![\""Climbers](\"https:\/\/www.bergfreunde.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Speedklettern-Kletterwand.jpg\")
<\/a>Anyone can and is allowed to start learning rock climbing. There is no rule that would exclude anyone, even if there are always some \u201ckeepers of the Grail\u201d who spew nonsense to seem important.<\/p>\n\n
One apparent obstacle is the exaggerated image of climbing. It still has the reputation of being dangerous. 30 years ago, there really were many obstacles and you needed a good deal of luck when trying to start out in climbing without major bruises. These days, the risks and obstacles to beginning mountaineering are so reduced that climbing takes place in gyms among spinning and aerobics. Mountain climbing for beginners is therefore also possible for those who may not have the best prerequisites at first glance.<\/p>\n\n
Too old for learning rock climbing?<\/h3>\n\n
Despite the common perception, climbing is a sport that is suitable for the older generation. It may be strenuous but it\u2019s a completely natural form of movement for the body. You can master many climbing routes in slow and smooth movements, with good technique replacing the need for strength. This is not the case with ball sports or track and field athletics, for example, where sudden movements cause wear and injuries.<\/p>\n\n
Some older climbers like sports consultant Rainer \u00d6hrle<\/a> actually believe that climbing \u201cis ideal for older people\u201d. At the Protestant Youth Association\u2019s Haus 44 in Stuttgart, \u00d6hrle offers climbing courses for the 50+ generation. These types of courses and groups for older people also exist in increasing numbers of Alpine Club sections. In the Ulm and Neu-Ulm sections, older people leave youngsters in the dust with their skill level.<\/p>\n\n Not only is it possible to start climbing at an advanced age but you can also get to the highest level. Stevie Haston is proof of this who, at the age of 52, conquered his first 9a (!) route. Of course, it\u2019s tough to reach this level as a late climbing beginner but the example shows that a lot is possible. The only actual \u201climitation\u201d older people may have is that they need to give their bodies more time to recover.<\/p>\n\n Being overweight makes it tougher but not impossible. A few additional kilogrammes are no reason why you shouldn\u2019t start climbing. In cases of morbid obesity, however, climbing should be incorporated into an overall concept of losing weight and improving fitness. It\u2019s questionable whether climbing helps weight loss though. Together with a balanced diet and recreational sport focusing on cardiovascular activity, such as cycling, swimming or Nordic Walking, it will definitely help.<\/p>\n\n Whilst browsing some internet forums and question-answer pages about \u201cstarting climbing when overweight\u201d, I got the impression that the fear of being looked at disparagingly or being laughed at is a bigger obstacle than physical exertion. Of course, the encouraging thing is that, among climbers, at least one or two friendly, open-minded people make up for the one idiot (if you think that\u2019s not a good ratio: climbers are just a reflection of society ;-))<\/p>\n\n It would be even better, however, to think carefully about whether reactions and \u201copinions\u201d largely from complete strangers should have any influence at all on what you\u2019re doing. In particular if these people are primarily showing with their condescending attitude how narrow their own intellectual scope is. So again: should you really give some trolls power over your own life by letting them stop you doing something you might enjoy?<\/p>\n\n And last but not least: there are clearly overweight YET excellent climbers. In the 1990s, the Brit John Dunne, for example, was a big chap in the top climbing division. Unfortunately, there\u2019s still a lack of inspiring stories, meaning that tips for overweight climbers are usually given by people who don\u2019t have weight issues themselves.<\/p>\n\n Learning rock climbing or bouldering is usually easier and more fun with a partner (or several partners). Unfortunately, you can\u2019t just materialise someone out of thin air. If you haven\u2019t got anyone yet, it\u2019s better to start with bouldering (ideally in a bouldering hall) or with a climbing course in the nearest climbing hall. With reference to effort, bouldering is a \u201clow-risk\u201d alternative if you first want to find out whether you enjoy the climbing movements and they\u2019re something you can do. It\u2019s also a good idea to approach the staff in the hall if you have questions or problems. Those people aren\u2019t just there to take your money but also to provide information.<\/p>\n No matter how you go about it, rock climbing for beginners entails a whole lot of new information and impressions. Rock climbing for dummies classes in a gym are ideal to allow yourself sufficient time to absorb all the information. They\u2019re feasible for smaller budgets, too, and the most promising method to find future climbing partners. Ideally, sign up \u201cjust\u201d for the top-rope course to begin with (for climbing with an auto-belay device from the top), and only when it\u2019s all clicked, add the lead climbing course.<\/p>\n\n This will avoid frustrations and everything getting too much when you\u2019re just starting out. On the other hand, it\u2019s great, of course, if you get into the spirit of things immediately and you feel you can\u2019t progress quickly enough. But this poses the risk \u2013 especially if you\u2019re not a supreme athlete or no longer in your 20s \u2013 of possible injuries or excessive strain.