Psha. Forget spending all winter in the gym. Forget churning out a hundred pull ups. Forget. You don’t even have to try to get better at climbing. Here are ten things you can do the next time you go to the crag that can help you pull down harder.
1. Stretch
Stiff muscles are no good. You don’t want to get a lactic acid pump right at the crux of your proj.
2. Breathe
We’ve covered this before here on DCT. You need oxygen if you want to perform. Getting into a steady breathing pattern can also calm the nerves
3. Get a good night’s sleep
Self explanatory, I think. I’m still pissed at the girls who stayed up talking all night in the campsite next to ours in the Fisher Towers…
4. Be well fed and hydrated
Have you ever bonked because you just don’t have the energy? Yeah, it’s no fun. Make sure you’ve got some fuel in your system.
5. Warm up
This kind of goes along with stretching, but it also helps with getting you mentally in the zone.
6. Have good gear
If you’re concerned about that sketchy used Ukrainian cam that you bought off eBay, your mind can’t be focusing on the task at hand.
7. Know what you’re doing
Again, if you’re confident in your abilities, you don’t have to be worrying about what exactly it is you’re supposed to do when you get to the anchors.
8. Climb with good people
They don’t have to be good climbers, necessarily (although that helps, too). Just climb with people who get you excited about climbing and feed off each other’s positive energy!
9. Minimize distractions
Leave the dog at home and turn off the cell phone.
10. Have fun
Haven’t you heard that the best climber in the world is the one having the most fun? It’s true. Don’t take your route too seriously. We’re just climbing rocks, after all.
Got any other ideas or suggestions?
