|
|
|
|
Climbing TerminologyTerms highlighted in blue are "Team Only" definitions Aręte - The sharp narrow ridge on the outside corner of rock. Back Clipping - A hazardous mistake that can be made while lead climbing. The belay rope is clipped into a quickdraw in the wrong direction causing an increase in friction on the rope and an increase in the likelihood of the rope becoming unclipped during a fall. Bail - To retreat from a climb. Belay - To protect a climber from falling using a rope, friction, and an anchor. Belay Device - A mechanical device used to create friction when belaying by putting bends in the rope. Belay Devices come in many forms. Belay Slave - Someone that volunteers for, or is tricked into, repeated belaying duties without partaking in any of the actual climbing. Beta - Advice and/or instructions on how to successfully complete a particular climbing route. Bouldering - The practice of climbing on large boulders. Typically this is close to the ground, so protection takes the form of crash pads and spotting instead of belay ropes. Bump - To quickly move up a hand or a foot a small distance from one useful hold to another. Burl - Think Burly! Campus Board - Training equipment used to build finger strength and strong arm lock-offs. Carabineer
- Metal rings
with spring-loaded gates, used as connectors. Chalk Bag - A hand-sized holder for a climber's chalk that is usually carried on a belt for easy access during a climb. Chalk Bucket - An oversized chalk bag used in bouldering to hold chalk. Climbing Shoe - Footwear designed specifically for climbing. Usually very tight fitting, with a rubber sole. Clipping - The process of attaching to belay lines or anchors for protection. Crank - To pull on a hold as hard as possible. Crash Pad - A thick mat used to soften landings or to cover hazardous objects when bouldering. Crimp - A small but positive hold, with very little surface area. Crimping - The process of holding onto a crimp. Crux - The most difficult portion of a climb. Deck - To hit the ground, usually the outcome of a fall. Dialed - To have complete understanding of a particular climbing move or route. Down-Climb - To descend by climbing downward, typically after completing a climb. Dynamic Move - Any move in which body momentum is used to progress. As opposed to static technique where three-point suspension and slow, controlled movement is the rule. Dyno - A dynamic move to grab a hold that would otherwise be out of reach. Generally both feet will leave the rock face and return again once the target hold is caught. Non-climbers would call it a jump or a leap. Dynamos - Coach Tyson's version of a Dyno. You will see the team training this at practice. Edging - Using the edge of the climbing shoe on a foothold. Fessing - Used to describe someone who is whining, complaining, climbing like crap or just not doing what Coach Tyson is asking them to do. Figure Four - Advanced climbing technique where the climber hooks a leg over the opposite arm, and then pushes down with this leg to achieve a greater vertical reach. Requires strength and a solid handhold. Flagging - Climbing technique where a leg is held in a position to maintain balance, rather than to support weight. Flake - A thin slab of rock detached from the main face. Flash - To successfully and cleanly complete a climbing route on the first attempt. Four-point-itis - Ask Amelia Fischer-Linnett Funky Fresh - O-Towns climbing style. Gaston - A type of climbing grip. Best described as a handhold that is only good from the side, but you must hold it with your elbows pointing out. Grade - Intended as an objective measure of the technical difficultly of a particular climb or bouldering problem. More often is highly subjective, however. Hella - Anything done big! Hangdog - While Top Roping or Lead Climbing, to hang on the rope or a piece of protection for a rest. Lead Climbing - A form of climbing in which the climber places anchors and attaches the belay rope as they climb. Manky - Used to describe your feet after they have been in climbing shoes. Can be used to describe anything that is disgusting. Mantle - A move used to surmount a ledge or feature in the rock in the absence of any useful holds directly above. It involves pushing down on a ledge or feature instead of pulling down. Nar Nar - Narly. Used to describe a sweet narly route. Match - To use one hold for two limbs, or to swap limbs on a particular hold. No-Hands Rest - An entirely leg-supported resting position during climbing that does not require hands on the rock. On-Sight - A clean ascent, with no prior practice or beta. Pumped - To have such an accumulation of lactic acid in the (forearm), that forming even a basic grip becomes impossible. Quick Draw - Used to attach a freely running rope to anchors. Sometimes called "Quickies" or just "Draws." Redpoint - To complete a climb without falling or resting on the rope hang dogging. Redpoint Comp – A climbing competition that involves a competitor getting points for finishing a roped route or bouldering problem. Scoring is usually the points from a climbers “Best of Five”. Roof - Horizontal overhang. Route - The path of a particular climb, or a predefined set of moves. Sandbag - A climb which receives a much lower grade than deserved. Send - Cleanly completing a route. Sesh - When the team sessions. Session - A climbing session with friends or teammates. Side Pull - A (usually vertical) hold that needs to be gripped with a sideways pull. Sit Start - Starting a climb from a position in which the climber is sitting on the floor. This is common in climbing gyms in order to fit an extra move into the climb. Slack - Portion of rope that is not taught, preferably minimized during belay. Sloper - A sloping hold with very little positive surface. A Sloper is comparable to palming a basketball. Smearing - To use friction on the sole of the climbing shoe, in the absence of any useful footholds. Sport Climbing - A form of climbing that requires the use of ropes. Spotting - An alternative to belaying commonly used during bouldering. A friend of the climber stands beneath them and prevents awkward falls or falls onto hazards. Static Move - Of a style of climbing or specific move, not dynamic. Stem - The simultaneous use of two widely spaced footholds. Climbing using two faces that are at an angle (<180) to each other. Top Rope - To belay from a fixed anchor point above the climb. Top-Out - To go on to the top of a boulder while Bouldering, or the top of a climb while top roping. Traverse - To climb in a horizontal direction. Under-Cling - A hold or flake that is upside down. "V" Grade - A technical grading system for bouldering problems, invented by John Sherman. Weak Sauce - Poor, Poor excuse for climbing. Also see Dalton's Profile Page. Weighting - Resting by hanging on the belay rope. Also use to describe a climber full body weight on a hold. Whipper - A lead fall from above and to the side of the last clip, whipping oneself downwards and in an arc. Z-Clipping - Clipping into an anchor with the segment of rope from beneath the previous anchor, resulting in an unsafe configuration of the belay rope. |
|
Disclaimer: The Team Vertical World Website in not affiliated with Vertical World, Inc. It is owned and updated by the Vertical World Climbing Team Fund, and maintained by the team itself. Copyright 2008 Last updated: 12/14/2008
|
