Bouldering

Bouldering in Idyllwild, California
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Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry and to provide a firmer grip, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries from falls. Unlike free solo climbing, which is also performed without ropes, bouldering problems (the sequence of moves that a climber performs to complete the climb) are usually less than six metres (20 ft) tall. Traverses, which are a form of boulder problem, require the climber to climb horizontally from one end to another. Artificial climbing walls allow boulderers to climb indoors in areas without natural boulders. In addition, bouldering competitions take place in both indoor and outdoor settings.

The sport was originally a method of training for roped climbs and mountaineering, so climbers could practice specific moves at a safe distance from the ground. Additionally, the sport served to build stamina and increase finger strength. Throughout the 20th century, bouldering evolved into a separate discipline.[1] Individual problems are assigned ratings based on difficulty. Although there have been various rating systems used throughout the history of bouldering, modern problems usually use either the V-scale or the Fontainebleau scale.

Outdoor bouldering

Bouldering in Hueco Tanks: Baby Martini (V6)
The largest outdoor bouldering gym in North America, The Cliffs at DUMBO, is located in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The characteristics of boulder problems depend largely on the type of rock being climbed. For example, granite often features long cracks and slabs while sandstone rocks are known for their steep overhangs and frequent horizontal breaks. Limestone and volcanic rock are also used for bouldering.[2]

There are many prominent bouldering areas throughout the United States, including Hueco Tanks in Texas, Mount Blue Sky in Colorado, The Appalachian Mountains in The Eastern United States, and The Buttermilks in Bishop, California. Squamish, British Columbia is one of the most popular bouldering areas in Canada.[3] Europe is also home to a number of bouldering sites, such as Fontainebleau in France, Meschia in Italy, Albarracín in Spain, and various mountains throughout Switzerland.[4]

Indoor bouldering

Further information: Indoor climbing
An indoor bouldering gym
An indoor bouldering gym

Artificial climbing walls are used to simulate boulder problems in an indoor environment, usually at climbing gyms. These walls are constructed with wooden panels, polymer cement panels, concrete shells, or precast molds of actual rock walls.[5] Holds, usually made of plastic, are then bolted onto the wall to create problems.[6] Some problems use steep overhanging surfaces which force the climber to support much of their weight using their upper body strength.[7]

Climbing gyms often feature multiple problems within the same section of wall. Historically, the most common method route-setters used to designate the intended problem was by placing colored tape next to each hold. For example, red tape would indicate one bouldering problem while green tape would be used to set a different problem in the same area.[8] Indoor bouldering requires very little in terms of equipment: at minimum, climbing shoes; at maximum, a chalk bag, chalk, a brush, and climbing shoes.[9][10]

Grading

Main article: Grade (bouldering)
A climber completing an indoor V3 problem

Bouldering problems are assigned numerical difficulty ratings by route-setters and climbers. The two most widely used rating systems are the V-scale and the Fontainebleau system.[11]

The V-scale, which originated in the United States, is an open-ended rating system with higher numbers indicating a higher degree of difficulty. The V1 rating indicates that a problem can be completed by a novice climber in good physical condition after several attempts.[12] The scale begins at V0, and as of 2024, the highest V rating that has been assigned to a bouldering problem is V17.[13] Some climbing gyms also use a VB grade to indicate beginner problems.[14]

The Fontainebleau scale follows a similar system, with each numerical grade divided into three ratings with the letters a, b, and c. For example, Fontainebleau 7A roughly corresponds with V6, while Fontainebleau 7C+ is equivalent to V10.[15] In both systems, grades are further differentiated by appending "+" to indicate a small increase in difficulty. Despite this level of specificity, ratings of individual problems are often controversial, as ability level is not the only factor that affects how difficult a problem may be for a particular climber. Height, arm length, flexibility, and other body characteristics can also affect difficulty.[16]

Highball bouldering

Highball bouldering is "a sub-discipline of bouldering in which climbers seek out tall, imposing lines to climb ropeless above crash pads."[17] It may have begun in 1961 when John Gill, without top-rope rehearsal or bouldering pads (which did not exist), bouldered a steep face on a 11.5 m (37 ft) granite spire called The Thimble.[18][19] In 2002 Jason Kehl completed the first highball at double-digit V-difficulty, called Evilution, a 17 m (55 ft) boulder in the Buttermilks of California, earning the grade of V12.[20]

Climber on the Thimble in Custer State Park in South Dakota during the 1960s

Important milestone ascents in this style include:

  • Ambrosia, V11, a 17 m (55 ft) boulder in Bishop, California, climbed by Kevin Jorgeson in 2015.[21]
  • Too Big to Flail, V10, another 17 m (55 ft) line in Bishop, California, climbed by Alex Honnold in 2016.[22]
  • The Process, V16, a 17 m (55 ft) boulder in Bishop, California, first climbed by Daniel Woods in 2015.[23]

