An Ode to Bouldering

Indoor rock climbing is the best


A few words of advice that the vast majority of people tend to give to someone before starting university is to join as many societies as you can.

You always tell yourself you’re going to and doing so you’ll make loads of new pals, but freshers starts and you find your mates. Then, you get settled in to your sedentary life of drinking, occasionally turning up to lectures, and watching Netflix.

Even if you are one of the experimental, brave and rich (if you’re joining a sports society, not to mention bloody motivated) you will probably end up joining one of the more well-known societies like rugby, netball, salsa etc.

However, you aren’t being adventurous enough here and all freshers should look beyond the obvious ones. The societies that maybe you have no clue what they actually are until you come to uni…like bouldering .

For those of you who don’t know, it is basically rock climbing indoors while being attached to a harness.

Not many people could say that they’ve done bouldering, and if you mentioned it to your friends, they’d most likely ask what it is.

Bouldering is not much like anything you will have ever done before. It’s great for exercise and the kind that doesn’t even feel like exercise because it’s actually enjoyable. It works all sorts of muscles in your body, ones you didn’t even know you had – you may come to notice this when you’re left an achy amateur after your first session.

It can be tricky and a tad nauseating when you’re rock climbing up those walls. But when you get the hang of it, it can feel so liberating when you feel your body start to move in such an agile way. Not to mention getting to the top of the wall and feeling like you’re Superman. Especially if you kick off the wall and are lowered back down floating in the air pretending you can fly.

If you get really good you could be climbing round here

It’s also a nice activity to do with your friends, or to meet new friends (yes, that’s cliche). Doing a weekly bouldering sesh is a good way to spend time with friends that doesn’t involve you drunkenly telling them things you wish you hadn’t or throwing up on their bathroom floor. You can also all motivate each other to go, and help each other with the techniques. Then go for a massive meal and a pint, because you just burnt all those calories so you deserve it.

If you haven’t already, give bouldering a go, because undoubtedly, as everyone will say you honestly won’t regret it. This time it’s true though.