Despite being quite a dangerous activity, rock climbing is a relatively popular hobby worldwide. It requires not only intense physical training and preparation but also demands psychological readiness. According to Vidinovski and Belomazheva-Dimitrova, “in climbing, emphasis is placed primarily on developing physical strength, endurance, and flexibility” (2065). Still, to attain excellent results, other skills like psychological flexibility, quick decision-making ability, and capacity for rapid response are necessary (Vidinovski and Belomazheva-Dimitrova 2065). Otherwise, the lack of proper understanding of this sport may lead to severe accidents that may injure one’s health or result in death. The main problem that exists among amateur rock climbers is that many lack adequate emotional and physical training, which may have negative consequences; hence, people interested in this activity should receive instructions from professionals.
Rock climbing is an exciting and, at the same time, dangerous hobby, and the main issue is that many individuals are involved in this activity without being properly instructed. For example, according to Hawley, approximately 75% of all rock climbers who participated in the study did not know essential self-rescue techniques (44). In this research, 25 amateur and professional rock climbers were asked about the possible measures they would take in three different scenarios.
The three cases were escaping a belay, ascending a fixed rope, and improvising a belay with a Munter hitch. The participants’ responses revealed that the pass rates for scenarios 1, 2, and 3 were 28%, 52%, and 68% (Hawley et al. 45). In fact, the lowest passing rates were among the least experienced rock climbers, indicating an increased demand for the more professional training for such individuals.
Inadequate physical and psychological preparedness in rock climbing is problematic because people may become disabled or killed if they lack the knowledge and skills for self-rescuing. Indeed, according to Garrido-Palomino and España-Romero, when people are not emotionally prepared, their level of anxiety is elevated, and this “stress … impairs the performance of climbers” (98). A study showed that a psychological intervention in a group of female rock climbers significantly reduced cognitive and somatic anxiety levels, increasing self-confidence, which is crucial for safety reasons (Garrido-Palomino and España-Romero 100). On the other hand, if the issue of emotional unpreparedness is not resolved, the risk of accidents will rise. Still, it can be prevented through appropriate training and preparation.
One of the possible solutions for this problem is to offer courses from professional instructors for free or at a lower cost, which can be arranged with the help of local governmental agencies. The program that can be utilized is the 8-month-long course offered by Vidinovski and Belomazheva-Dimitrova, which incorporates physical preparation, theoretical background, and practicing various relaxation techniques (2066). In fact, implementing this program in a group of children, who were considered beginners, allowed them to substantially increase “the level of their physical working capacity and their specific fitness” (Vidinovski and Belomazheva-Dimitrova 2069). This program can be a good solution for amateurs because it works for novice younger climbers.
In conclusion, rock climbing is a particular sport that attracts amateurs’ interest, but the main issue is that the lack of knowledge and training may result in accidents. Indeed, research shows that most rock climbers do not know how to rescue themselves in dangerous situations. Furthermore, it was found that the better psychological and physical preparedness of individuals led to more outstanding performance in this activity. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that even those who perceive rock climbing as a hobby undergo adequate training with professional instructors. Notably, there is no need to invent new courses because the special programs for beginners are already available and must only be implemented appropriately.
Works Cited
Garrido-Palomino, Inma, and Vanessa España-Romero. “A Case Study: Psychological Intervention Improves Climbing Performance.” Congress Book, 2021, pp. 98–101.
Hawley, Alana, et al. “Rock Climber Self-Rescue Skills.” Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, vol. 30, no. 1, 2019, pp. 44–51. Web.
Vidinovski, Milen, and Stefaniya Belomazheva-Dimitrova. “Effectiveness of a Specialized Climbing Method for Beginners on the Physical and Technical Fitness of 8-10-Year-Old Children.” Journal of Physical Education and Sport, vol. 18, 2018, pp. 2065–2069.