What Aurelio taught me about the crash pad

A short one today: I sent my project and wanted to write it down before I forget. Last autumn I would have given up on the hangboard at this point. The session looked fine, and then suddenly it didn't.

After climbing outside: 12 seconds on the hangboard

Compared with last time, it was better footwork. I tried not to fiddle with the wall, which is harder than it sounds.

Where a move I couldn't do came from in September

I'm still not sure whether it was the project or the weather. Gus sulked, which helped. My notes from last time said: ‘Rest between attempts.’

Gus's part in the problem

I spent longer than I'd like to admit warming up properly and didn't regret a minute of it. Looking back through the notebook, 4 hours seems to be the sweet spot. Most likely, I was too impatient with the campus board. It was foggy outside, which never helps with taping fingers.

Footwork is everything. What I changed with the chalk bag this time:

• A crash pad (which I use every time), from Anouk
• A chalk bag, I nearly left it behind once, since September
• A pair of climbing shoes: bought second-hand and still going, used at 2 sessions a week
• A hangboard (older than this website), from Wren
• A chalk bucket, more useful than it looks, since September

I'm happier with the crimp than I expected to be. Back to training on the hangboard on Monday.