How fun is rock climbing, and why do so many people become addicted once they start? We wanted to find out.
"Rock climbing requires a good mindset. You need to think about your route, how to save energy, and it requires a lot of brainpower. It's a sport that demands a lot from your overall abilities," one enthusiast explained.
Rock climbing can be considered an ancient sport, with its history dating back to 18th-century Europe.
In 1983, the French invented artificial climbing walls, marking the sport's transition from its nascent stages to development.
In 1987, the Chinese Mountaineering Association sent mountaineering athletes to Japan to learn, which is seen as the beginning of rock climbing's introduction to China.
In 2016, the International Olympic Committee confirmed rock climbing as an official event in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In recent years, the popularity of this sport has been on the rise in China. Social media is filled with posts from colleagues, mothers with children, and classmates who are constantly conquering new routes, inspiring others to think, "If they can do it, so can I."
Before trying it, one might think it's just about physical strength. But after experiencing it, one realizes that rock climbing tests a person's comprehensive qualities. The entire process encourages continuous improvement and challenge, making it easy to become hooked.
All climbers may feel like they are "leveling up and defeating monsters" in this sport. Not only do they have to work hard to pass one level, but they also have to keep challenging more difficult routes or try more routes to gain a sense of achievement.
"The essence of rock climbing is not about overcoming difficulties one by one, but about getting used to them, which leads to desensitization to difficulties," said Alex Honnold in the movie "Free Solo." He spent a year and a half preparing to conquer El Capitan with his own body, enduring nearly 60 failed attempts.
He said that when people start exercising or venture into nature, they can bravely complete a challenge in a short time, but what they gain is long-term motivation.
In the eyes of the rock climbing gym founder, who goes by the pseudonym Kezhai, rock climbing is a sport that can always inspire people to maintain self-discipline and strive for improvement.
He said that in the eyes of rock climbers, gender, age, profession, and income are not significant issues. What matters most is whether you have the desire to climb, whether you are willing to challenge and improve yourself, and whether you love the sport.
After falling in love with rock climbing, Kezhai began planning to open his own rock climbing gym.
He said that owning a rock climbing gym is the dream of all rock climbing enthusiasts, and he has realized this dream and made it grand - his gym is almost well-known among the rock climbing community in Beijing.
Is there a sport where the social circle is always filled with a friendly and positive atmosphere? Perhaps rock climbing is one.
As a woman, Julie particularly enjoys the social atmosphere of the rock climbing circle.
"I think the atmosphere in the rock climbing circle is particularly good. When you engage in this sport, no matter if you are a man or a woman, what profession or age, whether you are proficient in rock climbing or not, people in this circle will accept and include you.
No matter whether you have completed the climb or not, others around you will encourage you. Those waiting below will shout guidance to you. I have not seen anyone in this circle who would mock you or think you can't do it just because you are a girl," she said.
Kezhai also agrees with this point.
How much can someone who loves rock climbing love it? Kezhai shared stories of himself and several regulars at his gym.
"I myself would move because of rock climbing, and even buy a house to be closer to it, even if it means a longer commute," he said.
One of the members at his Beijing gym actually works and lives in Tianjin but often comes over for rock climbing. There are also parents who, to support their children in having more time for rock climbing, are willing to move and change their homes to a school district closer to the climbing gym.
"When you truly love a sport, you will pour your heart, energy, and time into it. You might even move or change jobs just to be able to do the sport regularly," Kezhai said.
Talking about falling in love with rock climbing, Julie mentioned a common phrase people now say: "Rock climbing is like life, where you can't go up or down."
"Young people make a joke about their own lives, which also shows that everyone needs a way to heal and release pressure. The inclusiveness of the rock climbing circle, including the sense of achievement this sport can bring, can sometimes indeed become a small sanctuary in the lives of adults," she said.
For many people, rock climbing is a fresh sport worth trying. One experience can teach you a new skill and add a checkmark to your life experiences.
"Open a local life guide - find the nearest rock climbing gym - gather friends - start your first rock climbing experience" has become the first attempt for many young people to get into rock climbing.
In a well-equipped rock climbing gym, you almost don't have to worry about the risks that this sport, which originally belonged to extreme challenges, brings. The complete protective measures allow those who come to experience it to laugh even if they fall from a height, treating it as part of the fun of the sport.
During the process of climbing up, having honest conversations with your body in various "desperate" situations may magically give you the courage to face life's difficulties, thus gaining the energy to move forward.
For young people facing a lot of pressure, this may not be a process of overcoming difficulties, but a way to enjoy difficulties.
We also asked professional climbers to summarize a few tips for beginners trying rock climbing for the first time. If you want to give rock climbing a try, you can save these tips for reference:
- Rock climbing gyms are the best places for beginners to experience and can consult professionals to find a route that suits them.
- Beginners must wear protective gear and warm up properly before climbing.
- When observing the route, plan ahead mentally and use your brain.
- Rock climbing is more about using your feet to exert force, maintaining balance, and keeping your arms relaxed, not locked.
- Rock climbing can effectively exercise arm strength, back muscle strength, and body coordination. Correct movement is essential to achieve the desired effects.
