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| Climbing indoors in the off season can keep you in shape and ready for the real thing. |
Hopefully, you will learn much about climbing from this web site. Our Resources and Credits will point you toward other sources, such as magazines, books or other links which can educate you about climbing. Also, talk with other climbers in your area. Our Partner Registry will introduce you to other climbers near you. Local gyms and other climbing facilities can provide information about climbing, including possibly courses on how to climb.
| Surprisingly, it's more important to be physically fit than to be simply strong in order to become a successful climber. Thus, training in the off-season is an excellent way to maintain one's physical condition. Climbing gyms (which can be located in our Where to Climb pages) allow climbers to practice climbing year round. Additionally, any type of exercise which will keep one's body in shape will help a climber. If a climbing gym cannot be easily accessed, any traditional exercise such as jogging, biking, or use of an exercise machine will help the body stay conditioned. This type of exercise in the off-season will greatly enhance one's performance during climbing season. Climbers who do not condition during the off-season might not be able to climb as well when the season begins. |
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Getting the proper equipment is essential to a successful climb. Depending on your climb, you must choose certain types of ropes and pulleys, personalized items, such as a harness, must fit you well in order to be most effective. This web site should provide the information necessary for you to determine what equipment you will need for any particular climb. Once you have determined what gear you need to purchase, you should visit a local sports store or a use a climbing mail order catalog. Some common climbing mail order companies are:
It is very important to warm up and stretch before any sport, including climbing. Surprisingly, climbing can cause the body less stress and injury than most sports. For example, many runners have done serious damage to their knees from hitting the pavement with each step they take. The sudden impact of the foot to the ground puts a strong and dangerous stress on tender joints. However, climbing allows you to push off with your limbs instead of landing suddenly on them. Still, before a hard climb it is recommended that you do some stretches to loosen your body and, perhaps, start your day with a short, easy climb to prepare for the harder, more arduous ascent.
Climbing is also notoriously bad on tendons. Certain holds can "tweak" your tendons enough to take you out of climbing for several weeks! If you are feeling like something inside you is about to explode, just fall off the wall and try again when you aren't as pumped - one ascent isn't worth permanent injury.
Climbers agree that the sport of climbing is not only a physical challenge, but also a test of mental endurance. Climbing requires will power, patience, self-control, courage, and being knowledgeable about one's own body. Before you start a climb, you must mentally study your route. From below, try and determine in advance what moves and holds you will use. Mentally trace your route to a resting position, where you can again rest and mentally prepare for the ascent ahead. Focus is crucial throughout the climb. Any loss of concentration can cause a climber to lose his/her balance or grip and result in a fall or injury. Thus, climbing is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one. Bill March, author of Modern Rope Techniques, wrote: "A good climber is one who anticipates possibilities and evaluates the likelihood of their occurrence. He is constantly monitoring his actions and results, maintaining at the same time, a high state of awareness." This to me, is one of the exacting and exciting aspects of the sport.
There are many ways of rating the difficulty of a route. The five major rating systems are the United States system, the French system, the United Kingdom System, the Australian system, and the UIAA (Union Internationale des Association d'Alpinisme) system. Below is a table that compares the five systems. The ratings at the top are the easier climbs, while the numbers at the bottom are more difficult.
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