I’m thinking of giving indoor rock climbing a shot. The activity intrigues me, and there’s a climbing gym relatively close to where I live.
I actually went to a couple of birthday parties there as a kid, and had a lot of fun back in the day - as a spindly-limbed, fearless 10 year old I was quite good at it. For some reason I started thinking about it again, and wondering how I’d go now.
FWIW, I’m a young (age 20) female and not particularly sporty - think the occaisonal jog or casual mixed netball game, but not the super-active or really used to challenging myself with new types of physical activity. I don’t have a lot of upper body strength but it’s something I’d like to improve on. I’m not overweight, more on the petite side.
So, does anyone have any experiences with indoor rock climbing? Tips, opinions, etiquette that I should be aware of when/if I visit the place? I know a visit is no big deal and doesn’t mean I have to become a lifetime member/start scaling mountains anytime soon, but I guess I want to have an idea of what to expect before I go. I’m kind of nervous that if I rock up, everyone else will be all butch and muscly and hardcore and like ‘wtf is this chick doing here?’ On the other hand, if 10 year olds can handle it, it shouldn’t be too hard, right?
I know you need a belayer, so I’m thinking of dragging my boyfriend along (who will probably keep both his feet on the ground the whole time). What about after the first visit - do you have to go with a partner all the time? If I visited alone, would they get a staff member to belay me, or hook me up with another climber or something? Do people form climbing-buddy pairs and always go together?
I used to go to a climbig gym with an ex, it was fun an good exercise.
Every gym I’ve ever been to requires individuals to be certified before using top-ropes; either you take their beginners class or you demonstrate your competancy to an instructor. Either way you’ll have to pay them something. At that point you’ll have a card for climbing that gym, usually (but not always) divorced from the status of “being a member” of the facility.
Normally you can rent gear, but like with ice skating, rentals are safe and effective but maybe not the most comfortable. If you decide you will go consistently, invest in some gear of your own. Try the gym bulletin board or rei.com for deals.
If you are short (below 5’7") you’ll probably have difficulty using their marked “routes” because you won;t be able to reach a few of the handholds. Not a big deal, just zigzag your way to the next marked hold.
My friend and I have started going every week; we’ve been 4-5 times to 2 different places. Both places had a range of climbs from easy, climbing-a-ladder type, to impossible hanging-upside-down-by-your-fingertips type. So it’s completely up to you what level of challenge you want to go for. One gym labelled them, and the other one colour-coded them by level of difficulty
I was told to use my legs as much as possible, because they are stronger. You definitely use your upper body as well, but it is much easier to push yourself up with your legs than haul yourself up on your arms. I was also told to relax your hands when you can, because otherwise they cramp up and get really tired. Neither my friend or I are very fit.
The really good climbers are beautifully athletic and graceful, but there always seems to be a large number of people who haven’t climbed much before, and are just trying it out. During the day, there are lots of kids. Some people just wear jeans, but I find something looser is more comfortable. The gym we go to hires out climbing shoes, or you can climb in sneakers.
Your boyfriend might get bored belaying all the time. Maybe encourage him to have a go. It’s fun, and not necessarily hard. The gyms I’ve seen don’t organise belayers if you don’t have one, so it’s good to have a regular partner.
If you’re just starting, it’s super easy to find a belay partner at the center, just ask the person at the front.
See if they have any intro classes and take that.
Learn the language - ‘On belay’, ‘Climbing’, etc., etc.
Use your legs, try and hang off your arms. You won’t though. To get that searing pain out of your forearms, raise them perpendicular and push your palm against the wall, stretching it out.
Trust the rope. Seriously. You’re not going to fall to your death (as long as you get someone else to check your knots every time).
Have fun!
ETA: Just read the thing about having the bf belay - he’ll need to demonstrate that he can do it properly first. He needs to know the knots and how to slack properly before the gym will allow him to belay you. The belayer is the one who has your life in your hands.
Also, as for clothing, make sure the waist of your pants can tie up. Mine tend to slowly slip down with all the moving (and sitting in a rest!) and my crack eventually shows. I wear light capri’s and a good tank top.
Oh yeah, and shoes should fit tight. Your toes should almost be uncomfortable.
Being thin and non-muscled shouldn’t be too much of a problem. In a sense it’s an advantage since you can stay closer to the wall and you have less weight to hold up. Being able to do a pull-up doesn’t take all that much strength, and it’s rare that you need to do it.