Are you an experienced climber or a curious beginner seeking new ways to challenge your strength and agility, join us as we take you on an incredible journey through the vertical playgrounds that await in Singapore’s bustling cityscape. ALLEZ!
If your concern “Which climbing gyms cater to my skill level?” or “Where can I find the most challenging climbs?” Fear not. Our comprehensive guide is crafted to navigate you through Singapore’s climbing scene, addressing the needs of both veteran climbers and newcomers alike
Skip to this article if you just want to know where are the best bouldering gyms in Singapore
Understanding Bouldering In Singapore
Bouldering in Singapore is a unique sport that involves climbing on artificial walls without the use of ropes or harnesses.
Overview Of The Sport: Bouldering
Bouldering is an exhilarating and challenging form of rock climbing that has been gaining popularity in Singapore over the years.
It involves scaling artificial climbing walls covered with strategically placed holds, which simulate the natural aspects of real rocks.
As a climbing beginner based in Singapore, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this sport has evolved and grown in our city. From its humble beginnings as a niche hobby to a mainstream recreational activity enjoyed by many, bouldering offers an adrenaline-pumping workout accessible to all skill levels.
Here’s a quick video of my friend bouldering at Boulder+ . Are you ready to learn what’s the hype about? let’s delve right in!
Why is bouldering so popular in Singapore
I would say mainly due to 2 reasons! Firstly, Bouldering has a very large and friendly community in Singapore!
The first time I went to Boulder, I was struggling hard at a particular move and a stranger was saying allez at me, cheering me on.
Additionally, some of the more experienced climbers will share their tips and tricks with you on how to complete that particular route. Having Such a friendly community helps to boost the morale of newbie climbers like me to further improve in the sport!
Types Of Bouldering Gyms In Singapore
With the growing popularity of bouldering in Singapore, there is an increasing number of gyms catering to different skill levels and preferences.
These bouldering gyms typically offer diverse climbing routes that are regularly updated – ensuring fresh challenges for climbers.
Many also provide trial classes for beginners or those wanting a taste of the sport before committing to membership or regular sessions.
In addition to well-maintained wall surfaces and holds, these gyms often have dedicated areas for training strength, flexibility, endurance, and techniques essential for success on the walls. Such as the hang board which climbers use to warm up at!
Difficulty Levels And Routes Available
Bouldering in Singapore offers a diverse range of difficulty levels and routes, catering to climbers of all skill levels. The climbing gyms feature color-coded routes that indicate relative difficulty and are classified according to internationally recognized bouldering grades.
Tips For Climbing Beginners In Singapore
Stay safe by checking your equipment regularly, warming up and stretching properly before climbing, and being aware of the risks involved.
Bouldering Etiquette and Safety
One unspoken rule when climbing is to beware of your surroundings.
This is the most crucial thing to remember when climbing in a gym. It’s also the root of the most typical rookie etiquette blunders.
Always be aware of where you are in relation to other individuals in the gym. Look up, down, to the left, and to the right. Then repeat the process.
Being aware of your surroundings will keep you out of many potentially harmful and/or embarrassing situations such as climbing to people’s routes or falling onto someone!
Warm-up And Stretch
Before embarking on any bouldering session, it’s imperative to warm up and stretch properly. This helps prepare your muscles for the climb ahead and reduces the risk of injury.
Some effective warm-up exercises include jogging in place, jumping jacks, and push-ups.
Focus On Technique
@sportifate Didn’t expect to find a place to do sports at orchard! Comment what other sports you wanna see! #sgsports #boulderinglife #boulderinggym #fyp #foryoupage #sports #boulderlife #boulderworldsg ♬ FLOWER
Climbing with technique is way easier than brute strength. Technical skills are critical to improving the quality of your climbs. Climbing techniques such as smearing, edging, and flagging can make all the difference when it comes to tackling tough routes.
In addition to this, building strength through endurance exercises and flexibility workouts has also proven invaluable for improving my technique on the walls. However, I’ve found that focusing solely on power moves can be detrimental to my overall performance.
The focus was placed more on refining individual movement patterns rather than just brute force or grip strength alone. If you’re looking to improve your technique- check out this bouldering technique guide.
Staying Motivated And Overcoming Fear
For many climbers, staying motivated and overcoming fear are perhaps the biggest challenges to bouldering. While it’s easy to lose focus or get intimidated by challenging routes, there are several tricks you can use to stay focused and push yourself harder.
One strategy is setting achievable goals. Instead of getting overwhelmed by a tough climb, break it down into smaller sections and work on one section at a time. Additionally, maintaining proper breathing techniques can help keep your mind calm under pressure and relieve anxiety during climbs.
Simple Bouldering Techniques
Use your Toe Power
Are you guilty of climbing using your midsole? It’s a common sight at the bouldering gym. Switch to using your toes and watch how it changes your game! They offer better flexibility, allowing you to pivot and boost your reach.
I learned that one key tip for using the toe is to wear tighter climbing shoes- yes it may feel uncomfortable initially but it will allow you to leverage more of your weight on the toe.
Legs Do the Heavy Lifting
Important! You don’t have to rely solely on your arms while climbing. Your legs are home to some of the largest muscle groups, so let them do the heavy lifting.
Try to combine leg power with a bit of momentum to swing toward your next hold. Say goodbye to arm fatigue!
Hip Action
Keep ’em Close to the Wall New to climbing? You might find your hips sagging away from the wall – a common beginner’s mistake.
The issue here is it shifts your center of gravity away from the wall, meaning your fingers and forearms take on most of your weight. Keeping your hips close to the wall helps distribute your weight evenly between your arms and legs, saving you precious energy.
It might feel strange at first, but soon it will become second nature!
Straight Arms, Not Bent arms!
Bent arms while climbing can cause quicker fatigue, affecting your forearms, biceps, shoulders, and back. Instead, climbing with straight arms helps distribute weight evenly, saving your energy for that next big move.
Each of these bouldering tips is designed to help you improve your climbing game, from grip techniques to proper body alignment. So gear up, have fun, and climb on!
That’s all for today! Next up, check out where are the best bouldering gyms in Singapore!