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New to climbing, looking for some tips!

Original Post
stephanielizw Walsh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 25

My boyfriend and I live in Florida where it's totally flat but we have joined an awesome rock gym. We are totally in love with it. We are just looking for some advice from experienced climbers as to how we can eventually grow from top roping to lead climbing so we can eventually get out there in the real world and do it. Also... if someone could help explain all of the different types of climbing (top toping, lead climbing, etc) that would be awesome lol. Feel free to throw in anything else you think we should know as beginning climbers. Thanks a lot :)

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Stephanie Walsh wrote:My boyfriend and I live in Florida where it's totally flat but we have joined an awesome rock gym. We are totally in love with it. We are just looking for some advice from experienced climbers as to how we can eventually grow from top roping to lead climbing so we can eventually get out there in the real world and do it. Also... if someone could help explain all of the different types of climbing (top toping, lead climbing, etc) that would be awesome lol. Feel free to throw in anything else you think we should know as beginning climbers. Thanks a lot :)
See that link up there at the top of the page that reads "School of Rock"? Start there.
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Stephanie,

I would suggest you get some rock climbing books to help you understand the terminology.

amazon.com/Rock-Climbing-Ma…

amazon.com/How-Rock-Climb/d…

There are plenty available, so pick up a couple of them.

Also, if you have any experienced friends, you can learn from them.

Finally, paying for a guide is probably the best way to go, but it is pricey. You'll learn from someone that knows what they are doing versus some friend that says they know what they are doing. Hiring a guide for private instruction, as opposed to a group class is even better. Have fun!

Shep · · Grand Junction, Colorado · Joined May 2013 · Points: 20

#1 rule of advice for new climbers posting on the mountainproject forums, have thick skin. People on the forums usually aren't very kind. The best way to progress in your climbing skills is to find someone experienced who you trust and have them mentor you. There are plenty of experienced climbers out there who enjoy helping people progress in their skills.

Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50

I lived in FL for 10 yrs and my advice is MOVE. I did little to no climbing while I lived there (there were no climbing gyms there 25 yrs ago) and the nearest place with fair climbing is in GA.
Have fun and read some basic climbing books to learn more about the great sport of rockclimbing. (and ignore the internet trolls if they show up here)

Take a vacation trip to a climbing mecca, hire a guide or take a class and have a ball. Climbing outside on real rock is 1000x more fun than indoors on plastic, IMHO.

BigFeet · · Texas · Joined May 2014 · Points: 385
FrankPS wrote:Stephanie, I would suggest you get some rock climbing books to help you understand the terminology. amazon.com/Rock-Climbing-Ma… amazon.com/How-Rock-Climb/d… There are plenty available, so pick up a couple of them. Also, if you have any experienced friends, you can learn from them. Finally, paying for a guide is probably the best way to go, but it is pricey. You'll learn from someone that knows what they are doing versus some friend that says they know what they are doing. Hiring a guide for private instruction, as opposed to a group class is even better. Have fun!
^ This is a great start!
Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
Shep wrote:There are plenty of experienced climbers out there who enjoy helping people progress in their skills.


They just aren't in Florida.

:-)
Jeff Bruce · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 0

I Am also new to the sport and in Florida. Where are you guys located. In in the orlando area.

David Kutassy · · Charlottesville, VA · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 5

Just have fun and climb often. Don't push your tendons to hard until they get used to the stresses climbing puts on them. Especially when you get to crimper holds.

The Falcon Guide "How to Rock Climb" book was very useful to my wife and me. It goes into almost every detail about climbing equipment you'll need for the outdoors and was very helpful to developing our climbing technique.

Stick with top rope at least for a few months while you polish your climbing skills and a solid belaying techique. Sport is a little more difficult so if you normally climb 5.9 expect 5.8 to be your limit on sport.

cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654

This site's School of Rock page has tons of great info written by a collection of talented and knowledgable climbers.

mountainproject.com/v/schoo…

Scott360 · · Las Vegas · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 520

Ditto to what Shep said about finding a mentor--this is huge. Only thing I would add is learn how to belay, and how to belay WELL. Learn how not to short-rope, how to give a soft catch, how to keep the rope stacked in front of you so it pays out smoothly through your device, when to keep your climber short (and off the deck), where to stand in relation to your climber and first piece of pro, how to communicate with your climber, how NOT to spray beta, when to push your climber and when to throttle back. In a worst-case-scenario, you are your climber's life line. But in a best-case-scenario, the belayer helps his/her climber climb better. Good luck. And remember: the best climber is the one who has the most fun and stays safe.

Mike Collins · · Northampton, MA · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

just climb a lot but make sure you rest enough. starting off the best thing you can do is climb often and watch people who you can clearly see know what they are doing (as many don't) and ask questions! just have fun with it

Alex Kowalcyk · · Idaho · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 65
Jim Fox wrote:I lived in FL for 10 yrs and my advice is MOVE.
+1
David Coley · · UK · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 70
stephanielizw wrote:My boyfriend and I live in Florida where it's totally flat but we have joined an awesome rock gym. We are totally in love with it. We are just looking for some advice from experienced climbers as to how we can eventually grow
Visit

www.multipitchclimbing.com

of course :)
J Sundstrom · · San Diego, CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 185

Even this site has good resources to start with: School of Rock

Scott O · · Anchorage · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 70
Jim Fox wrote:I lived in FL for 10 yrs and my advice is MOVE. I did little to no climbing while I lived there (there were no climbing gyms there 25 yrs ago) and the nearest place with fair climbing is in GA. Have fun and read some basic climbing books to learn more about the great sport of rockclimbing. (and ignore the internet trolls if they show up here) Take a vacation trip to a climbing mecca, hire a guide or take a class and have a ball. Climbing outside on real rock is 1000x more fun than indoors on plastic, IMHO.
And Georgia has shit for climbing outside Tallulah Gorge.
Dan Africk · · Brooklyn, New York · Joined May 2014 · Points: 275

Some great answers so far. I would add, be very wary of who you climb with, and who/where you learn techniques that affect your safety, such anchors, placing gear, etc. Triple check any new technique you learn from multiple people and multiple sources, then triple-check them again! Don't trust any single person or source without verifying it, not even if that person is very experienced or a guide. It is astounding how common unsafe practices are, and I've found that climbing experience or ability to not correlate much to safety. Often there are multiple acceptable ways to do something, with pros and cons, but there are also many techniques that are downright dangerous.

Develop good habits like always doing partner checks, double-checking your knots, harness, carabiners, etc. Avoid common disasters by using rappel backups (autoblock), tying knots in the end of your rappel ropes, etc. Try to climb with partners who have the right attitude about safety- If they don't take it seriously in the gym (i.e. roll their eyes at the idea of partner check..), that's a good indicator that they won't take it seriously outside either.

Realize that technology (i.e. grigris, cams) is not magic, understand the limitations and proper use of your gear, and read the freakin manual.

Realize that everyone including you can make mistakes, and you almost certainly will at some point. Be humble and willing to recognise these mistakes, and open to learning. Developing good habits and having solid partners will reduce the likelihood and consequences of a critical mistake.

Finally, don't be in a rush to push yourself beyond the limits of skill. Most people top-rope in gyms for a long time before they start lead climbing, and then do that a while before (or if) they try trad climbing. Welcome to the climbing community, stay safe, and have fun!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Beginning Climbers
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