CSR: climbing social responsibility?
As Climbers, we know that climbing is largely an self-centered activity. When we climb, we think of how we as an individual can improve and climb harder. When we think of a training programme, we indentify our own weakness and strengths and tailor one to suit our needs. When we go to a gym, we want the wall to be free for our use and we wish sometimes there wasn't anyone to fight with us for the walls and routes. It's always about the cliMbEr! The people we respect are those who climb above us and often we find ourselves wishing that there weren't so many newbs around to hog our walls and routes as they fall and hang over and over again.
And yet, for a sport to grow in recognition and size, fresh blood is needed. Instead of whining about the newbie that keeps falling of a problem and hogging the wall, why not take the time to give suggestions on how the newbie can fix that problem. Not just to the people who are your friends, but to anyone else that you see in the gym. If you see a newbie looking lost as to what to do, suggest a simple route that he/she could try or even offer a belay if you are resting.
Also, by being more aware of the people around you, you'll realise that you'll become more aware of techniques and routes and such. Route setting will come easier. You'll start being able to figure what techniques work and be able to know where a foot should be place given the height and strength of a climber. Back to basics in a sense for these are the little things we forget as we climb higher.
In addition....
If more people climb, there will be more demand for the sport, which will lead to a call for increase supplies, which might lead to more gyms to climb in!
So next time you're in a gym... say hi to the lost newbies and welcome them into the climbing familiy.
It's not just about grades. There's more to climbing than that.
Melly
- who has adopted a couple of new minions here in the shanghai gym =)
And yet, for a sport to grow in recognition and size, fresh blood is needed. Instead of whining about the newbie that keeps falling of a problem and hogging the wall, why not take the time to give suggestions on how the newbie can fix that problem. Not just to the people who are your friends, but to anyone else that you see in the gym. If you see a newbie looking lost as to what to do, suggest a simple route that he/she could try or even offer a belay if you are resting.
Also, by being more aware of the people around you, you'll realise that you'll become more aware of techniques and routes and such. Route setting will come easier. You'll start being able to figure what techniques work and be able to know where a foot should be place given the height and strength of a climber. Back to basics in a sense for these are the little things we forget as we climb higher.
In addition....
If more people climb, there will be more demand for the sport, which will lead to a call for increase supplies, which might lead to more gyms to climb in!
So next time you're in a gym... say hi to the lost newbies and welcome them into the climbing familiy.
It's not just about grades. There's more to climbing than that.
Melly
- who has adopted a couple of new minions here in the shanghai gym =)
