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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

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Instructors? 25-Jul-2011 At 9:04:51 AM Paulie

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A good 1:1 with an instructor will definately provide you with some good insights into placing solid gear that might otherwise be diluted or missed when heading off with a group of people. I highly recommend joining the VCC and going out on trips to varied locations with them or more experienced members as placing good gear is all about experience. Climbing with the VCC will go some way to ensuring you get to climb on as many rock types / situations as possible, this is an extremely important part of being a competent trad leader, e.g., trad climbing at Arapiles is very different to climbing at the Rock near Wagga, same rock type but different underlying angles and positions makes the experience of placing gear extremely different on some routes. For me, grade ticking is an irrelevant part of climbing and practicing grade consolidation is key to becoming a strong climber (a mate of mine who now lives near Araps taught me this a long time ago); do loads of grade 10s then 11s, 12s etc etc, leading routes at each grade on trad (IMO, forget about gyms and to some extent, sport routes, as they ruin your confidence on trad routes) on various rock types is key to being a good, safe and capable all round climber, and always remember to climb for yourself!