Any rock climbers here? (1 Viewer)

[cst2006]

Entered into a contest at my local rock climbing gym, got this e-mail this afternoon:

You have won a One-Month PEAK Membership including unlimited climbing and fitness classes, free equipment rentals and a free Belay Course for you and up to 3 friends. Our extensive list of fitness classes includes Yoga, Zumba, Tai Chi, TRX and many more!

Excited to be able to try it out for the month but also nervous since I have a slight fear of heights. Hoping that will mostly be negated by being harnessed in. Anyone else here climb and have any words of advice for someone just starting?

 

[pantagrapher]

Entered into a contest at my local rock climbing gym, got this e-mail this afternoon:

You have won a One-Month PEAK Membership including unlimited climbing and fitness classes, free equipment rentals and a free Belay Course for you and up to 3 friends. Our extensive list of fitness classes includes Yoga, Zumba, Tai Chi, TRX and many more!

Excited to be able to try it out for the month but also nervous since I have a slight fear of heights. Hoping that will mostly be negated by being harnessed in. Anyone else here climb and have any words of advice for someone just starting?

I had fear of heights too (still do). You'll (mostly) get over it with time, as you become more confident about the equipment.

Resist the urge to use your upper body to pull yourself up. Your legs will get you there. Make sure you get professionally fitted shoes, or at least know how they should fit before you buy them. Keep your hips close to the wall. Find resting positions where you can take a hand off, shake it out, re-chalk—forearm cramps or stiff fingers will end your climb pretty fast.

ETA: And watch videos. There's tons of stuff on YouTube and Vimeo. Watch what the pros do and you can see the subtle maneuvers they use for leverage.

ETA: Traverse (climb sideways). Easy way to work on various stuff without getting too high for your comfort zone.

 

[EYLive]

I used to boulder occasionally several years ago but my climbing buddies got married and had kids. :(

 

[wazoo11]

 

[spreagle]

I climbed rock walls at Wisconsin Dells Kalahari recently for the fun of it, I was pretty quick to the top, I thought finger strength and a long reach to get to handholds was most important if you are trying to climb fast.