Coming from someone who has never involved themselves in sports, starting indoor climbing was daunting. However, I soon found the climbing community to be filled with such friendly and approachable people. Everyone has their own reason for taking it up, mine being to give my mind a focus. After passing my introductory course at the Glasgow Climbing Centre, I have created a wee list of tips for those who are keen to get started.
Buddy Up
If you know anyone who is a competent climber, ask if you can tag along on their next session. They can sign you in if they are happy to supervise and be responsible for your safety. This is a good way to get a taster without committing to a course just yet.
Choosing a Course
Once you’ve decided you want to be more involved, look up courses at your nearest climbing centre. The Peak in Stirling is only a ten-minute drive from the university and has an adult introductory course for £27. If you’re looking for something that goes into a bit more depth, the GCC offers a course that runs over two three-hour sessions. It covers everything from stepping into your harness to catching someone falling from the wall. It’s not as scary as it sounds – I promise!
What to Wear
Comfort is a must for your first climb. Don’t wear anything too restrictive. Some joggers and a t-shirt are perfect. Take a hoodie as you’d be surprised at how cold the buildings get in the evenings! Make sure your nails are short, so they don’t get caught in the climbing holds, and tie your hair back. Leave any rings at home, you want your hands to be free of things that can snag and catch on rope. Definitely take water and some snacky foods to fuel you up.
Types of Climbing
Bouldering is a good place to start as you don’t need a harness, just climbing shoes. The walls aren’t high, and you climb above crash mats following different route levels. It’s useful for getting a feel for the holds and developing a technique.
Top roping involves two people, a climber and a belayer. The belayer controls the rope that the climber is attached to, catching them if they fall, holding them as they climb up and giving them slack when they have reached the top of the wall to climb back down. This is something you should always do with an experienced climber. Make sure you have seen them belay someone and that you’re comfortable with them belaying you.
Auto belays are great if you don’t want to rely on others. You simply clip yourself in and start climbing. The device holds you all the way up and lowers you back down when you jump from the top.
In all of these, your feet are the most important. The more you concentrate on where they are and accessing more footholds, the more height you gain to access hand holds. I used to only think about where my hands were going and wondered why I was never able to make progress up the wall.
Equipment
Don’t worry about needing a large amount of gear to start with. Take advantage of the gym’s rental equipment and use it to get a feel. Climbing can get expensive, so renting shoes, harnesses, belay devices and carabiners in the beginning is a good shout. This also means they have been thoroughly checked over by the gym, so you know you’re completely safe. If you are ever unsure about your own gear once you get it, ask to get it checked by a member of staff. One thing to consider is purchasing a small bag of chalk. It’s so useful if you’re prone to sweaty hands. Chalk powder absorbs the moisture and increases your grip, allowing you to stay on holds for longer.
Most importantly, just relax and have fun. Climbing is a really chilled sport and is great for sharing with friends, and for making new ones. On my course with GCC I met a fellow beginner who just moved from Australia, and we now go on climbs. We treat every route on the wall as a puzzle and solve them together, where whoever is belaying on the ground shouts out possible paths for the climber to take to reach the top. Three-hour sessions fly by, and I never want to leave the gym even when my tired arms are telling me otherwise. This is honestly just a wee taster, there is so much more to cover but I’m learning more every time I go. Get yourselves down to The Peak or GCC, they are such great communities for your first session.
Feature Image Credit: Helen Cochrane
Film and Media student at the University of Stirling!
