General
- Report any problems like spinning or broken holds to staff immediately
- Do not climb above or below anyone else – climbers doing vertical problems have priority over climbers traversing. If you wish to traverse please use the dedicated Traverse Wall
- Do not walk, sit or stand on the matting in an area where a climber might fall and hit you
- Always keep an eye on climbers above you as you walk around the Centre
- The onus is on the lower climber or bystander to anticipate any problems that may result from a fall of a climber above them
- Be aware of other climbers attempting problems on your patch of wall and share the space
- While we take care to secure holds, they may spin or break.
- Have fun and encourage others!
Falling Off
- THE SOFT MAT DOES NOT MAKE BOULDERING ANY SAFER. Broken and sprained limbs are common injuries in bouldering.
- Avoid uncontrolled falls. They are likely to result in injuries to yourself or others around you
- Descend either by down-climbing, or by a controlled jump from as low as possible
- Practise controlled jumps from a height you are comfortable with.
- Think before doing a dynamic move about what you might hit on the way up or the way down!
- Keeping clear of wall structures, lighting, girders etc is your responsibility
Obstructions
- Keep all entrances and emergency exits free from objects at all times.
- Volumes and large holds are designed to enhance the quality of climbing but you must be aware that when climbing above them there is an additional risk of falling onto them.
Spotting
- Spotting involves helping someone to control their fall, not trying to catch them!
- Do not attempt to spot someone unless you feel confident doing it safely.
- Make sure the climber wants you to spot them!
- A primary purpose of spotting is to ensure the climber’s landing zone is free from objects and other climbers.
Hardware
- Do not boulder with objects in your pockets & remove jewellery before climbing.
- Do not attach your chalk bag using a karabiner. Do not wear chalk bags with brushes attached.
Chalk
- Try to minimise the use of chalk and the spreading of chalk dust; we encourage the use of Liquid Chalk and Chalk Balls over loose chalk.
- Avoid wearing a chalk bag when bouldering to reduce airborne chalk dust