Hey — thanks for coming to climb with us. Before you touch a hold or a barbell, we need you to read through this. It's a legal document, so parts of it read like one, but here's the plain idea: bouldering and strength training are genuinely physical and carry real risk, we want you to go in with your eyes open, and in exchange for letting you take part, you're agreeing to give up your right to sue us for injuries caused by our ordinary negligence — the everyday kind of carelessness. Some claims can't be waived under Oregon law, and you keep those. Section 8 lists them.
This agreement covers your participation in any activity offered at Skyhook Bouldering, including bouldering and climbing, use of free weights and fitness equipment (including cable machines, system boards, and climbing training aids), classes, camps, competitions, open gym sessions, and youth programs, along with your use of the climbing, training, and fitness areas where those activities take place (collectively, the "Activities").
THE SHORT VERSION
- Bouldering and strength training are a blast — and like any real physical activity, injuries happen. We lay out the specific risks in Section 2.
- By signing, you're giving up your right to sue us for injuries caused by our ordinary negligence during the Activities (Section 8).
- You're NOT giving up claims that Oregon law says can't be waived — for example, gross negligence or intentional harm, our failure to properly maintain or inspect safety equipment we provide, or negligent safety training of our staff. Section 8 has the full list.
- We run security cameras, and we sometimes take photos/video for marketing (you can opt out — see Section 14).
- Disputes go through mediation, then arbitration, before court — see Section 15 for what that means.
- This summary is just a quick-reference; the full agreement below is what actually governs, so please read it too.
1. How Long This Agreement Lasts
This agreement kicks in the moment you sign it, and it stays in effect for every future visit, class, camp, or event at Skyhook Bouldering until you sign an updated version — you won't need to re-sign each visit. We'll ask you to sign an updated agreement at least once a year, and sooner if we add new kinds of activities or make material changes to this agreement. If you don't sign an updated version when we ask, you won't be able to keep participating. This agreement can only be changed in a writing signed by you and an authorized Skyhook Bouldering representative.
2. The Risks You're Agreeing To
We want you to go into this knowing exactly what you're signing up for. Bouldering and strength training each push your body in different ways, and each comes with real risk of injury. Some of these risks exist even when everyone — including us — is being careful. Others can arise from the ordinary negligence of other people, including other participants and the Released Parties (defined in Section 8). The risks include, but are not limited to:
- Falls, including falls from height onto padded or unpadded surfaces, awkward or uncontrolled landings, landing between or off the edge of pads, and injuries from missed spots or crowded landing zones.
- The possibility that climbing holds, volumes, or other equipment may shift, spin, loosen, or break during use. (Claims about how we maintain or inspect safety equipment we supply are handled differently — see Section 8.)
- Weight-room and strength-training risks, including dropped or shifting free weights, strain or entrapment from machines and cables, muscle, tendon, or joint injuries from lifting, and injuries from inadequate or missed spotting.
- Slips, trips, collisions, and impacts, including collisions with other climbers or falling/loose holds.
- Cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains, strains, dislocations, fractures, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and overuse injuries such as tendonitis or repetitive stress injuries.
- Environmental conditions such as slippery or uneven surfaces, chalk dust, temperature, and humidity.
- Actions or omissions of other participants, spectators, coaches, instructors, staff, volunteers, or third parties.
- Physical exertion, dehydration, fatigue, allergic reactions, or a medical condition you haven't told us about, including exacerbation of a pre-existing condition.
- Exposure to contagious illness in a shared public space.
- Conditions in the climbing, training, and fitness areas, such as crowding, bags or equipment left in fall zones, and interactions with other people or service animals in those areas.
There may also be risks we haven't listed here because they're not presently known or reasonably foreseeable. By signing, you're confirming that you've read this list and understand these risks.
3. Security Cameras
We run security cameras throughout the facility for safety, security, and incident review. Security footage isn't used for marketing. By coming in, you're okay with being recorded for these purposes. (Marketing photos and video are separate — see Section 14.)
