Some walls offer six-hour beginners sessions while some are happy with an hour-long induction session before they let you start climbing.
I'd guess that the hour-long induction classes are either at bouldering-only walls (where there's much less in the way of safety rules and practical skills to learn before you can start), or they're more "taster" sessions and don't qualify you to register.
The six-hour beginner sessions are likely to involve teaching you the skills needed to start doing roped climbing safely (using harnesses, tying in, and toprope belaying).
Also, if anyone has experience with climbing walls in London, and recommendations which to go for and which to avoid, I'd love to hear about it!
*rubs hands*
Oh yes, I can tell you all about climbing walls in London! *g* And we've got at least one other London climber in the comm, too, so you may be able to get different perspectives.
Short version: owing to the shortage of actual rock, London's got a lot of climbing walls, most of which are extremely good.
They've all got their pros and cons, and different people prefer the atmospheres at different walls. In practice, most people seem to end up going to several walls -- you don't have to be wall-monogamous!
Which ones you should try first will depend primarily on two things:
1) roughly where in London you are, and where it's easiest for you to travel to; and
2) whether you want to do route climbing (with ropes and harnesses) or are happy with a wall that's focused exclusively on bouldering.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2012-10-19 05:43 pm (UTC)I'd guess that the hour-long induction classes are either at bouldering-only walls (where there's much less in the way of safety rules and practical skills to learn before you can start), or they're more "taster" sessions and don't qualify you to register.
The six-hour beginner sessions are likely to involve teaching you the skills needed to start doing roped climbing safely (using harnesses, tying in, and toprope belaying).
Also, if anyone has experience with climbing walls in London, and recommendations which to go for and which to avoid, I'd love to hear about it!
*rubs hands*
Oh yes, I can tell you all about climbing walls in London! *g* And we've got at least one other London climber in the comm, too, so you may be able to get different perspectives.
Short version: owing to the shortage of actual rock, London's got a lot of climbing walls, most of which are extremely good.
They've all got their pros and cons, and different people prefer the atmospheres at different walls. In practice, most people seem to end up going to several walls -- you don't have to be wall-monogamous!
Which ones you should try first will depend primarily on two things:
1) roughly where in London you are, and where it's easiest for you to travel to; and
2) whether you want to do route climbing (with ropes and harnesses) or are happy with a wall that's focused exclusively on bouldering.
ETA: Also, I forgot to say: hi and welcome! *g*