The "Ideal" Climber
Start writing a post
Sports

The "Ideal" Climber

Of all the shapes and sizes, which one makes the best climber?

33
The "Ideal" Climber

Most sports focus on one group of muscles ( for instance). Climbing however requires you to stengthen every single muscle in your body. Your legs, core, back, shoulders, arms, and fingers all must have enough power to hold you on the wall. My coaches often explains our muscle use as a line from our fingertips to our toes. The constant body tension, that line, is what keeps us balanced and moving upwards. You're only as strong as your weakest link though, and having one weak muscle group will affect your climbing skills. Because of this nesesity for overall strength, there isn't really a seat body type for a climber. But what makes the best climber?

In my home gym and in competitions across the entire country, I mainly see the 4 most common climber body types:

+ The Weightlifter: Usually fairly tall, but you mostly notice how buff they are.

+ The Basketball Player: This type of climber seems to be able to stretch to any move out their. The only thing longer than their height is thier wingspan

+ Small but Mighty: Although these climbers are only as tall as your shoulders, they use their skinny bodies and lean muscles to make themselves some of the strongest climbers out there.

+ Stuck In The Middle: Not short, but not really tall either, with big muscles and still a skinny body, this type of climber has skills all across the board.

The "weightlifter" never seems to run out of strength, and is always alble to power through the hard moves. Their weakness is usually technical moves or footwork- anything that they can't just pull past.

Being as tall as a baby giraffe, "the basketball players" strength is obviously big moves. Unfortunatley, they usually are also uncoridinated on the wall. It's harder for them to control their legs because their core has more weight to lift and control.

Although it is widely known as the hardest body type for climber, being short isn't always bad. Having a small body means your fingers are also tiny, and can fit in crimps and pockets that are a nightmare for anyone bigger.

The "stuck in the middle" body type is usuallly a medium height, maybe a little on the short side, but it isn't unusually short like the previous type. They may have well-built shoulders and toned legs but they are still somehow slim and small.

So which type of climber is the best? Many male famous climbers fit in with the weightlifter catagory, but most of the women are stuck in the middle. Every type has its weakness and strengths, and each route can either fit to the person or not. As anticlamactic as this is, the true skill and strength of the climber depends on the individual person. A weightlifter body type can choose to work on footwork and technical moves, and a smaller climbers can train dynamic movement. The weakest climber is the one that only trains their strength. An ideal climber works on every type of move and every muscle group.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

52184
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33543
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956339
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181229
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments