UKC

Hi, after reading about a height/weight ratio that is best for climbing, I remembered what a Teacher at my school said to me, that I would be too tall to be a climber. As things go I don't have that many problems climbing, I just started out and realy love it, the best I can realy do is lead a 6b+ I want to be realy good but im 6ft 4" and I was worried that this guy could be right? anyone else know as i expect that people on here have alot more knoledge of climbing than him. Thank you.
Mark

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir:

It's swings and roundabouts.

If you are tall you can reach further. This can be a tremendous advantage.

If you are small then the leverage on your muscles is less so you can do things that taller climbers would need more effort to do. There are also some moves that involve getting your feet high that short people find easier.

Seeing as there is nothing you can do about it, don't worry. There are representatives from both the tall and short in the league of very good climbers.

In reply to innes: THanks innes That reminds me! (your going to laugh at this) I cant get a pint of bitter here! LOL i was in England for a while on thursday and i had my first pint of bitter Its realy nice i think! but i cant find it in a pub ANYWHERE here! luckly though i did get some cans of bitter in safeways! lol i have yet to try them they are "John smith" i think and ive only had worthingtons (donno if thats how you spell it, i was semi drunk at the time) and Stones Nice stuff if you ask me!

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir:

The likes of John Smiths and Worthingtons are not proper bitters. They're the additive laden want to be bitters. Find something like Adnams, Smiles, Youngs etc for proper bitter.

Mmmmmm.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir:
I've belayed a 6'6" guy up an 8a - is that reassuring enough?

Liz

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir:
I agree with Mr Jackson, John Smiths and Worthingtons are not proper bitters. Get some Theakston Old Peculiar down your neck or a 'decent' hand pulled pint of Tetley's from a Yorkshire pub! The list of good bitters from the UK is rather long. I am 6ft 3 and delight in doing moves that shorter more experienced people cannot achieve! There are routes which are more suited to short people and routes which are more suited to tall people. Climb and be happy.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir: I have freind called andy cowley. he is a very god boulderer, an sends 6c quite easily most of the time. Reach is an advantage ti him but it isnt the only thing that enables him to climb 6c.

In reply to sirtom17: What? Has he got long flowing locks and a big white beard then.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir: As the others have said, don't worry about it. Out of the friends I climb with I'm the tallest at 6ft 2" and I'm continually being told "it's alright for you, you're taller than we are". So just climb and be happy.

Glenn.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir: You will be fine, 6 ft 4" is not that tall. A good friend of mine is 198 cm (6 ft 6") and has bouldered 7C (admittely that was Hale-Bopp), sportclimbed up to 7c+, and has done 100's of routes above french 7a, both trad and sport.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir: Either there is an ideal height for climbing or there is not, seeing as there are good climbers of all heights pretty much (ruth Jenkins(small), this bloke stephanwho i met in nz who climbed 8a plus virtually off the bench (big), johnny dawes (small) my friend robin (big)) then there really can't be an ideal height. so get out there and do climbing things.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir:

Tallness is an unfair advantage in my opinion. All people above 5'7" should be banned in my opinioon. At least then Id know where I stood alongside everybody else.

Rant over.

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir: i am also 6'4" their are routes that are harder for the tall, and one that are harder for the short, but i know id rather be tall, i know its not that high a grade but ive done E6 and have been rapidly been improving over this winter, hoping to get on some truely hard stuff next winter. being tall rocks!

In reply to Mark (Yanosh) Muir:
If I drink more Abbot/Badger/Hop Black Summer Lightning will I get taller?

In reply to Anni:


Awwww - but you look so cute when you're all ikkle and stretching for the next hold on tippytoes :-P

Seriously, I'm 6'3" and thoroughly enjoy being able to reach past other people's crux moves. I'm also finally learning to use my feet (my footwork has been traditionally crap cos I've always just relied on my reach) and find I'm starting to improve again after being on a plateau for several years...