Competition bouldering

See also: Competition bouldering
A competitor at a Boulder World Cup in 2012

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) employs an indoor format (although competitions can also take place in an outdoor setting[6]) that breaks the competition into three rounds: qualifications, semi-finals, and finals. The rounds feature different sets of four to six boulder problems, and each competitor has a fixed amount of time to attempt each problem. At the end of each round, competitors are ranked by the number of completed problems with ties settled by the total number of attempts taken to solve the problems.[24]

Some competitions only permit climbers a fixed number of attempts at each problem with a timed rest period in between.[25] In an open-format competition, all climbers compete simultaneously, and are given a fixed amount of time to complete as many problems as possible. More points are awarded for more difficult problems, while points are deducted for multiple attempts on the same problem.[26]

In 2012, the IFSC submitted a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include lead climbing in the 2020 Summer Olympics. The proposal was later revised to an "overall" competition, which would feature bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing.[27] In 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially approved climbing, along with four other sports, as an Olympic sport, based on their "impact on gender equality, the youth appeal of the sports and the legacy value of adding them to the Tokyo Games".[28]

History

See also: History of rock climbing

Modern bouldering

Modern recreational climbing began in the late 19th century in England, southeastern Germany, northern Italy, and France. Bouldering was first developed in the 1950s, on the boulders of Fontainbleau outside of Paris.[29] In the late 1950s, John Gill, who was called "the father of modern bouldering", combined gymnastics with rock climbing, and felt that the best place to do that was on boulders.[30][31] He developed a rating system that was closed-ended: B1 problems were as difficult as the most challenging roped routes of the time, B2 problems were more difficult, and B3 problems had been completed once.[32] He also introduced chalk as a method of keeping the climber's hands dry, promoted a dynamic climbing style, and emphasized the importance of strength training to complement skill. As Gill improved in ability and influence, his ideas became the norm.[33][34]

In the 1980s, two important training tools emerged. One important training tool was bouldering mats, also referred to as "crash pads", which protected against injuries from falling and enabled boulderers to climb in areas that would have been too dangerous otherwise. The second important tool was indoor climbing walls, which helped spread the sport to areas without outdoor climbing and allowed serious climbers to train year-round. As the sport grew in popularity, new bouldering areas were developed throughout Europe and the United States, and more athletes began participating in bouldering competitions. The visibility of the sport greatly increased in the early 2000s, as YouTube videos and climbing blogs helped boulderers around the world to quickly learn techniques, find hard problems, and announce newly completed projects.[35]

Notable ascents

Main article: List of grade milestones in rock climbing § Boulder problems

Notable boulder climbs are chronicled by the climbing media to track progress in boulder climbing standards and levels of technical difficulty; in contrast, the hardest traditional climbing routes tend to be of lower technical difficulty due to the additional burden of having to place protection during the course of the climb, and due to the lack of any possibility of using natural protection on the most extreme climbs.[36]

As of November 2022, the world's hardest bouldering routes are Burden of Dreams by Nalle Hukkataival and Return of the Sleepwalker by Daniel Woods, both at proposed grades of 9A (V17).[37] There are a number of routes with a confirmed climbing grade of 8C+ (V16), the first of which was Gioia by Christian Core in 2008 (and confirmed by Adam Ondra in 2011).[38] As of December 2021, female climbers Josune Bereziartu, Ashima Shiraishi, and Kaddi Lehmann have repeated boulder problems at the 8C (V15) boulder grade.[39] On July 28, 2023, Katie Lamb became the first female climber to climb an 8C+ (V16)-rated boulder by repeating Box Therapy at Rocky Mountain National Park.[40] However, after Brooke Raboutou repeated the climb In October 2023, the boulder was ultimately downgraded to 8C (V15).[41]

Equipment

Main article: Rock-climbing equipment

Unlike other climbing sports, bouldering can be performed safely and effectively with very little equipment, an aspect which makes the discipline highly appealing, but opinions differ.[42] While bouldering pioneer John Sherman asserted that "The only gear really needed to go bouldering is boulders,"[43] others suggest the use of climbing shoes and a chalkbag – a small pouch where ground-up chalk is kept – as the bare minimum, and more experienced boulderers typically bring multiple pairs of climbing shoes, chalk, brushes, crash pads, and a skincare kit.[42]

Climbing shoes have the most direct impact on performance. Besides protecting the climber's feet from rough surfaces, climbing shoes are designed to help the climber secure footholds. Climbing shoes typically fit much tighter than other athletic footwear and often curl the toes downwards to enable precise footwork. They are manufactured in a variety of different styles to perform in different situations. Stiffer shoes excel at securing small edges, whereas softer shoes provide greater sensitivity. The front of the shoe, called the "toe box", can be asymmetric, which performs well on overhanging rocks, or symmetric, which is better suited for vertical problems and slabs.[43][44][45]

