Written by: Staff Reporter
“Maybe chicks dig guys who are covered in chalk,” my friend thought out loud as she tried to pin down exactly what it was that made rock climbers so attractive. As if their physical strength and fitness, conquering of heights and love of the outdoors was not enough to love.
Of course the sport is not exclusively for men, and there are incredible female climbers like Steph Davis, whose blog can inspire and educate.
However, a recent, somewhat offbeat, study recently stated that women rated climbing as the sexiest sport – coming in just ahead of extreme sports, soccer and hiking. A good reason to go for it – if the love of nature is not enough to inspire you, and you are looking for a new challenge.
Sport climbing, where a climber ascends a specific route that has permanent bolts attached to the rock, is a fast-growing activity in South Africa, and it provides a full-body workout, developing strength, stamina, and flexibility in every climb.
It is one of the safest styles of climbing because the route is bolted, and climbers can clip into the bolts along the route, thus lessening the fear of falling.
Sport climbing is described as a good starting point for those who are new in the climbing world, allowing people to practice certain moves and develop their skills without the fear of injury – the place for beginners.
Climbers then often move on to traditional climbing, where a climber places their own removable protection into the rock face, rather than clipping into a bolt. For sport climbing, some of the essential gear includes: climbing shoes, a harness, a rope, quickdraws, a belay device, and a climbing helmet.
The initial cost of these items is quite substantial, however, for beginners wishing to try the sport before committing to it, it is possible to join up with an organisation such as the Mountain club of South Africa, which has divisions in each of the provinces. They will often have beginner orientation meets throughout the year, and will provide gear.
South Africa has some spectacular sites for climbing, and Waterval Boven is one of the most popular of these. A visit to this Mpumalanga town is likely to ensure a run in with more than one foreigner, who has made their way specifically to climb this vast array of crags.
Waterval Boven has a very wide variety of climbing – with hundreds of bolted routes available, and can satisfy the absolute beginner, and fulfil the most experienced climbers, as well as keeping everyone else in-between happy as well.
It is a gorgeous place to visit in summer, when it is lush and green, and it also provides hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, and horse riding for those who want to get back to nature and stay relatively close to Johannesburg.
One of the best spots to stay, particularly for climbers, is the Tranquillitas adventure farm, which offers easy access to the cliffs, great facilities, and a fun bouldering wall, which overhangs the swimming pool.
Roc ‘n Rope Adventures, which is based in the town of Waterval Boven, also offers beginners courses on rock climbing – a good way for those interested but not quite sure how to start out, to get more information and experience.
Its hard to beat being out in the open on the rock, although it is not always possible, particularly if one is hoping to train mid-week and is city bound. Indoor climbing gyms also offer an opportunity to develop skills.
Once you have tried it, you are likely to be hooked, and crave that sound of clinking quickdraws as you hike to a beautiful crag, where hours can be spent climbing, and enjoying life at the crags.
The liveeco team
