What is Bouldering?
Written by: Lucreid (http://www.abc-of-rockclimbing.com/info/bouldering.asp)
Bouldering is a type of Climbing where you actually don’t need to leave
more than twelve feet off the ground. But don’t let the height fool you.
Bouldering is not for the faint of heart. It requires total body
control and upper body strength. This allows climbers to do certain
moves which are dangerous to do if you are more than 50 feet off the
ground.
As its name implies, Bouldering is basically the type of Climbing where
one has to work his or her way through a boulder route which is usually
called problem. As simple as it may sound, some problems require
specific moves for one to get through them. These moves require intense
training and practice to successfully pull them off. Keep in mind though
that Bouldering doesn’t actually need most pieces of Rock Climbing Equipment such as Ropes, Carabiners, and Harnesses. It only requires Climbing Shoes for better scaling, Chalk for better grip, obviously a Chalk Bag
for the Chalk to be used, and Crash Pads to cushion a fall. Sometimes,
instead of using Crash Pads, climbers assign a spotter, or someone who
will stand below the climber to prevent the latter from landing badly.
Bouldering has already been practiced as early as 1880, used by the
British in training climbers for longer mountain climbs. It was only
during the 1950s when the Father of Modern Bouldering, John Gill, who is
also a climber and gymnast, brought Bouldering into the mainstream and
made it into a sport in its own right.
As a sport, Bouldering is steadily working its way up to the ranks of
extreme sport. It already spawned some star athletes such as Lisa Rands,
Ryan Pasquill, Emily Harrington. It is also increasingly getting
popular as a sport that promotes physical fitness, body endurance,
creativity, and quick thinking.
In short, Bouldering is a sport suitable for people who thrive in
adventure and for adrenaline seekers who aren’t afraid to take risks.
Sure, it may be difficult at the beginning, but after a few tries on the
rock and finally getting the hang of it, rest assured that the feeling
of accomplishment and relief will overshadow whatever frustrations
you've had when you were starting.
Why Go Bouldering?
It is common for those who are unfamiliar with Bouldering to wonder
where the thrill is in scaling a twelve-foot wall. The characteristics
below may help you change the way you look at it.
- Bouldering is not all brawn. It does not only require body strength
but also the creativity in solving boulder problems. A climber may
actually have to dangle a bit to reach that far-off-corner slope, but
then again, there may be other ways to traverse your way through it.
Overcoming a problem takes a certain amount of creativity aside from the
physical exertion involved.
- It’s the perfect drive for physical fitness. Like most things, you
cannot simply waltz your way to success. Sometimes, it takes time, and
consequently a handful number of times to beat it. Bouldering is a great
way to motivate yourself to work out, while pushing yourself to the
limit until you eventually succeed.
- It’s ideal for thrill-seekers since Bouldering is never without the
risk of getting injured. But more often than not, it is the aspect of
danger that turns on some daredevils to try it. One should keep in mind,
though, that also because of the risk factor, one should at least be
aware of Rock Climbing Safety Guidelines to fully enjoy the sport.
Grade 3 Bouldering
In developing the bouldering unit at PIE I've been playing with the wall with the purpose of making the routes challenging enough for the G3's. A keen eye may notice the number of holds have dropped dramatically from the first couple of pictures to the later ones. In addition I have put in a number of hoop holds along the new routes to raise the level of the challenge the wall has to offer. The students also learn how to cross one another and how to lead a partner blindfold across the wall without too much physical contact.
Making Thinking Visible: Reflections
I used to do/think and Now I do/think
