grof-Tisza
โ 5
Friendly staff! Great route setting! Geared towards advancing the climbing community! Iโm looking to my next visitโthank you!
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Grant G
โ 5
We recently decided to give learning to climb a go and searched for some intro classes - we stumbled upon the Whetstone intro to climbing class and decided to sign up and get a membership. It hasnโt been long but we definitely donโt regret not trying it out first, everyone has been quite friendly.
However, the reason I decided to write this review is because Harrison who taught our intro class, and Steph that checked us off to belay really impressed us; and went above and beyond. Harrison with additional information and effort despite having received his covid vaccine that day; and Steph taking additional time and really going out of her way to teach us a variety of things - when she didnโt have to - even showing us how to properly use different gear. These two make great teachers.
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Arlan Brady
โ 5
This is a great climbing gym with opportunities to boulder, belay climb, auto-belay climb and more.
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Gary Lyons
โ 5
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tyler theibault
โ 5
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Sam Acheson
โ 5
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Erik Kaufhold
โ 5
Great atmosphere and route setting!
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Marilyn L.
โ 1
Brought a new friend to Whetstone today and we were so excited to introduce him to this climbing gym. However, the belay checker this evening is neither encouraging or friendly. She came off bossy and condescending. That's not at all good for Whetstone's business. Because of her, my friend became quite discouraged and all of our excitement went out the window. We'll be taking our friend back to Ascent from here on. Their gym is just as good if not better, and their service is more compassionate to the novice. Whetstone might want to re-train their belay check staff on customer service. We were all new to this sport at one point. A little kindness goes a long way.
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Nico Studebaker
โ 5
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Cherise S
โ 5
Love it. Usually not many people during the day. Very open and lots of bouldering!
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Alex New Climber
โ 5
Probably the best climbing gym in NOCO!!! This place is huge and really awesome. I am still new to climbing and It was my first time into the gym but I absolutely loved it will definitely be coming back. Wish the membership was just a little cheaper because I would definitely come in and climb 2/3times a week rather than 1/2times a month. Overall I would definitely check this place out if you are looking for a really nice climbing gym!
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Rustin Hill
โ 5
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Zannie
โ 5
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Jamone Thomas
โ 5
I write a lot of reviews and this one I have to say is one of my most enjoyable experiences. First time climbing and it changed my prospective all together. The staff and energy in the building was very peaceful and balanced. Even though I was alone it didn't feel lonely. Will definitely return.
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Ulanda Baker
โ 5
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Stephen
โ 4
Great staff, good size. The routes were entertaining, but graded a soft. The overhung lead area is really overhung. I miss my last gym that had an actual roof, but this was pretty close. Kudos for having auto-belays. It's not every day I have a partner. The gym was surprisingly empty right now. You could get reservations the same day.
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Brian Orton
โ 5
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Yossef Elmadny
โ 5
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Susie Sapsara
โ 5
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Matthew Mosebar
โ 5
Awesome facility. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. 5 stars all the way.
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Ed E
โ 5
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Kaylee Woodford
โ 5
One of the best gym's around. Such a friendly staff, clean facilities and so much variety for the routes!!!
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Brandon Jones
โ 5
Best climbing gym in the area. Friendly staff, great route setting and a great environment. Couldn't speak more highly of whetstone
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kyle dejohn
โ 5
Joined as a member and absolutely love the facility. HUGE space with lots of routes that constantly change. Will be climbing here daily
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Evan Green
โ 5
All the staff were super nice and chill. Really welcoming environment, especially for newcomers. 10/10 highly recommended
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Giovana Matos
โ 4
Great indoor climbing!
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Michael DiLegge
โ 5
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Xevi Merino
โ 5
Great Climbing and atmosphere. A lot of routes and boulder problems.
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Bailey Parker
โ 4
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Galen Damosso
โ 5
Great Boulders. Great Staff. Great Space.
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Siegfried
โ 1
Dishonest. I signed up pre covid quarentine for a yearly membership. I called and talked to the owner. I wanted a refund for the unused portion of my membership because I have no desire to expose myself to an environment which is going to be impossible to keep clean and no desire to climb in a mask. I was only asking for money back for the time not used yet. If you are not willing to do that you are dishonest.
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Olivia Caputo
โ 5
This is an awesome place to go climbing. The walls support a range of abilities and the staff are all very friendly. I will definitely be coming back soon!
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thomas houchin
โ 5
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Daniel Ayers
โ 5
Very fun for you or the whole family. The facility is kept very clean and the staff is always friendly and helpful.
