Some 15 feet up in mid air, his body almost parallel to the ground, Gabriel Hinojoza holds on by chalk-coated fingertips and a half-inch thick foothold. Being 15 feet up in a position with little leverage and no harness is a regular “problem solving” weekend for rock climbers.

The sport comes in three styles: lead, top roping and bouldering.  Brothers Gabriel Hinojoza, Ryan Hinojoza and Justin Hinojoza practice bouldering without a harness, but climbing no higher than 20 feet.

They are members of a growing sport.  According to the Outdoor Industry Association, there are between 4.7 to 6.9 million people participating in bouldering in the United States.  TV shows such as NCIS Los Angeles and movies have popularized the various styles in the last couple of years.

There are popular bouldering spots in the Bay Area such as Castle Rock in Los Gatos and Indian Rock in Berkeley.

“With bouldering you’re focusing more on technique and working through the crux of the problem,” explains Gabriel Hinojoza.

The “problem” climbers refer to figuring out is the combination of moves to get to the finishing point.  Some bouldering problems can start with the climber only inches from the ground, but their body is locked into a position with little to no leverage to move forward.

“It’s all about controlling your center of gravity and using the handholds at the most efficient angle,” says Ryan Hinojoza.

Like most sports, rock climbing combines strength, balance, flexibility and form.  Although there is a unique culture attached to rock climbing.

“The climbing community is so laid back and supportive for such a technical sport,” Justin Hinojoza says. “Climbing is the perfect excuse to get our friends together and enjoy a couple of days maneuvering around a boulder.”

Gabriel and Justin returned from Red Rock, Nev. last Monday after spending three days climbing and camping.  While some hoisted themselves up to the top of the rock, others tried finding pockets of shade throughout the day.

The sport has also gained popularity as an indoor activity.  Rock climbing gyms such as City Beach in Fremont and Planet Granite in Sunnyvale cater to youth and families.  The Hinojozas however built their own wall.

“They’ve always complained that I never built them a play structure when they were young,” jokingly said Julian Hinojoza of his three sons. “I think the rock wall will suffice at their age.”

In his garage, Julian and his sons have built an eight-foot tall and ten-foot wide rock wall at a 20-degree angle.  The angle creates a bit of an overhang for more challenging problems.

“It wasn’t that hard to build; it only took two weekends to get it up,” remarked Gabriel Hinojoza. “We just needed some wood, power tools and the ‘How To’ book my dad got us.”

Whether the wall is artificial or natural, the camaraderie and carefree air of the climbing community is present amongst friends and family.