Understanding Your Climbing Shoes

Getting Down to the Basics. If you’ve read our previous articles, “How to Climb Efficiently” and “All About Climbing Walls,” you are now armed with the fundamental principles of good technique and the basic terminology. Given that our ideal in rock climbing is to carry all of our weight on our feet, we will […]
Mistakes Newer Climbers Should Avoid

New to climbing? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s cover the two mistakes newer climbers should avoid with their climbing shoes. Firstly, avoid standing on the ball of the foot or instep. And secondly, avoid standing on the outside edge. If you aren’t familiar with the balance points of climbing shoes, I’d suggest […]
Glossary of Climbing Terms

Climbing, like many sports, is full of its jargon. Flash? Crimp? Slab? Sometimes you just need a simple explanation especially if you’re a beginner climber or even a long-time member of your local gym. Here is our comprehensive, though not exhaustive glossary of climbing terms. The more you know, the more you know. Kinda like beta […]
All About Indoor Climbing Walls

Let’s talk a bit about the angle of the wall. Climbing, like many sports, is full of its jargon. What’s slab? What does it mean to top-rope? (For a comprehensive, though not exhaustive list, see our glossary). In this article, we’ll learn all about indoor climbing walls and their angles. When discussing “how steep” […]
How to Climb Efficiently

Have you ever wondered how to climb efficiently? In my 30 years as a rock climber, I have heard the following, common lament from many of my fellow climbers: “I wish I had better technique.” That’s not surprising, of course, since I have been a climbing guide and coach for most of that time, and […]
Activities to Help Your Kids Unplug

In the modern age, it seems like everywhere you turn there’s another screen. From smartphones to tablets, laptops to TVs, our kids are constantly bombarded with digital distractions. How do you find activities to help your kids to unplug? In my previous article, “How Do I Get My Kid to Unplug From Technology?” I […]
4 Steps to Improve Your Kid’s Dependency on Technology

How are my 4 steps to improve your kid’s dependency on technology relevant? In the digital age, many of us face that regular and dreaded problem. How do we get kids to turn off their phones, tablets, Xboxes, and TVs and go do something else productive? As a new parent and a long-time coach, I have […]
Is Climbing Difficult to Start?

Is climbing difficult to start? The answer may surprise you. In a word, no! But thirty years ago, when I started rock climbing, I would have given a different answer. Climbing Was Difficult To Start A Long Time Ago Back then, the first thing you would have needed in order to start climbing […]
Do I Need Upper Body Strength to Climb?

Do you need upper body strength to climb? Surprisingly, no. This is one of the most common questions I get from people interested in starting climbing. To find the answer to this question I spoke to one of the wisest, and most experienced, climbers I know still in the game, my friend Mike. He’s been […]
Is Climbing for Me?

It’s Everywhere The popularity of indoor rock climbing has seen a virtual explosion in recent years. It seems like only yesterday when finding a climbing gym in your city was like finding a hidden gem, or a secret clubhouse. It is a place where only you and a few others in the know could enjoy the magic […]