Climbing

[Funkstar]

I don't think i've started a thread in here before, not the most sporty of people.

A new extreme sports complex has been built in Aberdeen. I went for a look today, looks like a fantastic place. It isn't the nicest of buildings, it looks like a warehouse, and the inside is pretty basic. The facilities look great though

http://www.transitionextreme.com/index.htm

I'm really interested in the climbing walls. I have my IRATA Level 1 Industrial Rope Access cert, but fancy having a go at rock wall climbing.

This place at the beach runs classes from absolute beginers up which is good.

Anyone done any of this? any pointers?

[arbitor]

Oh mate climbing is great and gets very addictive, also i would say its awesome activity, and does your whole body good, and you would be surprised how much it takes it out of you.


I went in a cruise ship which had a modestly hard wall on the top, and i was up there every day. and it sure does work you looks good that place

[fuddam]

in a word: stretch

beforehand and after, unless you enjoy looking like popeye but feeling like Olive Oyl When you've been at it for a session, you'll know exactly what I mean.

oh, and concentrate on your feet, not your hands.

[tiggerai]

Climbing is wicked, I hate the fact that I'm in a climbing drought area here.

It's hard work though, but a really good workout as the other guys say!

[Colossous]

Chalk bag and sticky climbing boots if you want to look pro and Ron Hill track pants with holes will con some people he he !!!

[Funkstar]

Getting out and actually doing something is the main reason for i've been looking into it. I do walk a lot, and have been doing more forest walks etc. recently, but other than that i don't get that much excersize.

The Rope Access course was pretty hard work, but very, very enjoyable. It is quite different from clumbing as you have a lot more equipment hanging from you and the harness is full body as opposed to just round your waist/bum.

I also want to loose some of my fear. I'm not bad, but i'm not always that confident when relying on my hands or feed for support. I have complete confidence in the engineering of my rope access gear when using it though

I think i'll enrole for a course or two when i get back from my next offshore trip

[IBM]

I used to do a lot of technical climbing/bouldering in my late teens and early 20s...way too much time spent on the Berghaus Wall in Newcastle http://www.climbonline.co.uk/berghau..._newcastle.htm

A decent pair of boots, 1/2 to 1 size too small is fairly standard (I've got a pair in a box 2 sizes too small, which can really help on harder climbs, but destroys your feet pretty quick) and a chalk bag (as pointed out previously) is the essential gear. A decent harness next and most climb walls will rent you a rope if you don't have one.

Oh, surgical tape. Lots and lots of surgical tape.

Get yourself one of those exercise grip gizmos, or even better, one of the gyro spin ball things (that's the technical term for it). Building up finger strength is the first thing you're going need to do, as it doesn't matter how many press ups you can do, or how much you can bench, your fingers and forearms are going to be the first thing to fail on you.

I'd love to get back into the sport, but just don't have the time....maybe one of these days....

[merdat]

Hi Funkstar - Once you have perfected the wall , you could try this. Lochnagar Eagle Ridge 350D 70-300.[IMG][/IMG]

[IBM]

Hi Funkstar - Once you have perfected the wall , you could try this. Lochnagar Eagle Ridge 350D 70-300.

That's not climbing, that's walking up a very steep hill....

I used to have some fantastic shots of pro climbers making their way up insane walls and overhangs, and even on the close up shots, you literally couldn't see the holds they were using they were so small....

[Funkstar]

[IBM]

Damn, couldn't find any of the really good ones, but check this out. As it says on the pic, E7 7c .... ouch!!

And yes, those are tents. You'd want to cure any sleepwalking habits you had before attempting this one...

[arbitor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-oc-lhqpIA


could not belive it, what is he thinking, no ropes...

amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viy9p...elated&search=

just amazing makes you want to get out there

unfortunatly this man is now dead but a great talent none the less

[IBM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-oc-lhqpIA


could not belive it, what is he thinking, no ropes...

amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viy9p...elated&search=

just amazing makes you want to get out there

unfortunatly this man is now dead but a great talent none the less

I didn't watch the second vid as I was feeling slightly sick from watching the first....I can't believe people do stuff like that. Knowing how many times I've nearly come of soloing, even at very a sedate and careful pace, makes me wonder how sane people like that actually are. Those two handed full body lunges make my palms sweat like nothing on earth.

[arbitor]

Yeh second video is mad, shows him jumping off the top of a 1200 ft cliff with a saftey rope to catch him, no shute..

this was how he died when the rope snapped, readong up on him seems he was a pioneer for it fair play to him, some great talent.

died in 1998

[Colossous]

Those vids are nuts but i reccomend not watching them with a hangover !!!

[merdat]

Amazing vids . Really like those free climbers . Used to follow a French girl who was very good -don't know what happened to her though. There was also an Englishman called 'the Human Fly ' , he also eventually fell plus last year a top American fell in a freak accident with a safety rope whilst doing a tv prep thing. Amazing people though. !!