The sport - rock climbing getting more popular and attention
With rock climbing being featured for the first time in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics event, the sport got the spotlight it never used to have.
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling.
Types of Rock Climbing
There are many types of rock climbing such as mountaineering, trad climbing, free solo, sport climbing and many more, each requiring different gears, skillset, physical and also differs in difficulty. But the more entry level and common ones to the public are Bouldering, Top Rope Climbing and Lead Climbing. They can be easily found in most indoor climbing gyms.
Bouldering:
Bouldering is a style of rock climbing carried out without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad (or Bouldering mat) to catch the impact of a fall and prevent injury.
Top Rope Climbing:
Top rope climbing (or Top-roping) is a style in climbing in which a rope that runs from a belayer at the foot of a route through one or more carabiners connected to an anchor system at the top of the route and back down to the climber is used. It is safer as the climber only falls for a small distance, but the skill of the belayer is much required.
Lead Climbing:
Lead Climbing is a style in climbing in which the climbers climb with a rope and clipping into fixed protection (or quickdraw) along the route while being belayed to protect from a fall. This is a more advanced type of climbing, as the climber needs to have solid rock climbing skills and is comfortable on the wall to carry out proper clipping. When a climber falls, he or she will fall for a certain distance depending on the situation, but it will be a scary moment for sure.
Why Rock Climbing?
Actually, there are a lot of benefits that can be gained from doing rock climbing. Since it is a sport, the most obvious and direct advantage would be getting a fit physical body. Rock climbing is able to train muscles that you do not usually engage with such as the forearm and finger.
Although it might look like rock climbing only trains your upper body, actually it is a sport that involves the whole body, both arms and legs paired together with the core are required to ascend up the wall. It helps with building eye hand foot coordination as well.
Mental strength is also something much needed in rock climbing. You need to keep a calm, persistent and focused mind while up on the wall, to push yourself to keep going towards the end goal while maintaining a clear thought.
While picking up rock climbing, your social interactions circle will expand, as you will get to know other climbers who have the same interest as you. You can exchange climbing tips or learn from each other.
Last but not least, also one of the most important things, which is happiness. When you enjoy every moment climbing, you will be in a good mood just by doing it. When you are happy, stress that comes from daily life will be reduced as well.
Benefits of Rock Climbing
What do you need?
For rock climbing you do not need much but the most important yet basic thing you’ll need is a pair of climbing shoes. Normal sports shoes are not encouraged.
Climbing shoes are specifically made in a way that it helps the climber ascend up the wall while staying perfectly fit and tight, wrapping around the foot of the climber.
The rubber-based shoe sole and pointy shoe toe gives more edging power when climbers are standing on holds or the wall.
The second thing you might need is a climbing harness. Harnesses are used in climbing styles such as top rope climbing or lead climbing, where a rope is involved.
It helps secure the climbers to a piece of ropes while not restricting the movement. They also can be used to hang gears that a climber needs while climbing up the wall.
Next is something optional but useful, which is a chalk bag filled with chalk. The purpose of it is to absorb all the moisture that is on a climber’s hands, keeping them nice and dry to provide better grip and friction.
Words from Climber
Izlan Shahiman, 23, who has been climbing for almost a year said that climbing is something fun that he enjoys a lot.
He is currently at a stage where he climbs every week and would go for competition to test his climbing levels compared with other climbers. He even won second place in a bouldering competition organised by a local climbing gym.
Izlan and Pin Zhi figuring out how to climb a route
“I feel climbing is a unique sport in a way that you can choose to climb alone or with friends and strangers yet still able to enjoy the climbing session,”
“Climbing made me realise that I am so much more capable than I used to be and I intend to hold on to it and continue to train and get better at climbing.” said Izlan.
Final words
If you haven’t yet tried rock climbing and are interested, feel free to look up your local climbing gym and head on there to experience it for yourself.
For Penangites, you can visit Project Rock, https://www.projectrock.com.my/ . They have both outlets which are located at Tanjung Bungah and Ikea, Batu Kawan.
All 3 climbing types: bouldering, top rope climbing and lead climbing are available in their Ikea outlet, while the one at Tanjung Bungah is a bouldering only climbing gym.
Commenti