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jono13
May 29, 2002, 4:34 AM
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hey all, i just feel like such a sissy! ive been leading for quite awhile now, and ill lead anything to a 9 or the odd 10a qutie comfortably. the thing is, im always worried about falling cuz I STILL HAVENT TAKEN A LEAD FALL! will my confidence improve if i take one? god damn! ciao
jono
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rckfreek
May 29, 2002, 5:01 AM
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As to my experiance you will most definantly gain a good ammount of confidence after your first fall. It is a bit of a weird thing right as/after it happens but after that things really get better. Keep going....it will happen sooner or later.
- Rock Freek -
P.S. What was the use of saying "God Damn" right there. It is pointless to use Gods name in vain (please have some respect)
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nikegirl
May 29, 2002, 5:25 AM
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I took my first real( bolt lower than my feet/waist)
yesterday!!! Flew! On the last hold...had it!! Or so I thought!! DOH!!
I LAUGHED, squeeled in absolute DELIGHT! LOVED it!!
Hang dogged it...then, I started on it again.
DOH! FLEW!!!!! wOOt wOOt!!
then? I had to come down, pumped out...and the adreneline wore off...Mind game took over.
What a day!! Great Whipper! Confidence still there, Full force.
Although, today? I have decided, HELMET!! A must!!
I love CLIMBING!!!!!!!!!
T
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j_freak
May 29, 2002, 5:28 AM
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don't be afraid to fall. it's really not as bad as it seems. great adrenaline rush. it's all part of the game. it gets better after your first fall. good luck dude.
and to you rckfreek, awesome job for standing up for God man, really cool.
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iclimbtoo
May 29, 2002, 5:38 AM
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I was actually in this same predicament last year. I finally decided it was time, so I grabbed a slightly used rope, went into the gym I work at with my partner and took 5 good 15' whippers. Maybe those can't really be called whippers, but it scared the s--- out of me! Anyways, yeah, it will boost your confidence afterwards. But Nikegirl is right...helmets are a must!
Scott
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natec
May 29, 2002, 6:09 AM
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Take some test falls!!!! Since I have come to Yosemite, my climbing has improved about 1.5 number grades! The reason is because on of the first things I did out here was learn trust my gear and get over the fear of falling by just taking intentional falls on safe routes. The fear is gone now and I can lead at my limit.
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cragman
May 29, 2002, 6:35 AM
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Lead fall=Fear, Lead fall+cheap harness=crushed jewels, I still love the sport, Just have to get a better harness
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crux_clipper
May 30, 2002, 8:28 AM
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Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate, leads to suf-fer-ing.......
Well, maybe not, but definately go to the gym, and drop from a few meters above a clip. It will definately help you over come the fear, plus it's the biggest rush (out side of bridge jumping...joe)
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maddie
May 30, 2002, 10:45 AM
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Yeah how fun is bridge jumping!!!
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danwilli
May 30, 2002, 12:50 PM
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The first time I ever climbed the guy that took me made me climb up about 40 feet (on a toprope), he put a little slack in the line, and made me let go. It elated my fear of falling and let me really concentrate on climbing. You can't climb nearly as well, if you're worried about falling.
In short, do what everyone else is saying.
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stevematthys
May 30, 2002, 4:54 PM
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go to your local gym and just take whips all day long, this will help your fear.
