5 reasons to start climbing at university

1. Get strong
The morning after climbing you often feel your absolute achiest, which means it's working! It’s a great sport to build strength and flexibility without going to the gym, which can often be daunting for some people. If you go consistently enough, you can dramatically improve the level of routes you’re climbing.

2. You trust yourself more
Weirdly, the biggest barrier to climbing a route is often mental. Believing you’re not going to finish a route or reach a tricky hold often means that you will do just that. Lucky for you, it works the other way round too. Climbing teaches you that with enough confidence, you can do things that seem impossible.

3. It’s a team sport
It might not look like it, but climbing is a thing best done in a group. There’s nothing like thinking you’re not going to make the final hold on a route, but then hearing a shout from below that encourages you to make that jump. Working together on the same route is a great way to bond as a group!

4. Problem-solving
Climbing is about problem-solving – one thing we’ve noticed is that people doing subjects like maths seem to solve routes more quickly. Climbing combines mental and physical challenges, helping you become more coordinated and solve problems faster. It’s like going to the gym, but more thinking involved.

5. It’s not competitive
None of us at the Lucy Leapers take ourselves too seriously. At the end of the day, we know that you are literally trying to get to the top of a wall with the help of different coloured blobs. The only person you’re in competition with is yourself, which makes climbing a relaxing sport to do.

Article by Mercy Brewer
Social & Events Officer for the Lucy Leapers 

If you would like to join the team or find out more about our clubs and societies, please get in touch with the Students' Union.