My Bora climbing experience
Arlene Paredes
Published on August 30, 2006 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
IF YOU sports enthusiasts out there ever decide to fly to Boracay during the rainy season, remember you may miss doing some water sports, but you can still flex your muscles right in the comfort of Patio Pacific, the only resort with wall-climbing facility that is perfect for fun-filled barkada sports.
This author tried wall-climbing for the first time. I didn’t really expect to make it to the top. Sometimes it’s better to just enjoy the journey, or in the case of wall-climbing, the way to the top, than be too occupied with the destination.
We climbers first checked the equipment at the Patio Pacific Alpha Fitness Centre and did some warm-up exercises to stretch our muscles.
Legwork
“Remember, use the power of your legs and feet,” Kuya Richard of Patio Pacific told me as he helped me don the harness that would ensure my safety during the climb.
“Keep this rope between your arms and don’t let it bother you,” he said, noting that some beginners mess with the rope, making their climb more difficult than it should be.
Whether my legs and feet have sufficient “power” for the climb, I was going to find out.
Curiously though, when I looked closely at the holds on wall, I was thinking of how to hold rather than step on them. I was definitely thinking of handwork rather than footwork. This would later result in shocked and stressed arms the morning after.
(After the climb, I read some stories on wall climbing. I learned that beginners are not likely to understand that the sport requires more precision in footwork than anything else.)
I asked the guide if it would be okay to climb barefooted since I didn’t think my beach sandals could help make the climb any easier. Kuya Richard said some people actually prefer to climb barefooted. So I did.
After the first few steps, my instinct was telling me to look up and check the distance left from the top. This is wrong. This is not enjoying the journey, this is impatience.
The right thing to do is look down and check for holds to step on. Once you found another hold to stick your foot on, that’s when you look up to find a handhold that could clear several inches to the top. Progress in steps and give in to the thrill, not fear, of doing it.
Kuya Richard was observing me very carefully, shouting some directions when he noticed I was getting stuck for over five seconds. As much as possible, trainers will let you strategize your own climb. But once you’re stuck, trust them when they say “right” or “left,” it is the way to go. If your foot slips off at first attempt, relax. Direct your weight properly to place your foot at a right angle and you’ll get comfortable in no time.
After a few minutes, I noticed my arms were beginning to ache and my fingers were shaking. I knew I wasn’t doing it right but I had no time to care, I was almost at the top. I thought if I fretted about not doing it right, instead of just giving in to the thrill, I would mess up a few meters to the top.
I was laughing when I grabbed on the last handhold to the top. Not knowing I could do it but enjoying anyway resulted in an awesome “Dear Diary” moment. I finally did it!
Bell
“Ring the bell!” Kuya Richard yelled.
“What bell?” I yelled back. I was so high throughout the course that I forgot I was supposed to pull the bell string once I had cleared the wall.
Of course, it’s not over until the bell rings!
After ringing the bell, I held on tight to the rope as I was told and just let gravity take care of me. What can I say, it’s always exciting to fall if you know someone’s going to catch you.
Once I was back on the ground, Kuya Richard first checked my hands for any scrape or cut. Clear. Then he asked me what body part was most stressed at that point. I said my arms. And my fingers were still shaking. He laughed, “You didn’t do it right.” I pleaded guilty. But I was still definitely ecstatic.
Now remember, your legs are stronger than your arms. Trust your legs to place your foot properly on the holds. Use them well. The next time I try wall-climbing, I’ll bear that in mind.
Pampering
After the climb, what should one do?
Do cool-down exercises to relax the muscles.
Alpha Wellness Centre boasts of cutting-edge equipment for pampering the body, the Alpha Capsule. This “unearthly” capsule combines dry-heat sauna, aromatherapy, ionized air (healthy molecules absorbable by the human body), massage and soothing music for a completely relaxing experience.
A 30-minute stay inside the Alpha Capsule and a separate 30-minute Swedish massage are more than enough rewards for the wall-climbing challenge this author had to face. (Inquirer link here.)
E-mail the author at lhenparedes@gmail.com
Copyright INQUIRER.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
