Who’s psyched for the second installment of ‘Alex does a bad job of explaining things he doesn’t understand: The Climbing Edition’? (No, me neither…)
Balance and Tension
Types of Holds and How to Use Them
I never thought I’d see the day when a joke article would get fewer up votes than a real one, especially in this club. So, back to actual advice it is…
In the previous articles, I’ve used terms to discuss holds and moves, but didn’t explain them, so this time I thought I’d go through them, and hopefully get people using them more efficiently.
Moves and Body Positions
I hope you’ve all enjoyed the break from my inexpert ‘teaching’, because I’ve now returned to finish the second half of the last article I started (Types of holds and how to use them), where I promised to go through moves and body positions when climbing. However, this topic is something that really needs some form of demonstration (I seem to say that every time, don’t I?), so even though I’ll do my best, check other sources and/or bother someone with enough experience at the wall.
To the overly confusing descriptions!
Setting Routes Indoors
This article is going to take things in a bit of a different direction: setting. First of all, I’m not going to be covering any of the mechanics of setting; they’re better off done at the wall, where we can demonstrate the systems and issues involved. This will be purely about improving the quality of your setting. Secondly, I really must stress that everything I say here will be my own personal opinions and theories, occasionally backed up by anecdotal evidence, conversations with other setters and general consensus.
Improving Your Climbing
So, in addition to the numerous more specific articles I’ve written, I thought I’d try and do a more general one that’s more widely applicable. First of all, I feel I need to point out that I’m in no way a climbing coach, and have never done any sort of focused climbing training; everything I write here is based on patterns I’ve noticed in my own climbing, things I’ve read, and discussions with other climbers, so no blaming me if none of it works for you.
Figure of Eight
Disclaimer: I’d like to make sure it’s understood that these are in no way to be taken as qualified instruction. I suppose that technically I should classify these as ‘reminders’, but it is possible to learn from them… Just make sure you check with someone that actually knows what they’re doing before you try and do them halfway up a cliff.
On to the first knot – the figure of 8, what you use for tying in.
Clove Hitch
Disclaimer: I’d like to make sure it’s understood that these are in no way to be taken as qualified instruction. I suppose that technically I should classify these as ‘reminders’, but it is possible to learn from them… Just make sure you check with someone that actually knows what they’re doing before you try and do them halfway up a cliff.
The clove hitch: an essential locking knot that’s quick and easy to tie, once the get the hang of it.