Usually when scaling a wall, a climber uses his or her toes to step onto a hold or a crack. The heel hook is just the opposite and is performed pretty much how it sounds. The heel hook allows you to support more weight with your legs, taking the weight off of your arms which allows you to reach higher for the next hold. It also allows for a [...]
Smearing is a rock climbing technique which is employed when there are no suitable footholds to step onto. The goal is to get as much surface area from the sole of your foot pressed against the flat rock surface. This is to maximize the amount of friction between you and the wall to prevent you from slipping off. Smearing is particularly useful on slab walls, but can be used in [...]
Now that you have good fundamentals, we can dive into the meat of rock climbing techniques. Good climbing technique involves very precise and deliberate footwork, so now we will discuss the drop knee technique. The drop knee is useful for all climbers, short or tall, because it extends your reach while transferring weight to your feet and saving your arm strength. The drop knee can be used in almost any [...]
Next, we’ll dive into a more subtle rock climbing technique that is often overlooked but is key to your rock climbing success – Breathing. Sometimes you will find yourself stuck on a particular sequence of moves and red in the face. This problem has one simple solution: focus on your breathing. Naturally when physically exerting yourself, you tend to focus on the task at hand, and consequentially forget to [...]
In this rock climbing technique, we will be focused on your grip. It is often overlooked skill and it is merely an afterthought for many new and experienced climbers. Your forearms are often the first muscles to give in, so why not pay attention to your gripping technique? Also see the related section on arm positioning. Over-gripping is unnecessary - it will wear out your forearms faster and more importantly, increases [...]
One of the most fundamental rock climbing techniques is to USE YOUR FEET! Imagine yourself climbing a ladder… do you step up the rungs, or pull yourself up one by one? Obviously it is easier to step up using your legs. Yes, we already know that. So lets dive a little deeper into foot positioning and balance. Rock climbing shoes are specifically designed to support your body weight in [...]
If you are a beginner rock climber, you may have noticed that your forearms become incredibly tired within the first couple routes (not to mention the soreness you feel the next day!) We have all been there, but this problem can be solved by keeping in mind one of the major simple rock climbing techniques- keep your arms straight! When you’re climbing upwards, its natural to try and pull [...]
Rock climbing is as much a mental sport as it is physically. Visualization is of the most important rock climbing techniques to master as well as physical conditioning. Advanced climbers will preview and read the route, and then visualize themselves climbing it before even touching the first hold. Jumping onto a route without planning ahead is just setting yourself up for failure. Remember the 5-P rule: Proper Planning Prevents Poor [...]
