Rock climbing

Climbing is a form of a physical activity that gains more and more followers, especially among youth but also among adults. Sport climbing is the branch of climbing in which the element of danger is reduced by pre-placing protection points in the rock or indoor wall. Because the danger element is largely removed, the physical difficulty of each climb can be high.

Rock climbing encompasses numerous different disciplines, including, but not limited to, top rope climbing, sport climbing, traditional climbing, and bouldering. Top rope climbing involves a person ascending a route with a safety rope attached from above, ensuring minimal falling when the climber releases his/her grip on the rock.

In 2014, there are over five million rock climbers in North America alone. One explanation for this growth in participation may be related to the increase of indoor rock climbing facilities, which first opened in 1964 and allowed climbers to climb all year round, despite bad weather.

The advantages of climbing as a form of recreation and sport have been appreciated in many countries worldwide. The last 30 years have seen a real explosion in the popularity of climbing.

Indoor facilities have the added benefit of removing several risk factors (e.g., falling rocks) and were found to be the safest locations to practice rock climbing. In addition, rock climbing has been shown to be an effective way of promoting physical activity in youth.
Rock climbing