To absorb sweat, most boulderers use gymnastics chalk on their hands, stored in a chalk bag, which can be tied around the waist (also called sport climbing chalk bags), allowing the climber to reapply chalk during the climb.[46] There are also versions of floor chalk bags (also called bouldering chalk bags), which are usually bigger than sport climbing chalk bags and are meant to be kept on the floor while climbing; this is because boulders do not usually have so many movements as to require chalking up more than once. Different sizes of brushes are used to remove excess chalk and debris from boulders in between climbs; they are often attached to the end of a long straight object in order to reach higher holds.[47] Crash pads, also referred to as bouldering mats, are foam cushions placed on the ground to protect climbers from injury after falling.[48]

Boulder problems are generally shorter than 20 feet (6.1 m) from ground to top.[49] This makes the sport significantly safer than free solo climbing, which is also performed without ropes, but with no upper limit on the height of the climb.[50] However, minor injuries are common in bouldering, particularly sprained ankles and wrists. To prevent injuries, boulderers position crash pads near the boulder to provide a softer landing, as well as one or more spotters to help redirect the climber towards the pads. Upon landing, boulderers employ falling techniques similar to those used in gymnastics: spreading the impact across the entire body to avoid bone fractures and positioning limbs to allow joints to move freely throughout the impact.[51]

  • A modern climbing shoe by Quechua
    A modern climbing shoe by Quechua
  • Using spotters for safety
    Using spotters for safety
  • Using crash pads
    Using crash pads

Techniques

Although every type of rock climbing requires a high level of strength and technique, bouldering is the most dynamic form of the sport, requiring the highest level of power and placing considerable strain on the body. Training routines that strengthen fingers and forearms are useful in preventing injuries such as tendonitis and ruptured ligaments.[52] However, as with other forms of climbing, bouldering technique begins with proper footwork. Leg muscles are significantly stronger than arm muscles; thus, proficient boulderers use their arms to maintain balance and body positioning as much as possible, relying on their legs to push them up the rock.[53] Boulderers also keep their arms straight with their shoulders engaged whenever feasible, allowing their bones to support their body weight rather than their muscles.[54]

Bouldering movements are described as either "static" or "dynamic". Static movements are those that are performed slowly, with the climber's position controlled by maintaining contact on the boulder with the other three limbs. Dynamic movements use the climber's momentum to reach holds that would be difficult or impossible to secure statically, with an increased risk of falling if the movement is not performed accurately.[55]

