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Why Rock Climb?
• Rock-climbing is Fun
• Anyone from 3 to 103 can participate
• It is a sociable way to achieve fitness
• It helps develop stronger muscles, heart and lungs
• It demands mental and physical abilities
• It promotes good hand-eye and muscular coordination, suppleness and flexibility
• The whole family can join in !!
Benefits of Climbing Walls
Indoor climbing on Climbing Walls is a good place to learn because it is seen as a safer alternative to outdoor climbing. Climbing Walls provide a fully controlled environment with all the necessary safety equipment and it is patrolled by instructors who will ensure that you learn the basics and who will work with you until you achieve a level of skill and feel comfortable climbing with a partner.
First you are shown how to strap yourself into a harness and then you learn the basics of climbing, rope management, knot tying and the importance of following instructions implicitly. When your life is in the hands of another person or when someone else's life is in your hands, you must always listen.
Just as driving a car is a skill learned over a period of several months under continual and patient instruction, where initially there is a lot to learn and you are doing things with your hands, your feet, your eyes, ears and brain while the car itself is a 'lethal weapon' so you have to remember that rock-climbing is a potentially deadly sport. The insistence on safety and learning the rules and constantly repeating the basic movements is essential if you and your climbing partners are to climb safely. It is essential that you have the kind of personality that is happy to learn, be patient, accept and follow instructions and obey commands instantly. That said, if you are keen you can take various courses and progress through learned pathways to become a leader and teach climbing skills to others.
Climbing a great social workout that involves muscular and cardiovascular activity. It is good for hand-eye co-ordination, as well as agility and strength. It provides a big mental challenge and promotes suppleness and balance. Rock climbing has a structured grading system so both adults and children can chart their own progress. Children generally have a natural sense of poise and balance and frequently do much better than adults especially in the early stages of learning the moves. Climbing is essentially an individual sport which anyone can do, and as an individual sport it gives you the freedom to set your own challenges and lets you develop your physical strength and your imagination at your own pace. You choose your own path and do what suits you.
Indoor Climbing Walls were first developed in the UK in 1964 when a lecturer at Leeds University shoved pieces of rock into an indoor wall! Since then there has been a steadily increasing interest in indoor climbing not only because rainy weather isn't great for climbing outdoors but also it is seen as a great alternative to other forms of solitary gym workouts. The first wall for commercial use was manufactured in Sheffield and the social environment, interaction and the fun all-body workout is contributing to the growing market for Indoor Climbing Centers today.
Climbing walls can be made from a variety of materials, aluminium, plywood, granite etc. and in most indoor centers the routes are regularly changed. Walls of various levels of difficulty are provided, so look for an easy grade to start with. Climbing walls seek to replicate real outdoor climbing structures such as mountains, cliffs and hills. They are artificially constructed with special holds for hands and feet, and there may also be places to attach climbing ropes. Smaller climbing walls are often available for children and are now found in many children's activity centers around the Country. Special Needs - Many centers provide climbing activities that are suitable for people with a variety of special needs, please check your local area. Similarly there is a growing demand for Stag & Hen and Adult Parties, Ladies nights and Children's Birthday Parties both at Indoor and Outdoor Climbing Centers.
What to Expect from Learning to Climb
Indoor and Outdoor Climbing Centers are accessible to almost everybody, and courses are provided for every skill level and age group. [See Links provided]
Initially you will be amazed at how much of a physical workout a climb can be. You will need to stretch to reach the next step, and over time you develop strength and endurance. If you have less stamina than others you may find it difficult at first. Take it easy and slowly build up to climbs of longer duration. You will learn a lot by watching other climbers and concentrating on how they move their bodies and find hand and foot holds to make the climbs easier. It is essential to take regular five-minute rests. Climbing is enjoyable, but very tiring.
What Equipment will you need?
• Climbing lessons are a good way to get into the sport and these start at around £75
• You will need your own rock shoes - a basic pair costs around £50 [See Links provided and instructions on fit and styles] [Some climbing walls hire shoes out for about £2.50 a session]
• A harness costs around £40 [again these are usually provided during lessons]
• Chalk and a chalk bag costs about £12 and helps to stop your hands sweating
Climbing Outdoors
There are outcrops of rocks around the country which act as a magnet for climbers of all ages and abilities and you can buy special publications which detail each of the climbs and their grades. While you cannot beat the thrill of climbing on real rocks, in beautiful scenery this is obviously something which cannot be undertaken by beginners except under instruction. You will need to invest heavily in the correct equipment and take every precaution to keep yourself and your fellow climbers safe. [See Links to Outdoor Climbing Centres for more information]
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