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General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Why are the gyms focussing on toprope? 29-Jan-2008 At 9:46:49 PM dreamingof8a

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Why? In Europe you are sort of lucky to find an installed toprope at all in some gyms. There might be one sector, the rest is usually lead.

And why not? I mean, wherelse than in a gym can you learn how to lead safely? At least the principles, real rock is always different then.
And since especially here in VIC it's hard to start leading outdoors (unless you have the money to buy a whole lot of gear and want to risc your sanity even on a 15 m climb) it's sort of "unfair" for weaker climbers (say below sport lead 18) to go climbing without someone to put a toprope up. But that develops into the wrong direction now.

Back to topic, why?
Is it an insurance issue (if yes, why not in other countries)? Don't Australians want to lead climb in the gym and outdoors?

Cheers