Bouldering – The Short Climb to Super Strength and Badassery

When people ask me what I do for fun, I usually tell them drinking, reading, and rock climbing. It’s a pretty good mix if you ask me. I’ve got the drinking to relax, the reading to engage my mind in something that isn’t work related, and the rock climbing to maintain my rock hard… abs.

I’m going to assume that all of you have heard about, and probably tried for yourselves, rock climbing. After all, it’s a staple of high-school outings and workplace team building exercises. What you may not have heard of, though, is bouldering… my absolute favorite kind of climbing. The type of climbing that, combined with practical workout programs featuring strong lifts, will turn you into a nimble, wiry strong little ninja.

Bouldering for Fun and Fitness

When you think of rock climbing, you probably picture a person in a harness tied into some rope, climbing up a tall wall with a wide range of brightly colored holds. Bouldering is similar, with one major difference: no harness. That means that when you’re tired, you can’t just sit back in the harness and let your partner hold the line. No sir, you have to rely on your technique and strength to help you through the challenge, and that means the climbs are all a lot more difficult. In fact bouldering grades start out at the equivalent of around a V9 in top-roping!

So, as you can probably tell, bouldering gets me pretty hot and bothered. So on that note, here are two awesome bouldering videos to really get your motor running, and hopefully inspire you to get out and give bouldering a try.

Tomorrow I Will Be Gone

This first video features some of the most talented climbers in the world doing their thing in Rocklands, South Africa. The footage is awesome, the music is excellent, and there are no bullshit, time waster interviews. Just pure climbing goodness.

It wasn’t until I watched this film that I realized just how smooth a climber can become with the right technique and strength. Even when these fellows fail, they’re still extremely impressive in my books. Climbing is such a natural way to get fit, it’s really kind of incredible that everyone isn’t doing it.

Women’s Boulder World Cup Finals 2012

Some of the most talented climbers in the world are women, and this highlights reel of the 2012 Boulder World Cup Finals in Munich is sure to get you excited. I mean… excited for climbing of course. Remember, bouldering gives a person really, really strong fingers. Some people really appreciate that, if you know what I mean…

Little tip for those of you that are still debating giving this a try: bouldering gyms are absolutely full of women. Like… riddled with them. If you’re looking for a better way to meet woman than a bar, and get fit at the same time, do yourself a favor and give bouldering a try.  It’s inexpensive, it’s a lot of fun, it might get you laid, and it will get you fit.

If you have any questions for a relative newbie like myself, or anything you want to add, please leave a comment below!

(Photos by Outcrop Films)