Beginner's Mistakes

[Flutterby]

I was out climbing at the weekend with a few 'pros' (I'm a bit of a 'newbie') and although they had to help me out quite a bit, they said that they found that with a lot of people, they found themselves repeating the same few things over again.

So, I was wondering, what do some of you 'pros' see beginners doing wrong a lot? What are the common mistakes that you see them making?

:D

[Geddi]

One major thing is that newbies just dont trust the rope.
And another, which i noticed today, is that those learning to climb, use the side of their foot, instead of the toes area. I seldom come across holds which can take my foot sideways. Trust your toes.

[Marmot]

Using their arms too much, something i suffer from which means i'll never be a great climber - the legs are the stongest limbs on your body - they should be used

[Jake D]

My beginners mistake was to go climbing in the first place!

[Raging Sheep]

The only times I have been climbing I ended up using my knees too much. Somebody pointed out that when you have your knee on a ledge, there is nothing you can go with that limb as all the movement is in the bottom half of the leg.

[Emanresu]

The only times I have been climbing I ended up using my knees too much. Somebody pointed out that when you have your knee on a ledge, there is nothing you can go with that limb as all the movement is in the bottom half of the leg.

Using your teeth is a bad idea for similar reasons.

[Hillwalker]

1. Trust the rope and gear.
2. Trust the belayer, unless they are insurance beneficiaries!
3. Don't get fixated on the bit of rock in front of your face, look all round for holds, inculding down (and in chimneys look behind you).
4. Don't hug the rock with your chest, try and keep air between you, this drives feet in to the rock to grip better, and you can see more rock.
5. Take your time, don't be in a hurry. If you want a rest, ask the belayer to hold you.
6. Take a few falls, its a great way of learning to trust the gear and the belayer.
7. Concentrate on balance, if you stay in balance moves will be easier.

[Hillwalker]

Forgot this one, beginners always make these mistakes

1. Don't ever, ever, ever trust rock shoes on sloping wet grass.
2. Have a pee before you put your harness on!

[timmygowalkies]

Hahaha, classic.

We always have problems with the younger kids using their knees rather than feet when we are out scrambling.

Tim