Climbing Terms and Climbing Gyms
Hey so you just arrived at a rock climbing gym for the first time ever. If you kept your ear to the ground, you probably heard some weird words. You are probably smart enough to google the terms undercover, but we’ve saved you the trouble.
Not all climbing gyms are the same, and not all climbing gyms will cater for the same disciplines. Some gyms are more of an all rounder and some are discipline specific. Yes, there are different types of climbing. Let’s clarify.
Different Types of Climbing
Different Types of Climbing
Top Roping:
This is where you have a climbing wall where the rope is already set up for you. You will need a partner to climb with because they need to belay you (LINK TO BELAY BELOW) This is great because you can’t take a big fall (unless your belayer falls asleep). The rope inspires confidence because you can see it and feel it pulling tighter as you climb. There are some terms associated with this (see video link here).
Lead Climbing:
Lead climbing also involves a rope, but you are going to have to put it up yourself. As you climb. Yes it is scary, but also very rewarding. There are anchors already placed in the wall for you, and if it’s at a gym, the quickdraws (clips) are already in place. All you have to do is climb and clip in your rope as you go. You could take a big fall and you might need to change your shorts a few times after the first time you experience this. This is a slightly more advanced climb and we suggest you take some lessons from an expert once you have gotten a bit of practice on the top ropes.
Bouldering:
This is the no-fuss part of climbing, you just climb, and fall, and try again. These are usually short walls or rocks and you don’t need any ropes, harnesses, or gear. You do, however, need a big mattress called a bouldering pad or crash pad.
Traditional Climbing:
This is how climbing started and is basically lead climbing in its original form. This involves you carrying very specialized equipment and putting in your own anchors as you climb. The person coming up after you will remove them again as you climb so there is no trace. This style of climbing can only be done outdoors and cannot be done in a gym.
Rock Climbing Slang
There is a difference between formal lingo and the slang floating around the gym. Here’s a couple of slang words you should know if you are starting out:
On Site: This refers to climbing a route on the first try with no prior knowledge. You haven’t seen anyone climb it and no one gave you any sneaky tips on how to get past the hard part.
Flash: This refers to climbing a route on the first try, but maybe with a few tips to help you out. Someone could have given you a tip on how to do the hardest move (known as the crux) or you watched a friend climb it and took a few pointers.
Red Point: This means you climbed a route without resting on gear. Basically you got to finish it from bottom to top without falling and without ‘cheating’.
Project: This is a climb you are working on, and haven’t managed to compete yet. You may have worked out the moves or are busy working out the moves. You just need to climb from the bottom to the top.
Grade: The level of difficulty of a climb. There are a few different grading systems out there. The main ones used in South Africa are the French system for bouldering, and the Australian system for sports climbing. A more comprehensive list can be found HERE.
As a beginner to rock climbing you need to know a couple of the words you would hear when going to the gym for the first time. These terms are just an introduction and there are quite a few more, but you will learn them naturally as you progress into your rock climbing career.
Good luck and Send Some Routes!