Seeking advice!

[allochthonous]

I've been reading this community with envy for a while and finally decided to take the climbing plunge (hopefully not literally) this weekend.

I've tried climbing a couple of times before and loved it but for various didn't take it any further; now I have a bit of time I'd like to try indoor (and eventually outoor, although this may not be the time of year for it...) properly. I am effectively a complete beginner and wondering where to start.

I've been looking at beginners classes and I am a bit confused with the variety of introductory sessions available for indoor climbing. Some walls offer six-hour beginners sessions while some are happy with an hour-long induction session before they let you start climbing. Would you recommend doing a short induction first, or going straight for the longer sessions (given that I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it)?

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!

Comments

[wpadmirer]

It may be that the places offering the longer classes are furnishing you not only with lessons, but some additional climbing time with a belayer (if it's roped).

If you don't have someone to belay you, then roped climbs can't be done. You can boulder.

Bouldering can be done alone, and requires more upper body strength. Bouldering you don't go as high, and the routes are often horizontal or going up and over (either across a ceiling or topping out on top of a "wall/boulder").

Top roping is more about your legs, requires a partner/belayer, and is more vertical.

Both can involve overhangs (walls that come out toward you).

It really depends on what the gym has to offer and what you want to try.

[emperor]

I'd expect the longer introductions will teach you to belay safely, which is a useful skill if you want to do any roped climbing. They might also be a good way to meet potential climbing partners :-)

[rydra_wong]

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.

ETA: Also, I forgot to say: hi and welcome! *g*