4. Climbing Assessment & Orientation
New participants complete a climber assessment so we can point you toward the right routes and access level, and everyone must watch our safety orientation video before climbing. We may update that video from time to time, and you agree to review updates as part of ongoing participation.
5. Please Do a Quick Safety Check
Take a look at the equipment, holds, and activity area before you dive in. If something looks off — including a hold that spins or feels loose — tell a staff member right away and hold off on that area until it's sorted out.
6. Are You Fit to Participate?
You're telling us that you (or your child) are physically able to take part safely, and that there's no medical condition that would make it unsafe to do so. If you have a known condition — heart disease, asthma, severe allergies, or similar — we'd encourage checking with a healthcare provider first. We're relying on your own judgment here, and on you telling us if something changes mid-session; please use the Medical Information section below to flag anything we should know.
7. You're Choosing to Take These Risks On
Knowing what's in Section 2, you're choosing to participate anyway. You expressly assume and accept the risks described in Section 2 — known or not yet known — including risks that arise from the ordinary negligence of others. You confirm you're aware of your own skills and limitations, and that you're participating voluntarily.
8. Release of Liability — Please Read Carefully
In this agreement, the "Released Parties" means Skyhook Climbing Gym Incorporated, dba Skyhook Bouldering, and its owners, officers, directors, shareholders, managers, employees, coaches, instructors, volunteers, contractors, agents, affiliates, landlords, successors, and assigns.
BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU — FOR YOURSELF AND FOR YOUR HEIRS, ESTATE, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, AND ANYONE CLAIMING THROUGH YOU — VOLUNTARILY RELEASE, WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO SUE THE RELEASED PARTIES FOR ANY CLAIM FOR INJURY, ILLNESS, DISABILITY, OR DEATH THAT ARISES OUT OF THE ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS FROM THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, INCLUDING CLAIMS FOR INJURIES RESULTING FROM THE RISKS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2.
In plain terms: if you're hurt during the Activities because we (or anyone else on the list above) made an ordinary mistake, you can't sue us for it.
What this release does NOT cover. Oregon law doesn't allow the following claims to be waived, and this release doesn't apply to them:
- Claims for gross negligence, reckless conduct, willful misconduct, or intentional wrongdoing.
- Claims for negligence per se (claims based on violating a safety statute or rule).
- Claims relating to the maintenance or inspection of safety equipment we supply that's used in the Activities.
- Claims relating to negligent safety-related training of our employees or agents whose conduct causes injury.
- Claims relating to abuse of a child, or physical or sexual assault.
- Claims relating to negligent hiring, training, credentialing, supervision, or retention of an employee or agent whose conduct causing the injury is grossly negligent, reckless, willful, or intentional.
- Claims relating to the operation or use of any vehicle, including for transportation to or from Skyhook Bouldering.
If any part of this release is ever read as going further than Oregon law allows, it will be applied only as far as the law permits.
Signing below confirms you understand you're giving up claims based on our ordinary negligence
9. If Your Actions Cause a Claim Against Us
If someone other than you (or anyone claiming through you) brings a claim against the Released Parties arising from your conduct — for example, breaking our rules, damaging property, or injuring another person — you agree to cover the Released Parties' resulting losses, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, except to the extent those losses are caused by the Released Parties' own negligence or other fault. If you're signing for a minor, you personally agree to do the same for claims brought by others arising from the minor's conduct. This section never requires a parent or guardian to cover a claim brought by or for their own child, and it doesn't limit any other rights the Released Parties have under the law.
10. Legal Fees If We Ever End Up in Court
If either of us has to bring a claim (in arbitration or in court) to enforce this agreement, whoever wins is entitled to have the other side cover reasonable attorney fees and costs, to the extent the law allows.
11. Emergency Care & Medical Information
Skyhook Bouldering doesn't have medical staff or treatment on-site. If we think you (or your child) need medical attention, you're authorizing our staff and any emergency responders to give first aid, CPR, or use an AED, to administer emergency medication if noted on your medical information below, and to arrange transport to a medical facility if needed. You're also authorizing us to share relevant medical information with responders and to contact your emergency contact. We're not on the hook for the treatment itself, and any costs from it are on you.
