In high school, a friend of mine was a star basketball player. At one point, he mentioned that he didn’t even like playing ball anymore- it was just his ticket to college. Climbing is strength, movement, and friends, but of course, it’s just plain fun.
If you’re logging a lot of gym time right now, here are a few games you can try out to keep it entertaining… (Warning: Some of these games may be “against” the “rules” or “dangerous”, use your own discretion)
1. Bouldering Add-On. Each player adds two moves to a new problem (starting from the beginning each time). Two falls and you’re out. Last person standing, or first to top out wins.
2. Race. Tie in next to each other, and race to the top. Bonus points for jumping on the other guy if you start to trail (think American Gladiator), or racing on lead.
3-5 after the break
3. Climbing Blindfolded. Know that route like the back of your hand? Do it Eric Weihenmayer style. Have your belayer call out “off” for the wrong holds. Bonus for lead.
4. Climbing that climb. It’s like “Name that Tune” for climbing… “I can climb that climb using only 5 draws.”, “I can do it in 4″, “ok, climb that climb”. OR “I can climb that climb with one hand”…
Adam, looking like he’s playing “climb that climb” in Red Rock Canyon, NV.
5. And closely related to #4: Who can take the biggest lead fall. Be careful on this one!
I actually was playing "Climb that Climb." Bakewell said, "I can climb that climb with a tripple rack, 24 draws and two ascenders." I replied that I could climb that climb with "two RPs, a draw and a tastey Triscuit snack cracker in case I get hungry." To my surprise, Bakewell told me to "climb that climb." I figured we'd have at least one more go'round.
Funny Adam. We used to play a bunch of these games in college…ahh the good old days.