Beginner climbers find themselves hooked by the thrill of the challenge, the creativity, and the sense of play. But as the novelty wears off, they stay because of the sense of belonging and inclusivity that the community offers.
For instance, I remember my first climb at a local gym, where I was struggling with a route. A fellow climber noticed my struggle and offered some tips that helped me complete the climb. This sense of camaraderie is a common experience in the climbing community. Sports have a unique way of bringing people together from all walks of life, but rock climbing might do it best. Any climber you’ve run into who has routinely climbed for at least a few months is bound to comment on how great of a community rock climbing has given them. But, if you’ve not been fortunate enough to experience the power of the community for yourself, you may question all the hype.
While this article lacks the power to transport you to a rock gym and immerse you in the community, it can provide the second-best option: describing the community’s qualities that make it a special place you find yourself returning to time and time again.
The Best Qualities of the Rock Climbing Community
Welcoming
Right off the bat, you will realize how welcoming every climber is to others. The advanced climbers take time to talk with and help intermediate and beginner climbers. In turn, those climbers feel comfortable asking for advice from the stronger climbers in the future. As long as you respect others and follow the safety rules, you’ll find that the climbing community is not about competition. No one cuts in front of you to climb or hogs a climb, creating a safe and comfortable environment where you can climb at your own pace and feel at ease.
Even the staff at rock climbing gyms are excited when you check in, welcoming you to the facility and ensuring you have everything you need for a fun and safe climbing session. Unlike other customer service roles, where representatives will likely greet you with curt replies or distracted service, the climbing community attracts kind, upbeat staff excited to help others fall in love with rock climbing.
Encouraging
Climbers take encouragement to the next level. Fistbumps are regularly exchanged after every climb, rewarding sends or applauding efforts. While climbing, you’ll have friends and even
strangers cheering you on with each move you make! If you’re scared to climb or move, others will validate your emotions and encourage you to try. They may even offer to project the boulder with you or belay you on the route. All the encouragement you will receive is infectious. The more you immerse yourself in the community, you’ll quickly find words of encouragement like “nice, “let’s go,” and “come on” subconsciously slipping through your lips.
Collaborative
If you come from a team sports background or enjoy working with others, the collaboration involved in climbing will appeal to you. The physical aspect of the sport is individual, but the mental and safety aspects require a combined effort. Whether exchanging beta (the hand/foot sequence on a climb), brainstorming ways to stick a challenging move, or trading top-rope and lead belay, there is always a reason to work with other climbers. Since the community is welcoming and encouraging, collaborating with others is a positive, stress-free experience.
Motivational
One of the most significant benefits of joining a climbing community is the endless motivation from fellow climbers. It’s incredibly motivating to watch others push themselves to their physical limits, overcome mental barriers, and display insane strength. Being in an environment where people constantly challenge themselves can inspire you to give 100% effort and push beyond boundaries you didn’t know were possible to overcome.
You won’t always have the self-motivation to go to the gym, work out, and try hard. But knowing there is a community of motivated individuals at the climbing gym ready to lift you up and push you to be your best while having fun might be the boost you need to get out the door.
Joyful
People are naturally attracted to things that bring them joy. You can count on leaving with a smile if you go to the climbing gym with a frown. The encouragement, abundant friendly greetings from staff and gym regulars, motivation, and a shared love for support will sprinkle joy into your days, making the climbing community a genuinely fun and uplifting experience.
The only way to know if the climbing community is as great as every climber, and this article claims it to be, is to see for yourself. Immerse yourself in the climbing community for an extended period. You could buy punch passes, a membership, find a friend to climb routinely with, or join a bouldering league. The options are endless but know that a welcoming, encouraging, collaborative, motivational, and joyful community awaits you. If you’re worried about safety, rest assured that the climbing community prioritizes safety above all else, with experienced climbers always ready to guide and assist. Happy climbing! Please share your perspective on the climbing community below to give others insight into its greatness!
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