Bolzano, October 18, 2025 – On Saturday, the Oberalp Group celebrated the inauguration of its new bouldering hall “Salewa Cube” in Bolzano’s WaltherPark. Numerous visitors came to witness this special moment, as Ruth Oberrauch, Vice President of the Oberalp Group, cut through a climbing rope – fittingly in place of the traditional ribbon – to officially open the hall to the climbing community.
With this colorful new facility, the family-owned and management-led company makes bouldering possible right in the heart of the city – sending a clear signal of support for the growing climbing community in South Tyrol and beyond. Twelve years ago, Oberalp had already set new standards with the opening of the SALEWA Cube climbing hall in Bolzano South: a large folding gate allows the hall to open to the outdoors, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor climbing experience.
The vibrant opening program attracted both experienced climbers and newcomers. The highlight of the day was the open bouldering competition: an enthusiastic mix of participants eagerly tried out the freshly installed holds and tested the same routes as the professionals. With music and a relaxed atmosphere, the competition turned into a cheerful get-together, as the climbing community rounded off the evening with a communal toast.
“This hall is meant to be a place of encounter – and that’s exactly how we designed it,” said Ruth Oberrauch in her opening speech. The Kids Area, managed by Kinderfreunde Südtirol, was warmly received by families. It will offer professional childcare on all opening days – not only for visitors of the bouldering hall, but for all guests of WaltherPark.

A Modern Climbing Experience and Space for Connection
The new Salewa Cube offers over 1,100 square meters of state-of-the-art bouldering walls, spacious chillout zones, an inviting bar, and a corner shop with climbing equipment. A special highlight for the climbing community is the brand-new Kilter Board – a digitally controlled climbing wall with adjustable inclination, offering more than 400,000 boulder problems through an app for customized training.

Laying the Foundation for Expansion in Italy
With the opening of the bouldering hall in WaltherPark, Oberalp brings the globally booming sport of bouldering to the heart of Bolzano. This trend sport is a form of rope-free climbing that emphasizes strength, technique, and agility. At the same time, the new venue marks an important milestone in Oberalp’s expansion strategy: additional Salewa Cube climbing halls are already planned for Varese and Como, with a total of around eight more locations to follow in Italy over the next three to four years.
“With this opening, we want to make climbing an even more accessible part of everyday life – something you can do during your lunch break, as a parent with small children at any time of day, as a family, or as kids who come to the city center by bike or public transport,” explained Ruth Oberrauch, outlining the purpose of this investment.