Rock climbing is part strength, part technique, and part mindset. Whether you’re stepping onto the rock for the first time or looking to become a more efficient climber, these essential tips for beginner rock climbers can make a big difference in rock climbing for beginners.
We asked Uplift Adventures climbing instructor David for his top tips. His advice? Start with the practical stuff, but don’t forget to work on the mental side of climbing, too.
3 technical rock climbing tips
1. Seek out proper training
If you’re new to climbing, learning the fundamentals from a qualified instructor is one of the best things you can do.
Climbing involves more than simply figuring out how to get from the bottom of a route to the top. Learning proper movement, climbing technique and safety systems from the beginning gives you a solid foundation to build on and helps you develop good habits before bad ones have a chance to stick.
2. Think push, not pull
One of the biggest mistakes David sees new climbers make is trying to haul themselves up the wall with their arms.
Instead, think push, not pull.
Your legs are significantly stronger than your arms, so use them to drive your movement upward. Rather than constantly pulling yourself toward the next hold, focus on pushing through your feet and standing up through your legs.
This also helps conserve energy. Your forearms can fatigue quickly when they’re doing all the work, while using your legs properly allows you to climb more efficiently and stay on the wall longer.
The next time you climb, pay attention to how much you’re using your arms. Then try shifting the work into your legs.
3. Use technique over strength
When you’re focused on reaching the next handhold, it’s easy to overlook what your feet are doing. But good footwork is one of the keys to climbing efficiently.
Before making your next move, look for where you can place your feet. Use small footholds deliberately and think about how your foot placement can help position your body for the next movement.
The goal isn’t necessarily to become stronger so you can muscle your way up every route. It’s to become more technically efficient so you don’t have to.
Technique over strength. The better you use your feet and position your body, the less you need to rely on brute force.
Now for the slightly more “hippy dippy” advice.
Climbing isn’t just about technique: 3 mindset tips
Good technique will get you a long way, but your mindset matters, too. At the end of the day, climbing is supposed to be fun! So once you’ve got the technical stuff down, here’s some of David’s slightly more hippy dippy advice for enjoying the climb.
1. Be kind to yourself
Climbing can be humbling. You might struggle with a route that looks easy, fall off something you thought you could climb, or find yourself frustrated when your body doesn’t quite do what your brain is asking it to do.
That’s all part of learning.
Instead of beating yourself up over what you can’t do yet, pay attention to what you are learning. Every attempt gives you information: where you lost your balance, which movement felt awkward, where you used too much strength or where your foot placement could have been better.
Progress doesn’t always mean reaching the top. Sometimes it means figuring out how to make the next move a little more efficiently than you did last time.
2. It’s okay to be afraid
Climbing can be intimidating. You’re off the ground, you’re trying unfamiliar movements, and you may be looking down at a whole lot of space beneath your feet.
Being afraid doesn’t mean you’re bad at climbing.
Learning to recognize and manage that fear is part of becoming a more confident climber. Take your time, communicate with your climbing partners and instructors, and give yourself permission to work within your comfort zone while gradually expanding it.
3. Embrace the community
Climbing has a strong sense of community, and you’re joining a group of people who understand what it’s like to start at the bottom, struggle with a move and celebrate finally getting it right.
Ask questions. Learn from other climbers. Cheer someone on when they’re working through a difficult section. And remember that everyone was a beginner once.
Ready to get on the rock?
If you’re new to climbing, the best way to start is with good instruction, plenty of practice, and a willingness to learn.
| Ready to give rock climbing a try? Join Uplift Adventures for Intro to Rock Climbing in Crowsnest Pass and learn the ropes in a fun, supportive setting with professional instruction. |