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Finesse74
Mar 9, 2011, 12:52 AM
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This might seen dumb, but I'll go ahead and take one for the team. I'm very new at climbing. I read many article about it, been indoor climbing various times and am overall very interested in the sport.
My question is how does someone actually get involved in the sport?
I see there is a youth group at my local climbing gym, but I'm 23 years old. Can anyone help me?
I would like to go from a beginner ascending indoor routes to hopefully climbing a actual surface. Bouldering or top ropping it doesn't matter to me.
Thank you for the help guys :)
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marc801
Mar 9, 2011, 1:02 AM
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Registered: Aug 1, 2005
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Finesse74 wrote: This might seen dumb, but I'll go ahead and take one for the team. I'm very new at climbing. I read many article about it, been indoor climbing various times and am overall very interested in the sport. My question is how does someone actually get involved in the sport? I see there is a youth group at my local climbing gym, but I'm 23 years old. Can anyone help me? I would like to go from a beginner ascending indoor routes to hopefully climbing a actual surface. Bouldering or top ropping it doesn't matter to me. Thank you for the help guys :)
Buy some climbing shoes.
Find a big rock.
Climb around on it.
If you do so wearing a beanie, you've become a boulderer.
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bennydh
Mar 9, 2011, 1:10 AM
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Take a course at the local climbing gym.
You might also look at the Beginner's FAQ on this site for resources on getting started.
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jbro_135
Mar 9, 2011, 1:26 AM
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Registered: Nov 15, 2009
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Finesse74 wrote: This might seen dumb, but I'll go ahead and take one for the team. I'm very new at climbing. I read many article about it, been indoor climbing various times and am overall very interested in the sport. My question is how does someone actually get involved in the sport? I see there is a youth group at my local climbing gym, but I'm 23 years old. Can anyone help me? I would like to go from a beginner ascending indoor routes to hopefully climbing a actual surface. Bouldering or top ropping it doesn't matter to me. Thank you for the help guys :)
Maybe you should go to the climbing gym and ask them
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mrtristan
Mar 9, 2011, 6:26 AM
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Like others have said, it's hard to give you the best advice when we don't know where you are or how close to rock you are.
I'd also say to take a course at the local gym. But an even better thing to do would be to find someone at the gym to take you outside and teach you stuff. A mentor, if you will.
If for some reason neither of those work for you, do what I did. Read about everything you can online and in books and then get out and start climbing!
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saint_john
Mar 9, 2011, 3:37 PM
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Finesse74 wrote: This might seen dumb, but I'll go ahead and take one for the team. I'm very new at climbing. I read many article about it, been indoor climbing various times and am overall very interested in the sport. My question is how does someone actually get involved in the sport? I see there is a youth group at my local climbing gym, but I'm 23 years old. Can anyone help me? I would like to go from a beginner ascending indoor routes to hopefully climbing a actual surface. Bouldering or top ropping it doesn't matter to me. Thank you for the help guys :)
make friends at your climbing gym. that's probably the best thing you can do to break into the sport. climbing, like most other sports, will be more enjoyable if you have friends you can learn from and share with.
oh yeah, at 23 I'd say you're too old for the youth group.
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jo247
Mar 9, 2011, 5:08 PM
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saint_john wrote: Finesse74 wrote: This might seen dumb, but I'll go ahead and take one for the team. I'm very new at climbing. I read many article about it, been indoor climbing various times and am overall very interested in the sport. My question is how does someone actually get involved in the sport? I see there is a youth group at my local climbing gym, but I'm 23 years old. Can anyone help me? I would like to go from a beginner ascending indoor routes to hopefully climbing a actual surface. Bouldering or top ropping it doesn't matter to me. Thank you for the help guys :) make friends at your climbing gym. that's probably the best thing you can do to break into the sport. climbing, like most other sports, will be more enjoyable if you have friends you can learn from and share with. oh yeah, at 23 I'd say you're too old for the youth group.
+1
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Finesse74
Mar 9, 2011, 7:26 PM
Post #8 of 18
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Thank you for the help. I live in Augusta, Ga. I will be going to the gym in Columbia, SC and see what I can do to get more involved.
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enigma
Mar 10, 2011, 4:37 AM
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Finesse74 wrote: Thank you for the help. I live in Augusta, Ga. I will be going to the gym in Columbia, SC and see what I can do to get more involved.
tell them if they take you climbing outside , you will share gas cost, and if they resist offer to buy beer, climbers like it alot 
If you go to an indoor gym speak to the manager or one of their staff , tell them your objectives .
Might want to get a bouldering pad, chalk bag and shoes so you are ready to go if you want to boulder!!!!
Or you could rent shoes from an indoor climbing gym if you can't afford them.
If you want to climb routes, you'll need a harness too. Some gyms will rent them as well.
Be safe , Have fun
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marc801
Mar 10, 2011, 5:24 AM
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enigma wrote: If you want to climb routes, you'll need a harness too. Some gyms will rent them as well.
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enigma
Mar 10, 2011, 5:50 AM
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marc801 wrote: enigma wrote: If you want to climb routes, you'll need a harness too. Some gyms will rent them as well. Strictly for use inside that gym. Because of liability concerns, no one in the US will rent a harness for use outside that is not directly connected to a class with their instructors.
I saw 25 people climbing outside from an indoor climbing gym , I go to.
Many of them had rented harness from the owner.
Maybe he can go on a field trip with the indoor climbing gym he goes to.
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lazymonkey
Mar 10, 2011, 11:43 PM
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wtf @ OP...dude, for real? google rocktown or some other bouldering spots in GA. buy shoes, chalk, and pad.
find some rock and become immediately addicted..come home with everything but your will itself broken down and bleeding.
continue to climb every day that you feel physically able, until you develop elbow pain. then come here for advice. then get shut down by the miserable yuppie semi-professional sport climbers that make up 90% of the forum.
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l3uddy789
Mar 22, 2011, 3:54 AM
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Some people are suggesting buying things right off the bat. I would disagree for a couple of reasons. One you don't know if you want to boulder, trad, sport, just be indoor or whatever. Second if you end up not liking it your screwed. Go to a gym and rent gear from them. If you can get someone to go with you friend, wife, whatever it helps because then they can belay you. Once your their don't be afraid to ask questions from the staff or the other climbers. Most climbers are nice people and like to help people get started and give little tips. I wouldn't ask a random person to be a climbing partner though before you are comfortable with belaying. It's really easy to belay top rope but you should have some practice before you let a stranger trust you with their life. Climbing is a truly amazing sport that will open a lot of doors for you if you give it a chance. So have fun and climb hard.
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ENARE
Apr 13, 2011, 3:12 PM
Post #14 of 18
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Registered: Feb 8, 2011
Posts: 275
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Hey man! How is it going - have you had any luck with beginning to climb?
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Masterkush
May 1, 2011, 7:58 AM
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get some shoes and go climb man, its how everyone starts
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climbingtrash
May 1, 2011, 7:29 PM
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Getting into it iz EZ. Getting out, not that EZ.
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Crankenstein_
May 2, 2011, 1:07 AM
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Registered: Apr 30, 2011
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I really got into it when I found a group of friends to go with each week. The motivation we can offer each other, challenging each other and discussing how to do certain climbs is really awesome. Before I had this group to go with I would just go every now and then and have fun but now that I have a group I'm addicted to it :)
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Kartessa
May 2, 2011, 4:55 AM
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climbingtrash wrote: Getting into it iz EZ. Getting out, not that EZ.
So True
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