What I Wish I Knew When I Started Climbing
7/14/2016
In the 2 years I’ve been a climber, I’ve had some amazing highs where I’m able to push past pain and focus enough to finish new routes I’d never expect to complete. There are hard times when injury prevented me from climbing and getting back at it felt like defeat. Looking back there are a few things I wish I knew when I was starting out.
Stop Comparing Yourself: I started climbing with 2 very competitive and naturally athletic guys who are both much taller than me. We started almost on the same day and I thought…this is going to be a fun journey. Suddenly they were 2 levels past me in ability and I started to feel like I couldn’t compete. Comparing yourself does nothing to help you, and honestly, even taller stronger guys have difficulty getting in those small crouched positions that I find easy. It’s better to just have fun with your climbing friends and try to help each other out with whatever each person struggles with. You’d be surprised how much you can learn from each other.
Find Your Beta Buddy: Countless times I would try try try and fail certain climbs. Instead of banging yourself literally against the wall, try asking someone who climbs at a higher level but is similar in height or body type to you. It’s simply amazing how a fresh perspective on a route using a different technique can get you up the wall so much easier. I’m 5'5" and my climbing partner is 6'3" so he would approach it opposite to what my instincts would be. One day I randomly asked a great female climber around my size for help. Suddenly the world opened up for me and things looked very different.
Why Not Try It: For the longest time, I told myself I am V3 level and that one day I would miraculously be able to climb every V3 in the gym. Well, that’s never happened and I’m climbing V4–5 today. There are still some V3 climbs that stump me and some V6 climbs that I’ve finished. The story here is that you should try climbing harder routes because there are days when you are in the zone, or the route is something you intrinsically just get. Never underestimate yourself.
No One Is Watching You: Ok well sometimes people in the gym are watching, but it’s usually only to learn from you, which is a compliment to your skills! I’m a confident person, but I would constantly hold back from doing a route out in the open on a busy wall, just because I was embarrassed about falling and looking foolish. This is the top thing I wish I could have figured out from the beginning. Remember, everyone started as a beginner and every climber falls. Climbers are usually focused on their own problem and are not going to laugh at you. Just know that they were once where you are. So don’t be intimidated. The climbing community is a supportive and helpful one.