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General Climbing Discussion

Author

What’s helped you improve your climbing?

Claire

7-Sep-2006
1:38:51 PM

I’m interested in hearing practical tips on what’s helped people improve their climbing.

For example I’ve recently started bouldering and have been quite surprised how much that’s helped my climbing.

I not so much interested in methodical training methods (H.I.T, campus training etc.); there have been recent postings on this topic, but rather small things people have done or changed that have helped them improve their climbing.

Bob Saki

7-Sep-2006
1:55:49 PM

There are folks here much better qualified than I to advise but when I decided I was mad keen on getting into climbing, I bought all the gear as quickly as I could. This in turn ensured I had the option to climb anywhere with all the necessary accessories and also the fact that I had invested in this gear made me get out and continue to get out as much as possible. This in turn enabled improvment just due to spending more time out there.

Also keeping a good level of general fitness was very handy as climbing a route can invlove so much more than climbing.


tnd

7-Sep-2006
2:29:56 PM

Address the mental aspects as well as the physical. Positive visualisation, focussing, concentrating hard on each hand and foot placement as you make it. dalai mentioned reading up on some sports psychology in the other thread and I'd second that.

bren

7-Sep-2006
2:30:43 PM

About 6 months ago i acquired tendonitis in my elbow from overtraining- basically training hard but not smart. So instead of sitting around i have been running, swimming and will be doing some triathlons this summer. I went for a climb two weeks ago and managed to climb 1-2 grades less than i was doing before the injury but my finger strength was puss after an hour or two!

I found that all of the cardio and core work that i had been doing helped alot with balance and muscle control etc...


Daveo

7-Sep-2006
2:37:14 PM

sorry to intrude but i found what worked for me was a drive and a pashion depending on what u r trying to achieve hard grades new problems for me its not about finding reasons why you cant or shouldent but finding that drive and justifying it and sheer joy of it.
well thats my speach for today bye the way the right gear helps to.
so find reasons why you can and should, to do what you want.

cheers dave


Organ Pipe

7-Sep-2006
5:02:14 PM

Each time I've pushed myself beyond my comfort zone it's been because I've had a great team encouraging me to do so yelling support etc (Belayer + 1).

dalai

7-Sep-2006
5:10:04 PM

Evaluate your strengths and focus on your weaknesses...

AntiPrincess

7-Sep-2006
5:14:03 PM

I stole this idea from a climbing magazine...

Lots to be learnt from doing something new/different every now and again.

If you usually climb routes, boulder (and vice versa)
If you always try to onsight, redpoint
If you never climb cracks/slabs/overhangs, climb some

... you've probably got the idea by now. Worked well for me :)


PreferKnitting

7-Sep-2006
5:24:55 PM

On 7/09/2006 dalai wrote:
>Evaluate your strengths and focus on your weaknesses...

You could be mistaken for the dalai lama with those words of wisdom. Love the efficient use of words.


brat

7-Sep-2006
5:34:46 PM

I found that a focused climbing partner helped me, we climbed more often at different venues. My latest climbing partner is also my girlfriend, we get sidetracked very easily!


nmonteith

7-Sep-2006
6:03:07 PM

...ditch any non-climbing social life.


Eduardo Slabofvic

7-Sep-2006
6:07:59 PM

go full time for a year, 4 days on 1 day off for 12 months, and remember that improvement in your
climbing is not always measured by grades.

macboy78

7-Sep-2006
6:33:40 PM

I found climbing with a good group of similar ability. Also no ego, healthy competition to push eachother.

DJ Biggs

7-Sep-2006
7:24:35 PM

Get on the routes that least suit your style of climbing, you'll get spanked for a bit but you'll learn a lot.


Paradise

7-Sep-2006
7:33:04 PM

On 7/09/2006 dalai wrote:
>Evaluate your strengths and focus on your weaknesses...

dalai is the guru :)

I'll second that, not that I'm hardcore or anything :) I found i'd freakout whenever i had to rely on my upper body strength, cos i have bony girl arms and had never figure out what i could manage, so started jumping on more over hanging stuff in the gym even though i didn't enjoy it at first, I'm finding now that i really enjoy these routes (even if i suck at them) and knowing my physical ability helps me overcome my brain when it starts trying to freak me out :) General awareness of your body and how it works is also helpful, i find Iyengar yoga really great, it's good for muscle balance as well and fits in well between training sessions :)

Have fun :)


Breezy

8-Sep-2006
8:58:41 AM

sex before climbing :)


AlanD

8-Sep-2006
7:34:26 PM

A climbing partner of a similar grade to yourself and being very competitive.

Despite our relative strengths and weaknesses, neither of us will allow the other to outclimb the other. So we're always improving.

Claire, I might even lend her to you next year :-)


hardware

8-Sep-2006
9:51:54 PM

Ive taken up another sport to blend in with my climbing, Power Drinking!


adski

8-Sep-2006
11:36:40 PM

Once I hitched my wagon to a star it was a non-stop tip-top express ride to TickTown.


Sabu

9-Sep-2006
1:46:17 PM

i found it was climbing very regulary indoors (when not outdoors) and climbing outdoors for decent stint, like being at Araps for two or more weeks that helped the most with technique and the mental factor.

There are 53 messages in this topic.