Bouldering, ropeless climbing on small cliffs and boulders, give fitness enthusiasts a new way to get in shape. Senior Jon Hooke first picked up bouldering while working in Moab, Utah as a river guide.
“It is super fun and an adrenaline rush. I like how you can push yourself and the feeling of satisfaction you get every time you overcome an obstacle,” said Hooke, a business finance major from Ventura, California.
Typical bouldering climbs are less than 15 feet high and do not require ropes, carabineers, or other equipment associated with rock climbing. All one needs to do to start bouldering is find a rock, small cliff, or boulder and try to climb it. More experienced climbers use climbing shoes, chalk; and in the case of risky climbs, crash pads.
As one learns and improves their skills they can challenge themselves by eliminating the holds they use, timing themselves self and trying to do it faster, or doing circuits of various problems. Ashley Kempler, a senior in peacebuilding from Utah, said,“The hardest part of bouldering is when you fall because you have to start all the way over. It’s awesome when you finish, but if you keep falling then you wear yourself out and sometimes have to leave try again on a different day.”
Locally Waimea beach and the trailhead of Laie falls, have areas where climbers can attempt to boulder. Not only is bouldering a challenging and exhilarating adventure sport, it also allows climbers to learn and practice techniques and skills. “Bouldering makes you a smarter and more confident climber and better at analyzing sequences of moves and how to do them,” said Stewart Green in an article on climbing.about.com. Trinity Waddell, junior studying biology from Texas, said, “Bouldering is a great way to stay physically active and is a great workout.”
The arm and leg movements involved in bouldering give an intense workout to the upper body, core, and leg muscles.