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Scott Buchanan
โ 1
Tried climbing here twice still havenโt been able too because they donโt take cash pretty sure it clearly says on the dollar bill โ legal for all debts public and privateโ guess I will continue to climb elsewhere
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Isaac Bohrer
โ 5
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Andy Whilden
โ 5
Awesome gym and excellent addition to the climbing community! Staff is super friendly, the place is spotless, and they are taking the necessary precautions for customers to be safe around covid. The place is huge and there is a lot of variety of climbing! I've been to many gyms around the country and this is on par with the best.
They have also supported youth climbing through my work's Experiential Education program at The Matthews House, a local nonprofit. We are incredibly grateful for their staff facilitating climbing to the youth we serve! Thanks Whestone Climbing!!
Source: Google
Nate Harward
โ 5
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.
โ 5
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Derek Olsen
โ 5
Awsome place with great staff! We love our Whetstone family.
Source: Google
Logan Leffeler
โ 5
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Jonathan Finger
โ 3
**UPDATE MARCH 2020**
I have been hearing over the last couple months that things have changed for the better here, so I came back in to give it another shot. The setting has improved immensely, and the general tone/vibe of the place is very different (for the better).
Iโll happily recommend and support Whetstone now, and am happy to be able to say so, as Iโve missed their ropes. :)
Cheers Whetstone - and give that head setter of yours some much deserved praise.
Original Review:
I know this is a low score, so I'll try to qualify it with two metrics:
An objective rating of the facility itself, and a subjective rating about the staff/management/owner attitudes toward the local climbing community.
The objective rating is probably 3.5 - 4, while a more subjective rating is a 1.
So objectively:
Pros:
Lots of terrain. Numerous bouldering problems and roped routes mean lots of stuff to climb when you're there.
Staff seem fairly experienced, and friendly.
Belay and lead tests seem straight forward and on-par with other gyms.
Amenities - full gym and yoga classes are a great idea.
Retail - I like the small retail area where folks can grab stuff they might need (rope, harness, ATC, etc.)
Cons:
Walls are of relatively poor quality. They appear to be Walltopia walls, which have some known negatives. These are no exception, and seem to be prone to damage/issues.
Setting consistency - especially with boulders, where there is often some variability. It's weird to hit a V2 on one side of the gym that's harder than a V5 on the other side.
Top out "rule." First visit I was told that you "have to" top out on boulders. It's fine in principle, but the layout of the down-climb after topping out is a little dicey, and frankly unsafe when kids are running past you.
Now the Subjective:
Growing up here, climbing has always been a communal thing. It's an inclusive, social activity that was never, in my experience, exclusive or ill-willed.
You're at the crag and forgot something? Someone lends you theirs. Having trouble with a route? Someone's going to coach you along with beta and encouragement.
This gym doesn't seem to engender these qualities as an organization, but some of the members there certainly do (which is awesome).
This is less a gripe about the overall vibe in the gym, and more about the stance that the gym has decided to take within the climbing community itself. How the staff and management have interacted with, and treated other climbers, gyms, staff, and the community at large seems to be starkly at odds with literally *every other* gym/vendor I've come into contact with in CO.
I *want* to love Whetstone - it's a great second gym to have (sorry, the bouldering simply isn't on par with multiple other local places, but the ropes are great), and I have strongly considered supporting them by having a second membership.
But I can't.
I can't support a gym that doesn't support its local community. I even have a nearly-full punch card that I don't feel comfortable using. After hearing about management/ownership talking about destroying the local competition and speaking unfavorably of other local gyms, I can't in good conscience "vote" for this gym with my dollars, or my support.
Long review, I know - but given the tight-knit community of climbers in CO, I wouldn't feel good about *not* calling this out and having the conversation. I hope it can, and *does* change - I want all the local places to succeed, ultimately. Until it does, though, I can't support Whetstone.
This isn't all coming from NoCo, either. I'm hearing the same input from folks at places in Denver, Boulder, etc.
It's not too late, Whetstone - I hope you can turn it around, we'd love to support you - but I for one can't, as long as you put yourself at odds with your local community.
Source: Google
Jaron Frisina
โ 5
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Maria Gonsalez
โ 5
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Michelle Wern
โ 5
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Rachel
โ 5
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Asher Pouliot
โ 5
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Kenslee McNeil
โ 5
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E
โ 5
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Andrew Rutherford
โ 5
The staff is so helpful and polite, and the atmosphere is fun and safe.
There are so many options for what to climb, so almost any experience level can go and enjoy their time.
Source: Google
Nicole Ross
โ 5
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Sandi Good
โ 5
Just joined but so far so good! Staff is friendly and helpful. Facility is beautiful. Lots of routes so no wait times even when the gym was busy on Sunday afternoon. Can't wait for my son to start Club and begin building his climbing crew. Thanks for the free belaying class for parents and day pass. Hubby and I had fun climbing some beginner routes. Haven't been on a wall in years. We'll do it again!
Source: Google
F T
โ 5
Great facility, route setting, and vibe. Loved it!
Source: Google
Alex B
โ 5
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Vanessa Aschmann
โ 4
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Matt Samet
โ 5
Exemplary gym. Big, roomy, spreads out crowds well, friendly staff, amazing walls and features, and killer, consistent setting for both boulder problems and routes. Tons of angles, as well, from very overhanging to vert and slab tech. Also, there are a Moon, Tension, and Kilter Board, all side by side and well maintained, with good padding. Plus a clean, very modern weight room. Cafe is a nice touch too.
I love the low-key vibe, and the climbing and the amenities. Family friendly as well. Highly recommend! Well worth the drive even if you don't live in FoCo.
Source: Google
Jodee Hinton
โ 5
The staff could not have been more helpful or accommodating. The girls had a wonderful time and didn't want to stop climbing. The staff related what they did back to their soccer team and it was an incredibly positive, very easy event! Will definitely be back!
Source: Google
Oliver Clark
โ 5
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Shelly Barker
โ 5
Skillful route setting; friendly, relaxed atmosphere; great space for hanging out and socializing; ALL around a beautiful, perfect place we are lucky to attend...the half-price Thursday beats the competition for folks needing an affordable day-pass option.
Source: Google
Stephen Dove
โ 5
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Thatcher Flynn
โ 5
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Joel Smith
โ 5
Awesome staff! Facilities and route setting is excellent!
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Katie Crossley
โ 5
This place is amazing. Iโve truly found a place that gives me peace, purpose and focus all in one. I leave feeling refreshed and energized. The staff is considerate, helpful and friendly. The routes are challenging but doable and there is something for everyone from bouldering to lead climb! 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a new hobby!
Source: Google
Joseph Cassidy
โ 5
Came in for the belay class with my wife. Stephanie was the instructor and she was fantastic. Easy to learn, had a bunch of fun and got vertical. Highly recommend this 10/10.
Source: Google
Tim Kleier
โ 5
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Helen Hu
โ 5
My kiddo enjoys this 1.5 hour training very much, especially the perfect ratio of instructor to attendants, around 1:3. He feels he learns a lot through professional and attentive instruction.
Source: Google
Michael Lesko
โ 5
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Christopher Mersman
โ 5
As a one time visitor to whetstone, this gym was wonderful. Good location. Lots of route diversity. Love that all boulder can be a top out route. Day pass was a little pricy but worth it I though. If I lived in foco, I would probably push for a membership.
I didnโt do ropes but looked like a lot of options there along with a free weight gym. Also there looks like thereโs a bar in the facility which made me thirsty after sending a couple of routes.
Source: Google
Christopher Duarte
โ 5
I've been coming here pretty consistently for about a year now and I absolutely love every aspect of this place! The staff, owner, and community is the best I've seen by far in terms of friendliness, support, and overall workmanship. You guys are amazing and I very much appreciate all the humbling time I've spent here.
Source: Google
Anna Hrovat-Staedter
โ 5
Awesome gym - welcoming for beginners, engaging for experts. Routes are diverse and updated frequently. Classes and other amenities are great
Source: Google
Shawn Summa
โ 5
Great gym with lots of options and friendly staff
Source: Google
Heather Sachse
โ 5
This is my favorite climbing gym. Routes are kept long enough that a person who can only come once a week can have more than one try at it, but also changed often enough there is always something new to try.
The layout of the climbing and bouldering areas can accommodate a lot people so even if it looks packed, you are still able to find routes in or just above your ability to try. Staff are friendly, and welcoming. Climbers are nice and most are helpful with suggestions if you are stuck on a problem.
Source: Google
Leah Snyder
โ 5
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Griffen Farrar
โ 5
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Scott Berg
โ 5
Great variety of fun and challenging routes. Friendly staff. Clean facility and welcoming atmosphere. Will be back!
Source: Google
Alex Poppaw
โ 4
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ๅไบๅฃฎๅฟ
โ 5
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Max Kahn
โ 5
Friendly staff, large, clean, good yoga, good food, cool bar. All good!
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Jeska duckworth
โ 5
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Tom Settle
โ 5
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Karl Schaeffer
โ 5
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Tim Leckemby
โ 5
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Michael Stroh
โ 5
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Raisa Rebecca
โ 5
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Chris Browning
โ 5
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Bret Warriner
โ 5
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Stephen Ledford
โ 5
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Ellen Buol
โ 5
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Dominique Ramirez
โ 4
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Colton Finn
โ 5
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Gregory Ebel
โ 5
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Madi Rodriguez
โ 5
Source: Google