Purpose of Indoor Climbing
People visiting an indoor climbing gym for the first time or wandering into one by accident are often heard to ask a question. Why? What is the purpose of indoor climbing?
What is the purpose of indoor climbing? You might get a different answer depending on who you ask. The physical fitness advocate will tell you the purpose is to enhance physical fitness. Rock climbing, indoor and outdoor, is a sport that involves excellent physical conditioning. It also requires strength, especially upper body strength. It requires a sense of balance and also a great deal of self confidence. One purpose of indoor climbing is to increase the levels of all of these areas.
The outdoor rock climber will answer the question a bit differently. Rock climbing is a sport that requires a great deal of skill and the ability to use special equipment and techniques to do it safely. The indoor gym gives the opportunity to practice and learn these skills in a safe manner before tackling the outdoor climbs that are the true purpose of the sport. They might also point out that the major advantage of the indoor gym is the fact that it is indoors. This allows practice and conditioning during winter months and during adverse weather conditions.
Beginners will consider the purpose as an opportunity to learn something new and different in a safe manner. The idea of climbing is exciting, but the risks of the sport are often a serious deterrent to newbies and indoor climbing is a way to try out the sport and test your own nerve before heading to a rock climb in the wilds. Also, classes and patient instructors are present at the gyms. Patient trainers are not usually available on outdoor rock climbs despite the need for them there.
So, each group sees the purpose a bit differently. The real answer is common to them all, however, even if they do not realize it themselves. The true purpose of indoor climbing is to have fun. Fun to a human being has a very wide definition. To test yourself; to overcome your own fear; to conquer a difficult obstacle; these things are all part of what humans find as fun. The amount of money and time they spend on this hobby and other challenging hobbies like it are proof of this. People do indoor rock climbing because they enjoy it despite the other external and personal reasons.
The good indoor rock climbing gyms meets all of these purposes. They provide physical conditioning opportunities and they provide practice for outdoor climbs. They provide classes and recreation and social activities. They hold competitions and sponsor teams. They show youngsters how to climb safely and build their self confidence. Most of all they accomplish the main purpose of indoor climbing. They provide fun.