Environmental impact

Bouldering can damage vegetation that grows on rocks, such as moss and lichens. This can occur as a result of the climber intentionally cleaning the boulder, or unintentionally from repeated use of handholds and footholds. Vegetation on the ground surrounding the boulder can also be damaged from overuse, particularly by climbers laying down crash pads. Soil erosion can occur when boulderers trample vegetation while hiking off of established trails, or when they unearth small rocks near the boulder in an effort to make the landing zone safer in case of a fall.[56] Other environmental concerns include littering, improperly disposed feces, and graffiti. These issues have caused some land managers to prohibit bouldering, as was the case in Tea Garden, a popular bouldering area in Rocklands, South Africa.[57]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hill 2008, p. 94.
  2. ^ Lourens 2005, pp. 21–22.
  3. ^ Robinson, Victoria (2013). Rock Climbing: The Ultimate Guide. Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood. pp. 80–81. ISBN 9780313378621.
  4. ^ "Rock Climbing in Europe". Climb Europe. 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  5. ^ Stiehl, Jim and Ramsey, Tim B. (2005). Climbing Walls. Champagne, Illinois: Human Kinetics. pp. 49–51. ISBN 9780736048316.
  6. ^ a b Lourens 2005, p. 18.
  7. ^ Burbach 2004, p. 133.
  8. ^ Burbach 2004, p. 48.
  9. ^ Walker, Noah (29 November 2019). "Five of the Best Climbing Brushes". Gripped Magazine. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Bouldering Walls: What Bouldering Gear Do I Need To Start Climbing?". Mpora. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  11. ^ Hill 2008, p. 234.
  12. ^ Sherman 2001, p. 66.
  13. ^ "Nalle Hukkataival Climbs Burden of Dreams and Proposes World's First 9a Boulder Problem". Planet Mountain. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Climbing Grades". Spadout. 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  15. ^ Horan, Bob (2008). Bouldering Colorado. Falcon Guides (1st ed.). Helena, Montana: Morris Book Company. p. 3. ISBN 9780762736386.
  16. ^ Horst, Eric (2012). Learning to Climb Indoors. Falcon Guides (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Company. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-0-7627-8005-1.
  17. ^ "The Terrifying Guide to Highball Bouldering". Hard Climbs. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  18. ^ Gill, John (19 February 2003). "Rock Climbing in Custer State Park". Mountain Project. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  19. ^ Ament, Pat (2002). A History of Free Climbing in America: Wizards of Rock (1st ed.). Berkeley, California: Wilderness Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-89997-320-3.
  20. ^ Steele, Tim (13 January 2007). "Climb Evilution, Sierra Eastside". Mountain Project. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  21. ^ Aramyan-Tshimanga, Bidimpata-Kerim (17 February 2015). "Climb Ambrosia, Sierra Eastside". Mountain Project. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  22. ^ Fauteux, Brad (20 March 2016). "Climb Too Big To Flail, Sierra Eastside". Mountain Project. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  23. ^ Coté, Matt (28 September 2017). "12 Great Moments in Bouldering History". Outside Online. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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  26. ^ Schmid, Stephen E. (2011). Climbing – Philosophy for Everyone. West Sussex, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons. p. 201. ISBN 9781444341461.
  27. ^ MacDonald, Dougald (20 March 2013). "New Olympic Plan: Climbers Must Compete in Bouldering, Lead, and Speed". Climbing.com. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  28. ^ "IOC Approves Five New Sports for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020". International Olympic Committee. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  29. ^ Wilkinson, Freddie (14 March 2019). "Rock Climbing: From Ancient Practice to Olympic Sport". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  30. ^ Sherman, John (1999). Stone Crusade: a Historical Guide to Bouldering in America. The American Alpine. Golden, Colorado: American Alpine Club. p. xxxvii. ISBN 978-0-930410-57-5.
  31. ^ Ament & Gill 1998, p. 118.
  32. ^ Sherman 2001, pp. 64–65.
  33. ^ Ament & Gill 1998, p. 22.
  34. ^ Beal 2011, chapter 1.
  35. ^ Beal, Peter (2011). Bouldering: Movement, Tactics, and Problem Solving. The Mountaineers Books. ISBN 9781594855016.
  36. ^ Oviglia, Maurizio (23 December 2012). "The Evolution of Free Climbing". Planet Mountain.com. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  37. ^ Corrigan, Kevin (7 April 2021). "Daniel Woods Spent a Month Alone in the Desert To Send His First V17, He Came Back a Different Person". Climbing. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  38. ^ "Adam Ondra, the Pure Gioia Interview". Planet Mountain.com. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  39. ^ Walker, Noah (29 April 2021). "Watch Kaddi Lehmann Climb Kryptos 8C/V15". Gripped.com. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  40. ^ Potter, Steven (5 September 2023). "Katie Lamb Sends "Box Therapy"—Becoming the First Woman to Climb V16". Climbing. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  41. ^ Miller, Delaney (13 October 2023). "Brooke Raboutou Sends 'Box Therapy'—She Called it V15". Climbing. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  42. ^ a b Beal 2011, p. [1].
  43. ^ a b Sherman 2017, p. 1.
  44. ^ Holman, Tom and Elder, Craig (2009). "Gearing Up for Rock Climbing". In Kidd, Timothy W. and Hazelrigs, Jennifer (eds.). Rock Climbing. Champagne, Illinois: Human Kinetics. pp. 116–119. ISBN 9781450409001.
  45. ^ Beal 2011, p. [2].
  46. ^ Helwig, Nathan and McMahan, Kelli K. (2009). "Know Before You Go". In Kidd, Timothy W. and Hazelrigs, Jennifer (eds.). Rock Climbing. Champagne, Illinois: Human Kinetics. p. 86. ISBN 9781450409001.
  47. ^ Sherman 2017, p. 6.
  48. ^ Sherman 2017, p. 6-7.
  49. ^ Bouldering, p. 3
  50. ^ Hattingh, Garth (2000). Rock and Wall Climbing. London: Stackpole Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 9780811729161.
  51. ^ Thomson, Jeff and Bourdon, Marc. "Bouldering Safety". Mountain Equipment Co-op. Archived from the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  52. ^ Hörst, Cameron (30 December 2024). "The Best Way to Gain Endurance for Sport Climbing". Climbing. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  53. ^ Sherman 2017, p. 52.
  54. ^ Long, John and Luebben, Craig (1997). Advanced Rock Climbing. How to Rock Climb. Helena, Montana: Falcon. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-1-57540-075-4.
  55. ^ Hurni, Michelle (2003). Coaching Climbing: A Complete Program for Coaching Youth Climbing for High Performance and Safety. Falcon Guides (1st ed.). Guilford, Conn: Falcon. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-7627-2534-2.
  56. ^ "Bouldering", pp. 4-6
  57. ^ "Rocklands Bouldering at Risk". Planet Mountain. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2023.

Works cited