HOW TO BOULDER
>> Each problem is comprised of same-coloured holds. Your hands, feet and body may only use holds from your problem, the wall and volumes (light grey structures that are considered part of the wall).
>> The start of each problem is marked by one or two grade tags on the start hold/s. With one tag, both hands should be on the same start hold. With two tags, one hand should be on each of the two start holds. There are no fixed start holds for your feet.
>> To complete the problem, both hands should touch the finish hold, marked by a grade tag, in a stable and controlled manner, i.e. not flailing and falling.
>> To reduce the risk of injury when getting off the wall, downclimbing is encouraged. Grey downclimb holds are placed for this purpose.
>> Grading: Problems are graded from 1 to 10, with 1 being the easiest. While we try to be as consistent as possible, grades are ultimately subjective and should only be viewed as rough indicators of difficulty. What matters is challenging yourself and having a jolly good time!
falling & landing
Most indoor bouldering injuries arise from poor landings on the mat. Follow the steps below to minimise your risk of injury.
(1) Ensure that your landing zone is clear before starting your climb and jumping down.
(2) Keep your legs shoulder width apart, tuck your arms and head in over your chest.
(3) Land flat on both feet (not on your toes/heel/side), bend your knees on impact and roll onto your back or side, all in one fluid motion. Go with the flow, DO NOT attempt to break your fall with your arms/hands.
This will help to distribute the impact over as long a time and over as much body surface area as possible to reduce the maximum force on the body.
5 beginner tips
Look after your arms by pushing your hips and chest close to the wall, keeping your weight over your feet to reduce the load your arms have to support.
Use your legs to step up the wall and hands to pull you into the wall for balance and positioning. Your leg muscles are much stronger and last longer than your arms. Conserve your arms by not using them to pull yourself up the wall.
Your toes give you the most precise and stable foundation, while allowing you to pivot around it and adjust your feet and body position easily. Tip-toe for that extra reach. Engage your leg muscles and step down hard to prevent your feet from slipping off and to push you into the wall.
The right body position will make things a lot easier! Play around with how you position your body/hips and how you shift your bodyweight around. Feel how that affects your ability to use the holds effectively and efficiently.
Observe good climbers and learn from how they climb and move. Feel free to ask for advice – climbers are a friendly helpful bunch so don’t be shy!
It also helps to climb as much as possible, duh. Check out this page for other gyms around!