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climbchick
May 30, 2002, 5:17 PM
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A couple of weeks ago I went to the gym with someone and we took turns climbing up and falling off with a few feet of slack in the rope. I think it left me even more scared than I was before -- by the third fall, I could barely bring myself to let go. IMO, the anticipation is worse than anything and the falling itself is no big deal unless you bounce off something. I just hope that when I take my first real leader fall, it will happen unexpectedly and won't be so bad because it'll be over before I realize what happened. I hate the thought of getting stuck in a bad position and knowing that a fall is inevitable, then hanging there with shaking knees while my arms slowly pump out . . . yikes
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stevematthys
May 30, 2002, 8:42 PM
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trust me, i use to be terrified of heights. now i am 16yrs old and leading trad in eldorado springs. to get over your fear of falling you must face it. go to the gym and just keep on taking whips until it feels better. start off small and then work to bigger whips
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sparky
Jun 5, 2002, 4:11 AM
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haha I remember steves first whip, this was his face on the way down x10 ha ha ha he almost bottomed out when he missed a clip, i laughed really hard Good times
Keep on fallin steve
Anyway, take a whip on pourpose, small a first but keep climbing up higher and jumping, it gets easier evertime
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stevematthys
Jun 6, 2002, 12:54 AM
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you think that was funny, try the time sparky was sitting on a micronut and it ripped out sending him sliding down the rock until his alien cam caught him. that was funny
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dimeedge
Jun 6, 2002, 1:38 AM
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I remeber my first fall, wasnt too far away from my last piece on a traverse, then suddenly I felt like wiley coyote, looking down and realizing I was out in mid air... then woosh, I swung down below that cam that I had just placed.... It was scarry, but fun. Sometimes I still have to take a fall to remind myself that it isnt so bad.
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hangdoggypound
Jun 6, 2002, 2:37 AM
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I couldn't leap off the wall above my pro on purpose. that freaked me out too much. but my first fall was on a sketchy cam that held. I screamed bloody-friggin-murder, but laughed as soon as it was over.
Now, it's just important to have a "playful spirit" when climbing and treat falling like a litte kid would do. "unless you are like one of these little ones, you will not enter the kingdom" (or something like that).
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beyond_gravity
Jun 6, 2002, 4:38 AM
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This god you speak of. He sounds like a grand fellow!
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talons05
Jun 6, 2002, 4:46 AM
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I remember after my first fall, I was much less afraid to fall again -- it was not nearly as bad as I had imagined. It was the same thing when I first started whitewater boating -- after my first wet exit, I was much less afraid to get dumped.
A.W.
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tl351698
Jun 6, 2002, 7:10 PM
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faliing is fun...try one on some overhanging stuff but make sure your belayer is ready
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stevematthys
Jun 8, 2002, 8:16 AM
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if your belayer is not ready to catch a fall at any moment. he/she aint a good belayer
[ This Message was edited by: stevematthys on 2002-06-08 01:16 ]
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orestes1724
Jun 14, 2002, 11:46 PM
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your JUST like i was. i had to lead in a competition and i was so scared of falling becasue untill then i had only lead easy routes. let me tell you...man was i scared. Just think about the route, think about climbing and nothing else. DONT think about falling, if you get to a hard part and start freaking out just try to not thik about it. tell yourself the holds are really good (even if they suck) and KNOW that you wont fall. and even if you do fall. its not as bad as you think it will be, its actually kinda cool. just make sure the rope isint going between then behind your legs, and you will be fine. its really not scary. and to answer your question, no your not a wuss, i think everyone is scared before thier first fall.
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crazy-teen-climber
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Jun 25, 2002, 2:09 AM
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Before my first fal on lead I was so scared. I wouldnt even get hyped up for the climb. just fear. Then I was climbing up a face one weekend and before I knew it my foot slipped and I didnt have a good hold. I fell and ever since then I havent really been scared to fall. If it happens it happens. Dont worry about it.
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timhinck
Jun 25, 2002, 4:54 AM
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I think that the best way to get over a fear of falling is to practice falling on a very overhanging route.
Falling inside a gym is fine, but it's a hell of a lot different outside on real rock and a real route. Get on something overhung. That takes a lot of the fear out because you aren't afraid of sliding down the rock or hitting your knee on the way down. Also, the fall from an overhang is generally much smoother. So just clip a few bolts out this overhang and then drop off. You will realize how easy and safe falling really is.
tim
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bolder
Jul 3, 2002, 6:43 PM
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I don't believe in practicing falls. When you are learning to climb you need to practice climbing not falling. Falls will come whether or not you want them to. Just learn to concentrate on climbing.
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