Climbing

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Discussion of all aspects of climbing from indoor bouldering to high altitude mountaineering.

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Feeling inconsistent (self.climbing)

submitted 8 months ago by Nester to c/climbing@lemmy.ml

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Does anyone have any tips for keeping going even when you're finding it hard to get started climbing?

I'd very much appreciate any tips at all.

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[–] Nester 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I used to climb loads about a year ago, and I was doing quite well, for my standards at least. I enjoyed bouldering, lead-climbing and trad.

Unfortunately I had to take a break for mental health reasons. Now I want to get back into it again, I am finding every time I go I am just getting so frustrated with how hard I find things now. But it's not that I'm finding it hard, I don't mind not completing a difficult problem, it's that I am genuinely struggling to even start some of these climbs, and it's so demoralising.

The only climbs I can climb at the moment are the very easiest in the gym, their first level of climbs. But they are sooooo easy that I get very little satisfaction from them.

Again, I apologise for the rambling post, I just needed to vent or I think I'd cry

[–] Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

Catalyst climbing on youtube with coach louis has helped me a lot with the mental side of climbing! He also has some nice drills (the three warm up drill video is great) that help you make easy climbs more interesting. I use them a lot now that I have a shoulder injury preventing me from trying difficult stuff for a while.

[–] somethingsomethingidk@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

I'm sort of in the same boat as you, except I had a knee injury that made me stop. I feel like I've lost so much in terms of form and strength that it's hard to stay motivated.

I think the solution is to just have fun and don't worry about performance (it will come back eventually anyway). Just try to play around. If you can only do the easiest routes, you can you make them harder by giving yourself a challenge like skipping holds, playing elimination with a friend, or my new favorite, only using one leg.

You can take it as an opportunity to rebuild a solid foundation. I think we just have to stick with it and it will become just as rewarding as it used to be.