The Joy of Bouldering

In light of the arrival of our new range of Rock Shoes in this month, we thought we'd take a closer look at the art of bouldering, also featured in October's issue of Outdoor Fitness Magazine. Bouldering has really grown in popularity over the last few years, with numerous indoor climbing and bouldering walls popping up all over the U.K, not only providing somewhere for already initiated boulderers to ply their trade, but also offering a safe and easily accessible way for new climbers to get involved.

Bouldering offers a real physical and mental challenge, with strength, technique and power proving to be key areas, although of course enjoyment is the key factor! Rather than hitting the wall or rock face and being able to ascend straight up, bouldering makes you assess your options before progressing, checking out the easiest or most tangible route. There's also usually no need for a harness or belaying with bouldering allowing you to spend more time tackling the rock rather than setting up. It is however recommended to have a thick crash mat and a spotter for safety, and a healthy word of advice from ground level. Because of the 'freeness' of bouldering, it's safe to say you probably will fall at some point, so learning how to land correctly is essential. It's best to resist the temptation to tense your body up when falling, instead try to relax your body, allowing it to absorb the pressure. Don't always try and stay on your feet when you land either, falling on the floor will help to maximize the absorption of the fall and help prevent jarring your knees etc. Just picture a Football Goalkeeper when they dive, you rarely see them dive and splat straight down on the turf, there will usually be a mini roll at the end incorporated to cushion their fall.

If your a bit of a newbie to climbing or bouldering, there's a plethora of indoor walls to choose from before heading out to the outdoors rockface straight away.

Seven time British Climbing Champion, Gaz Perry, outlines the physical demands of bouldering in October's Issue of Outdoors Fitness...

Eyes - Keep your eyes on the hold you're using until the movement is completed.

Fingers & Forearms - The stronger the fingers, the harder the climb you can attempt. Grip comes from the fingers themselves or by using the friction of the hold and a flat hand.

Arms - Needed to pull to the next hold but also to push off, working the biceps, triceps, chest and upper back in the process.

Lower Back - The stomach shouldn't be tense as this cause the hips to move away from the wall. Use the lower back and glutes to push you into the wall

Legs - They support the majority of the bodyweight. You will quite often be pushing off with a single leg, developing power and strength.

Feet & Toes - These act almost like hands, pulling and pushing while using the heel and the front of the foot.