10 ways to revamp your climbing!

(adapted from moodclimbing school room web, edited to our local context by me)

1. Go somewhere new as much as possible.
Try a new foreign destination every year..we have done KL Batu, Camp5 a couple of times,so whats next? its time for karbi, do join us.

2. Plan and motivate yourself.
Write down the boulder problems you can't do this time round and come back for remedial climbs. Look at the next few months ahead and plan your climbing around heavy periods of work, family commitments, weddings etc. Don’t just hope that fitness will magically happen, so be realistic about how you can fit your climbing into your life. Plan that trip to climb overseas – make sure the dream comes true.

3. Hang out with motivated people who have the same approach to climbing as you.
The people you climb with will have an influence on your climbing. ask questions about your techniques, ways to train strength, endurance, etc. most importantly, hang out with fun and motivated climbers to keep your passion burning! example... regular climbers in UMC. ;p

4. Incorporate aerobic exercise into your training.
Take up walking (walking to the to our bouldering room doesn’t count unless you do your rounds around NTU every evening), swimming, running. need to say more?

5. Work your weaknesses.
E.g. crimpers, pinchers, slopers, learn to climb dynamically, improve your flexibility. It’s obvious, but how many people really make an effort to do it?

6. As well as the physical, train the mental.
If you know you have a problem in your head e.g. not willing to go above your gear, always blowing routes 2 ft below the belay, always under-performing just when it matters, train your head as much as your finger strength. You might find it corny, but it might just help.

7. Have a break!
You never know, this might be exactly what your body needs. If you are feeling like you are on a plateau, getting worse or not that motivated. Having a month off every year is good for your body and your climbing. and also join us for makan session every now and then, your body needs the yummy food!

8. Shock your system.
If you just do climbing, try bouldering and vice versa. Its well known that your body doesn’t respond and improve when its been doing too much of the same thing. Your body will really relish the change. So if you just redpoint hard routes the whole time, what about a period of onsighting at an easier level? If you just boulder the whole time, what about incorporating some routes into your average week?

9. Think about what you are pouring into your body.
Cut down on smoking & drinking(if you do...). Think about the food you take. Take stuff that will release energy throughout the day such as nuts, canned fish, oatcakes. Graze throughout the day. Sitting down to have a stack of sandwiches may actually slow you down as your body has to digest. Instead of chocolate, eat bananas for an energy boost.

10. Replace old stuff.
Buying a decent climbing shoes might up your grade and even replacing ropes or friends with faded slings will give you so much more confidence. so its time for another shopping trip? be there or be bare..

cheers! climb on ntu umc! :)