12. Insurance
We recommend making sure you have coverage that would handle medical costs from an injury here — it's not required, but it's worth checking what your plan actually covers for sports and fitness activities.
13. Facility Rules
Please follow our posted Gym Rules & Etiquette, as we update them from time to time, and any staff instructions while on-site — these cover things like climbing courtesy, fall-zone awareness, weight-room housekeeping, and general conduct. Following them is a condition of participating. Skyhook Bouldering may ask a participant to stop an activity or leave the facility, with or without warning, for unsafe behavior or a rules violation.
14. Photos & Video
We may take photos or video of you (or your child) while you're here, and use them for things like our website, social media, or marketing — no extra pay involved. If you'd rather we didn't, tell the front desk and we can make a note on your account.
15. Governing Law & How Disputes Get Resolved
This agreement is governed by Oregon law. If a disagreement comes up that we can't resolve directly, we'll first try mediation. If that doesn't work, the dispute will be decided by binding arbitration in Multnomah County, Oregon, administered by a mutually agreed upon arbitrator, under its rules for consumer disputes then in effect. Skyhook Bouldering will pay all arbitration filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees above what you would have paid to file the same claim in court. Either of us may instead bring an individual claim in small claims court if it qualifies. Any dispute that isn't subject to arbitration will be heard in the state or federal courts located in Multnomah County, Oregon.
I acknowledge that I have received and read or have had the opportunity to read this arbitration agreement. I understand that this arbitration agreement requires that disputes that involve the matters subject to the agreement be submitted to mediation or arbitration pursuant to the arbitration agreement rather than to a judge and jury in court.
SIgning below confirms that you understand the above.
16. Signing Electronically
You can sign this agreement electronically or on paper — your choice. Checking the box below means you agree to sign electronically and that your electronic signature has the same effect as a handwritten one. If you'd rather sign on paper, don't check the box; just ask staff for a paper copy. Even after signing electronically, you can request a paper copy of this agreement in writing, at no cost, and you won't need any special software to view it. You can withdraw your consent to electronic records at any time by telling us in writing — no fee or penalty. Please keep your email address current with us so we can reach you about updates to this agreement.
By signing below you agree to this electronic signature being the binding just as your physical one.
17. If One Part of This Doesn't Hold Up
If a court or arbitrator finds any part of this agreement unenforceable, or broader than Oregon law allows, that part will be enforced to the fullest extent the law permits, and the rest of the agreement still stands.
18. The Whole Agreement
This document is the complete agreement between us about these activities, and it replaces any earlier conversations or agreements on the same topic, including any earlier waiver you signed with Skyhook Bouldering. An earlier waiver still applies to anything that happened before you signed this one.
19. For Parents and Guardians Signing for a Minor
If the participant is under 18, this agreement must be signed by their parent or legal guardian — no one else may sign on a minor's behalf, including another relative, a family friend, or an older sibling. By signing, you confirm you are the participant's parent or legal guardian. As Oregon law allows, you're releasing the Released Parties from claims for the minor's injuries caused by ordinary negligence during the Activities, on the same terms and with the same exceptions as Section 8. You're also consenting to the minor's participation and agreeing, for yourself and on the minor's behalf, to the rest of this agreement.
Parents and guardians are expected to be present and actively supervising during a minor's activities, unless the minor is 16 or 17 and you've completed Skyhook Bouldering's separate unsupervised-participation authorization for staffed hours. Skyhook Bouldering may revoke that authorization at any time for safety or policy reasons.
If a participant under 18 is legally emancipated, please bring documentation (such as a certified copy of the court's emancipation judgment) to the front desk. Management will review it before the participant may sign for themselves.
20. Your Acknowledgment
By signing below, you confirm that you've read and understood this agreement; that you know you're giving up the right to sue the Released Parties for injuries caused by their ordinary negligence, except for the claims listed in Section 8 that Oregon law doesn't allow to be waived; that you understand the arbitration requirement (Section 15); and that you're signing freely and voluntarily. If you're signing for a minor, you're also confirming Section 19 above.