<\/p>\n\n A directory of climbing halls in Germany, Austria and Switzerland can be obtained from Bergsteiger Magazin<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Those who learn \u201cpurely privately\u201d with experienced friends will never know whether they get the correct, most up-to-date input. That\u2019s why courses, provided by the German Alpine Club in particular, are the only method for learning rock climbing that can be \u201cofficially\u201d recommended with a clear conscience. Up to 20 years ago, it was common or the only option to start a career in rock climbing outside on natural rocks. But this comes with a risk of the hold or hook breaking away. Of course, you shouldn\u2019t let the chance to go climbing outside on natural rocks pass you by, but ideally as the third step in the sequence:<\/p>\n\n For the right strategy on equipment for climbing beginners, Bergsteiger Magazin provides excellent information in this article<\/a>. You don\u2019t have to buy anything for your very first attempts at a gym. As soon as you\u2019re sure that you want to stick with the sport, your own footwear, climbing harness<\/a>, chalk bag and chalk as well as belay device<\/a> are recommended. You\u2019ll need your own rope and helmet when you regularly want to do lead climbing or climb outside. You can initially buy these items in a lower price category. You can share a rope with regular, reliable partners.<\/p>\n\n Some of the articles for climbing beginners that I read as research give a number of tips for climbing technique or even tactics. It\u2019s suggested to complete newbies that they should \u201canalyse difficult sections from the ground\u201d. But these are subtle issues that climbing beginners won\u2019t be able to master and that will become relevant only after the first few climbing attempts. This article is about the first routes that should be easy and short enough so no amazing cleverness is even needed to get up there.<\/p>\n\n It\u2019s absolute madness to mention the sporting \u201cquality\u201d score before the very first climb or to bother climbing beginners with concepts such as a \u201cclean ascent without hanging\u201d or even \u201cRedpoint\u201d and \u201cOnsight\u201d. If you get stuck during the first climbing attempts, just sit back in the rope, loosen your arm muscles, try to find a doable order of hand and foot holds for the next few metres and just keep going. That\u2019s it! Although \u201csitting back in the rope\u201d isn\u2019t actually that easy to begin with and should therefore be practised close to the ground first. In this way, you can develop trust in the material and movements.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Tips relating to technique are meaningless if you don\u2019t even know how climbing feels in general. That\u2019s just information overload that is more of an obstacle than any help. Therefore: get on the wall and climb the first few metres. Ideally, you\u2019ll do this with instructions and supervision from experienced course leaders or mentors who will give appropriate tips. Once you\u2019ve gathered some experience with the movements and you fancy more, you can always find out about technique, tactics and training.<\/p>\n\n Especially when learning rock climbing, the following is true: once you get into gear, you\u2019ll really start to enjoy it. In turn, interruptions can quickly cause frustration because, as opposed to cycling or swimming, climbing skills once learned won\u2019t \u201cbe perfect once and for all\u201d and you won\u2019t be able to \u201crecall them immediately\u201d. After a longer break, it might take months to reach your previous level again. Plus, after a long interruption, you won\u2019t just lose strength but also technique and theoretical knowledge. This will only change when everything has become second nature after many years …<\/p>\n\n Without basic interest and a certain willingness, nobody will make the decision to try climbing. Even if friends \u201ctalk you into it\u201d, it\u2019s your decision in the end. So there needs to be a certain basic motivation to start with. And this motivation can be increased by feeding it with specific positive images and ideas. When needed, you can recall these images and visualise them in more detail. A simple, yet excellent example is the image of you climbing full of dynamism, fitness and joie de vivre on a sunny rock face. Think of yourself as strong as an ox or elegant with ease of motion.<\/p>\n\n The reality of the first attempts won\u2019t look quite the same but the positive associations will increase the likelihood that you\u2019ll enjoy yourself and stay motivated for the next attempts. Once you\u2019ve gathered experience climbing, you can set yourself specific, clear intermediate goals that will push you even further. But enjoyment should remain at the heart of it, otherwise motivation can quickly turn into pressure and stress.<\/p>\n\n Those were my tips for rock climbing for beginners even under \u201cunfavourable\u201d conditions. More Tips for Learning Rock Climbing<\/a> and Equipment Tips<\/a> provided by Alpine Trekker Sascha can be found on our YouTube channel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you take a look around a climbing hall in a metropolitan area, you\u2019ll mainly see young, fit people with muscular bodies. But there is also a good number of those who don\u2019t care about fitness, age or beauty stereotypes. Which is a good thing. After all, the benefits and joys of climbing should be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":75965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[211,212],"tags":[418],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-109284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-tos","category-training-health","tag-climbing-bouldering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCarrying a little extra weight?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>With a partner or alone? Do-it-yourself or \u201csupported\u201d? Outside or indoors?<\/h2>\n\n
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Required equipment for beginning mountaineering: renting or buying?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Technique and tactics: not so important to begin with<\/h2>\n\n
Stick with it because…<\/h2>\n\n
Using motivation and willingness when learning rock climbing<\/h2>\n
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