How many climbers really enjoy falling off…? Very few I think. Although one Frenchman on Kalymnos says he likes some routes because they have ‘beautiful falls’! However, most climbers we’ve met still have a healthy fear of falling, and some are still petrified of it!
When I refer to falling in the sport climbing sense I mean the ‘safe’ falls (if there is such a thing!); falls where the climber falls safely into free space, or swings into a wall under control. Pretty much all sport climbing falls are ‘safe’ falls, which is why climbers can push themselves to their physical limit. Thankfully, if managed sensibly/safely, serious falls are very rare.
Paradoxically, most climbers fear the fall, but it is this fear that makes most want to climb. For me, the chance of the fall is part of the rush, the buzz. However, it can be mentally tiring and some days it is difficult to face the possibility of the fall. Days like these are usually spent doing easy and more relaxing climbs.
Claire is still very scared of falling, however, on some of her harder climbs she has been absorbed by the climbing and pushed herself to the limit, fallen and still enjoyed the experience!
[Photo sequence above – David falling off the Colonist 8a+, Antalya.]
[Left: I'm still smiling after falling 4m and stopping just before the ground – not something I want to do again!]
When I refer to falling in the sport climbing sense I mean the ‘safe’ falls (if there is such a thing!); falls where the climber falls safely into free space, or swings into a wall under control. Pretty much all sport climbing falls are ‘safe’ falls, which is why climbers can push themselves to their physical limit. Thankfully, if managed sensibly/safely, serious falls are very rare.
Paradoxically, most climbers fear the fall, but it is this fear that makes most want to climb. For me, the chance of the fall is part of the rush, the buzz. However, it can be mentally tiring and some days it is difficult to face the possibility of the fall. Days like these are usually spent doing easy and more relaxing climbs.
Claire is still very scared of falling, however, on some of her harder climbs she has been absorbed by the climbing and pushed herself to the limit, fallen and still enjoyed the experience![Photo sequence above – David falling off the Colonist 8a+, Antalya.]
[Left: I'm still smiling after falling 4m and stopping just before the ground – not something I want to do again!]
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