Sport is a huge part of life at Epsom, and we regularly hear about the numerous successes in competitive fixtures and competitions across the College. However, there is also a wide variety of non-competitive games options available to pupils from Year 11 and above. One of these is Climbing club. Sixth Form students Ada, Alex and Iustina share their experience.
Q. What made you choose climbing and how long have you been doing it?
Ada: I always liked climbing so when I saw the opportunity to do it as my activity I signed up right away. I’ve now been doing it for two years.
Alex: I discovered climbing at the beginning of this year, and the uniqueness of the sport immediately caught my attention. I was inspired to try it out and have been climbing ever since. I find it to be an amazing sport that combines fitness with fun in a way that keeps me motivated.
Iustina: I wanted to join climbing because I thought it sounded fun but after meeting all of the lovely people in climbing I decided to do it twice a week.
Q. What do you do each week?
Alex: We have two climbing sessions each week, typically lasting about an hour each. I typically split the session into two slots. In the first 40 minutes, I warm up, climb on the competition wall and speak to the coaches about my technique. In the last 20 minutes, I go to do some strength training on the second floor. Each session is a focused and engaging part of my weekly routine.
Iustina: Each week I mostly boulder where I begin by warming up and then attempt the harder climbs.
Q. What do you enjoy most about it?
Ada: My favourite thing about it is how you can work to improve and progress at certain skills. Seeing the progression is really rewarding and being able to work on so many things at once is really fun, since if you get bored of one thing you can always go and try something new. Also, there will always be people around you cheering you on and working on things beside you so the community is great.
Alex: One of the things I enjoy most is the welcoming and supportive climbing community. It makes every session enjoyable, regardless of skill level. I also love how climbing offers a fun way to stay active while constantly challenging myself.
Iustina: I like it because it gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finally complete a climb. Top roping with other people is also great due to the encouragement you get from other people.
Q. Why should someone choose to do climbing?
Ada: Anyone can join climbing. Regardless of your existing strength or if you have a fear of heights you can work on different skills and projects with a group of people who will be there having fun alongside you. It’s great to go with friends and have fun together whilst also getting new skills and strengths out of it.
Alex: Climbing is a great way to build strength, improve coordination, and stay fit, all while having fun. It’s accessible to beginners, yet always offers new challenges as you progress. Plus, the community atmosphere makes it a rewarding and motivating activity for anyone.
Iustina: The community of climbers is one of the best things about this activity.
