Bouldering tips for women are essentially the same as for men. Climbing up a boulder and solving "problems" -- a bouldering term that refers to discerning the route that will take you to the top of the boulder -- is the same for women as it is for men. However, there is a certain amount of machismo in bouldering and many more men than women participate in the sport. So veteran women climbers have some additional tips for other women who take up the sport.
Bouldering
Bouldering is one form of rock climbing. You devise a route up a boulder that usually ranges up to about 15 feet high. Chalking your hands, in a manner similar to gymnasts, helps you grasp and hold on to the cracks and fissures on the boulder. Instead of using a rope for safety, boulderers use a safety mat on the ground to break their falls. Bouldering can be dangerous, so proper precautions are essential.
Basic Tips
As the Outdoors With Dave website advises, picture yourself on a ladder when you climb a rock or boulder, moving in a relaxed fashion from one step to the next. Don't grip too hard with your hands -- your arms will tire. Use your feet -- you can stand on your feet all day, but you can't hang on with your hands for long. Fearing heights is normal and will ease with time. Until that happens, don't look down any farther than your feet. Take your time, says Outdoors With Dave, and "climb like a cat does -- quiet, deliberate, and precise."
Additional Tips for Women
Lisa Rands, a top American boulderer, offered some advice for women boulderers in an interview for VBouldering Magazine. "Just don't get discouraged, and if you enjoy it, then I think you'll stick with it," Rands said. Although it can be very competitive, Rands advises women to make it a social event. "You can hang out with friends on a sunny day," she said. Bouldering takes a great deal of upper body strength, and it favors taller people, so women shouldn't feel they need to keep up with the guys.
Considerations
You can fall 15 or 20 feet off the face of a boulder, so it is essential that you have a spotter and a safety mat that is properly placed on the ground. The mats are specially designed to cushion falls and a spotter can cushion your head, in particular, if you lose your grip on the boulder. If you are interested in trying the sport, you can obtain information about bouldering in your area by contacting USA Climbing, the governing body for bouldering and climbing in America.
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