Rock climbing is a thrilling sport. It requires top-notch fitness, a diverse skill-set and often an overcoming of fear. Unlike many other sports, it is not something that you can simply jump into. The following factors are all things you should fully understand before your first real climb.
It is a Whole Body Affair – Many people who have just started climbing make the mistake of focusing on their arms as the sole center of their strength. Realize that pushing with your legs in conjunction with pulling from your arms will give you the greatest success. Pay some mind to working on your grip strength. It is likely something that you have not put to large use, and it is a fundamental strength needed for rock climbing.
Knots – Tying knots is a fundamental skill for climbers. If you have any aspirations of advancing, it will be necessary that you learn them. It would be wise to get some rope to practice with. Some of the main categories of knots are Double Loop, Hitch, Stopper and Bends. It would be wise to get a grasp on one knot for each variety.
The Gear – The act of climbing requires a large amount of specialized gear. For one, you will need rope. They come in two main varieties: dynamic and static. Next, you will need a harness. This is the cornerstone of your safety equipment, allowing you to affix the climbing rope to yourself. You will need some kind of chalk to put on your hands, helping to improve your grip. Climbing shoes are an item that you cannot start climbing without. It is handy to bring a reliable knife as well such as these: http://www.bladeops.com/Boker-Benchmade-More-Automatic-Knives-s/52.htm. There are rope adjustments you may need to make which require a knife. It is important that you consult with a knowledgeable climber to help you make the right choices.
Practice is Key – If you have any apprehensions about your first climb, it may instill some more confidence in you to practice at a local gym. This way you can learn some of the fundamental movements in an environment where you can freely experiment with them. It might also be a good idea to bridge the gap between your first full climb and indoor climbing with bouldering. Given that it is much closer to the ground bouldering is safer, but still revolves around the same fundamental skills. It is no less difficult, but it is mentally easier to tackle.