UKC

Arc'teryx Alpine Academy 2016: Report

© Piotr Drozdz

An unseasonably snowy and wet start to the Alpine summer gave the team at this year's Arc'teryx Academy some challenging conditions in which to deliver their climbing clinics.

Arc'teryx Alpine Academy 2016  © Piotr Drozdz
Arc'teryx Alpine Academy 2016
© Piotr Drozdz

The 300 participants, who had booked on to a huge variety of different activities, from Basic Mountaineering Education through to Big Wall Climbing and even High Altitude Medicine, were not going to be put off by mixed weather and snow. The overall feeling of the event was that people were keen to get out in to the mountains with a hunger for knowledge.

British Mountain Guide Neil Mackay teaching the basics of building belays  © Jack Geldard
British Mountain Guide Neil Mackay teaching the basics of building belays
© Jack Geldard

Routes and objectives were chosen wisely by the British Mountain Guides, the Compagnie de Guides, and Chamonix Experience, keeping participants not only safe, but maximising learning in the four days of clinics.

French Mountain Guides explaining Big Wall Climbing  © Jack Geldard
French Mountain Guides explaining Big Wall Climbing
© Jack Geldard

Alongside the mountain guides were a whole host of Arc'teryx sponsored climbers. Representing the Brits was boulderer Mina Leslie-Wujastyk who was on hand to deliver some bouldering clinics at the classic venue of the Col du Montets. And whilst the event had a strong Alpine theme, pure rock climbing in all its forms played a strong role, and rock-based clinics covered not only bouldering, but aid climbing, trad climbing as well as advanced sport climbing.

Nina Caprez  © Jack Geldard
Nina Caprez
© Jack Geldard

Swiss sport expert Nina Caprez imparted her 3 top tips for better sport climbing:

1: Your partner should speak the same language as you. 

"I don't mean French or English, or whatever. I mean the same language of climbing. The way you approach things, your aspirations, they come froma  similar place, and they are at the same level. It makes climbing a lot simpler, and a lot more fun."

2: Partner Check

"Before every single route you should do a partner check. Safety is so important, and the more you climb, the more it is important to have systems like this. It is easy to forget something vital. So check your harness, knot, belay device etc, every time. And always have a knot in the end of the rope too, that's really important."

photo
A Swiss climber places his first gear whilst practising Aid Climbing
© Jack Geldard

3: It should always be fun.

"Sport climbing should always be fun, it is always safe, and you never need to seriously risk your life. It's a beautiful sport, and if you're getting stressed about it, or feeling anxious, just remember why you are there in the first place - it's all about having fun right?! We're super lucky to be able to go to the cliffs and mountains and enjoy this sport, so always keep that in mind. It will actually help your climbing too."

Chris Kempster from Trek and Mountain Magazine learning to sky-hook!  © Jack Geldard
Chris Kempster from Trek and Mountain Magazine learning to sky-hook!
© Jack Geldard

But the event wasn't all serious learning. For me the most important part of this 'coming-together' was meeting up with old and new friends, sharing a beer and a BBQ and plotting, planning and scheming for the next adventure. Climbing is all about partnerships, and events like this not only give people the skills they need to progress with their climbing, they introduce climbers to one another, different cultures, and in that social networking somewhere along the line, real friendships are formed.

British Mountain Guide Andy Perkins keeping the BMG organised!  © Jack Geldard
British Mountain Guide Andy Perkins keeping the BMG organised!
© Jack Geldard

You can read more about the 5th Arc'teryx Alpine Academy on the Arc'teryx Blog

You can see a selection of stunning images on the Arc'teryx FlickR Page


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Born in 1987, Mina has been climbing since she was 8 years old. She gained fame with some hard bouldering ascents and on the competition scene, but lately has been cutting her teeth as a top level sport climber.

Mina's Athlete Page 32 posts 6 videos



1 Jul, 2016
We had a great time, loads of psyched climbers, free(ish) stuff and lots of learning. Still staying with and climbing with people we met at the event.
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