Tips for Beginners from the Boulders Instructors
We've gathered some beginner tips from the lovely instructors at Boulders. Check them out and share them with your climbing friends!
Too big climbing shoes
We see many new climbers climbing in oversized climbing shoes. Your first pair of climbing shoes should fit snugly, but they shouldn't be as small as the shoes you'll be climbing in once you become Long more proficient. Your toes need to get used to being in small climbing shoes over a long period of time. Your first climbing shoes should curl your toes a bit and push you back in your heel. They shouldn't hurt to wear, but they should be so uncomfortable that you can only wear them for 20-30 minutes at a time. If you wear shoes that are too big, you'll flake :) We'll be doing an article soon on choosing the correct size of climbing shoes, so stay tuned!
Do not use chalk (enough)
Some beginners do not know the importance of using chalk. As a beginner you do not have the same need for chalk, as an experienced climber. But it is still a good idea to wear chalk if you sweat a lot. The lime gives you a better friction between hands and climbing rope. As soon as you feel the friction failing, you've put on too little chalk (or maybe forgotten about it altogether).
Does not brush the handles
It is very important to keep the climbing ropes clean, both hand and foot grips. Therefore, remember to brush the grips you use every time before you go on the wall. When you scrub a climbing grip, the friction improves and you therefore don't have to use as much power to hold on or stand firm. It's not for Boulders' sake to keep the holds clean, it's for your personal climbing, and everyone else's :)
Do not stand on the big toes
For 99% of climbing, you must stand on your big toe alone or your big toe + your forefoot. That's why climbing shoes need to be small. By standing on the big toe you get better control and you can direct more power into the small foot holds. If you stand on the side of the foot or the middle of the foot, you have no control and can't feel if you're standing well or close to falling off. The more skilled you become, the smaller the foot holds become and if you have practised standing on your big toe from the start, the change is not very big.
Climbing with arms and not with legs
Humans are gifted with big leg muscles and we need to use them! The legs are much stronger than the arms, so it's important to feel while you're on the wall if you can relax your arms a little more and stand a little harder in your feet. It can be hard to keep track of when you're new to climbing, but if you crack the code early, you'll get off to a great start! Try to feel it out next time you climb. How little can you get away with holding on to the holds and how much can you dirriger down your legs?
Do not read the route before climbing
Last but perhaps most important? Remember to read the route before going on the climbing wall. Get a good idea of where all the holds are. What's your best guess for a sequence that will work for you? What have you seen others do? Which holds should be held with which hand and which holds are for the feet? When do you move the feet versus the hands? Once you've formulated a good sequence in your head, jump on the climbing wall and try it. If it doesn't work, redo the sequence while standing on the mattress. Once you're sure of your sequence, class stick with it and give it some good shots!
Beginner's tips for climbers in Boulders