Starting out with climbing can seem quite daunting at first: completely new kit, knots and belaying techniques that need to be learnt, and the lingo that goes along with a new sport. If you’re just starting out, try these drills to help improve your technique and make you feel more confident on the wall. Pause Drill … [Read more...]
Climbing and the Olympics: Part One
Are you excited?! Just in case you haven’t heard (are you living in a climbing-free cave?), in 2016 it was announced that Sport Climbing, along with Skateboarding, Surfing and Karate, would be trialed at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. But a climbing competition? How do you decide who is the best climber in bouldering, lead and speed all at … [Read more...]
Destination Guide: Thorn Crag
I’ll be honest. I discovered Thorn Crag as a result of a somewhat desperate Google search: “easy bouldering UK”. As that search indicates, I am by no means a boulderer. A nasty ankle injury bouldering indoors early in my climbing career, compounded by a trip to Font with friends of vastly superior ability and not enough pads for me to toddle around … [Read more...]
Training Exercises for Bouldering
Going to the bouldering gym to crush your project is a satisfying and fun way to climb, but what about those days when you want something a little less intense while still getting in a good workout? Try out one of these exercises next time you’re bouldering and incorporate them into your climbing habits to improve in a fun and productive … [Read more...]
Bouldering in Finland: Part Three
Then and Now, Courtesy of the Ice Age “Finnish bouldering is as good as anywhere, and there is a lot of it”, one keen climber summed up in the Finnish climbing documentary Cold Stone. It is easy to second that. You’ll notice granite blocks dotting the forest floor in most forests you go to. And with forests covering ¾ of Finland’s land area, … [Read more...]
Bouldering in Finland: Part Two
Spring Fin Bouldering, Åland Island Life Anssi Laatikainen photography Spring sunshine is brushing the surface of red granite blocks in Åland’s Djupviksgrottorna (more casually, Grottan). The granite here is slated in such a way that the ubiquitous roofs look like they’ve been constructed from stacked up Lego blocks. The hold-potential … [Read more...]
Bouldering in Finland: Part One
Planning your next Adventure Holiday: Lappnor Projects Weak rays of autumn sunlight reach through the twigs of an evergreen forest. A dirt road slithers between the trees, becoming more and more uneven as it runs deeper into the forest. It is Sunday in mid-August, and the boulder problems of dead-quiet Lappnor await … [Read more...]
7 Reasons I Chose my Climbing Gym
There has been a recent explosion of bouldering gyms around Sydney, and having climbed at each of them, let me tell you why I travel one hour each way to get to the gym I chose. It’s in Lane Cove, and it’s called 9 Degrees (note the chica sending on the logo). May I present: 7 Reasons I Chose My Bouldering Gym 1. The vibe Smiles, … [Read more...]
Bouldering. 101.
Noticed a new bouldering gym pop up in town and want to try it? Good. New to bouldering? Even better. Here’s a cheat sheet for you: The wall Natasha Hirst Photography The indoor bouldering gym usually hosts a 20 foot (or 6.1 metre) wall. It is an artificially constructed vertical (and sometimes overhanging) wall with a series of … [Read more...]
Bouldering Vocabulary
Natasha Hirst Photography Enjoying the bouldering wall, but not sure what the lingo's all about? Here's a quick guide to get you started: Barn door: when the body swings open from the same hand and foot being positioned on the wall Beta: information about the moves, approach or rock obtained verbally, watching others, or research Chalk: … [Read more...]
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