Roped Climbing is a totally new experience for you on your first visit to the wall, however most walls offer a number of ‘Beginner Routes’ which can be completed step by step.
Understand the Colour System First
Most climbing walls label the colour of the holds and mark the beginning and end of a climb with tape. A rule of thumb is to climb a route of one colour and do not mix holds from neighbouring routes. This will ensure that you are not trying to climb a route that is too hard for you.
Read the Route Before You Climb
Step 1 to climbing a route is to look at it and follow the holds from one to the other, finding the natural pauses in the route. When you find these pause points, you’ll know where to pause on the route.
Trust Your Feet More Than Your Arms
Arms fatigue quickly but legs have much more power. Use your legs to push into your feet rather than relying on your arms to pull on for support. See British Mountaineering Council’s practical climbing technique for indoor climbing for beginners.
Pace Yourself Between Holds
Wait a second between holds. Press down on the hold with your foot, breathe, and then move on to the next hold.
Rest and Reset Mid-Route
If your forearms start to seize up, stop and try to shake out your arms one by one. Most climbing walls have easier sections on beginner routes, so you can grab a rest here.
For Climbing Wall Cheltenham, visit https://www.270climbing.com/.
Remember to take your time when learning to climb and the activity will be far more enjoyable.