September 9th, 2019
Investigation:
I decided to go rock climbing (see full explanation in the CAS profile post) for a few reasons. I have climbed for a long time and was in this activity a part of grade 9. This is a sport or at least an activity that I find really enjoyable. Also, my brother, who climbs with me a lot, will be joining which will make the experience even more fun as we are quite experienced climbers and get along really well.
Preparation:
During this session, we had a coach for the day, were we just revisited some basic skills of climbing, bouldering and belaying. My brother and I have been to this particular gym before (located in Our Tampines New Town Hub) called The Rock School Climbing Gym. We have belay cards and since my brother and I have climbed for quite some time, our role in this activity could be to mentor and help others to improve their climbing ability. I, as a quite experienced climber, will challenge myself on new challenging routes including those of 6b and 6c as well as harder bouldering routes. If I have the time, learning to lead climbing may be a new skill I could learn.
#LO1Here is my climbing above 
Here (above) was our warm-up area where we did a few pull-ups and other warm-up activities.
#LO1
September 30th, 2019
During this session, we’ve been preparing for a climbing competition on the 29th and 30th November, at Climb Central (a climbing gym in Singapore) hosted by Dover (the other UWCSEA campus)
In this Climbing Team Invitational, there will be three categories: Bouldering (climbing without a rope), top rope (including climb a high wall with rope and belaying) as well as speed climbing. We will compete for both individually and in collaboratively in our groups usually with a partner. In this session, I have been climbing with my brother for the top rope as we may be competing in the same age category (even if my brother is a little young) to improve our climbing together and being able to climb collaboratively together. In top rope, it is very important to have a good connection with the belayer (the one on the ground) and the climber to prevent any mistakes and to ensure a smooth climb. A belayer has to always be aware in case the climber falls or needs help with something. Also, the climber must have trust in the belayer so maintaining a good connection and relationship is important, especially when climbing on difficult climbs or in competitions. Besides, the benefit is that one can gain a good friendship and relationship.
Also, I have noticed that even if speed climbing is a new skill, I have noticed that I am pretty good at it. This may because I have climbed for such a long time so that unconsciously, I know where to put my hands and where to put my feet. However, there are new skills, which are extensions of some that I know, that are needed in speed climbing. One skill is more of a mindset—usually, when climbing, one looks both down and up to find a hole and really plan out, but for speed climbing that takes too much time. So when speed climbing, one has to look up all the time and only glance down at times. Another skill that is needed, that I and developing is the skill to jump rather than reach. By jumping up, one is covering more distance in a short amount of time, and it is a useful skill to have when speed climbing.
Bouldering can be quite difficult and it is a skill I have had for a long time. This is a skill I am always developing by challenging myself during each session as well as asking a question to instructors on how to complete a move. Bouldering involves many skills including strength, agility, balance, good articulation ( in that one uses good technique and placing foot and hands in a sophisticated manner) control and focus.
#LO1, LO2, LO5
November 18th, 2019
Unfortunately, I have fractured my wrist in skateboarding accident (despite wearing wrist guard and full protection) doing a big 180 frontside air. This will definitely impact my performance in rock climbing for a few weeks and since I cannot climb it may mean that I will not be able to climb in the competition. However, during the weeks and sessions before I fractured my wrist, I improved a lot on my speed climbing where now I can climb up an 8m climbing wall at an average of six seconds. and sometimes under six seconds. I’m also quite comfortable on 6b climbs and 6c are not too difficult. Besides, my bouldering skills have also improved quite a bit.
This is one of the walls and with top rope like these, 6C isn’t too difficult to climb as I can rest.
However, climbs like these, which are auto-belay, doesn’t allow me to rest so sometimes 6bs can be more challenging, due to more difficult holds
This is speed climbing and the key thing is not looking down and jumping as far as you can to reach the next hold. The helmets are a bit of a nuisance (but a must from the school due to safety issues) and would rather not have them but in some cases, especially real rock climbing outdoors, than it is a good idea to have one.
The bouldering has an unusual scale but in reality, every gym has its own rating and scale for bouldering. Bouldering is something challenging but a lot of fun. It requires a lot of strength and in some cases mental strength even if half the skin may be all that’s holding you. It requires also a lot of skill to know how to place one’s ha hands and feet to maximise strengths and steadiness in order to climb higher. As you can see, I am still injured, however, I won’t be able to compete in the climbing competition.
#LO1, LO2, LO5
November 30th, 2019
Action, Reflection, Demonstration:
The climbing competition was held over two days including a gala dinner. I attended both the gala dinner and the second day of the competition. I was very disappointed that I could compete because of my wrist injury. It looked like a really good competition with lots of activities and fun. The challenges including bouldering and top rope (my brother told me it was really tough and there were a lot of climbs), and there were also mini challenges including hang times, group speed relays, climbing with oven mittens, speed climbing, climbing with sticks and a few more. Some were a bit unusual but still sounded fun. Unlike most competitions, there were some group competitions instead of only individual climbs which were interesting.
I wish I could be there and compete to not only compete with and against others and compete in these peculiar challenges mentioned before, but also to grow as a climber and to find a connection with other climbers. My brother told me that he became good friends with other climbers from other schools and instead of being competitive, the competition was challenging yet inclusive.
However, hopefully, I will be able to compete next year.
My brother competing in one of the challenges.
Here is also a video, and unfortunately, the person on the right is not me despite the similar hairstyle.
#LO4
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February 10th, 2019
Unfortunately, I am unable to participate in this activity anymore because of the New Coronavirus outbreak. The Singapore government and the school have put tight restrictions on activities outside of school like rock climbing, so I cannot participate more in this activity nor will I do Project Week. I wish I could climb more with the school but that won’t be happening any time soon.
Through this activity, I feel like I have been able to grow as a climber and building relationships with instructors and schoolmates. This activity has further pursued my interests in climbing as well as my brother’s relationships with his interest in climbing. It is a great benefit to climb with others as one challenges oneself, even more, when others around, perhaps to boost one’s ego, but even then, the support can drive one’s ability. I perhaps won’t have the chance to do more Rock Climbing at school as I am thinking of investing my time into other sports like Track and Field, Football (maybe) and CrossCountry. But I will try to compete in the next competition of which I great opportunity was missed. Although I haven’t progressed immensely as a climber, I still feel like my skills in collaborating with others and my spatial awareness and strength have in some way improved through climbing. I do a lot of sports that involve with the legs but not much with the arms, so it is good training with rock climbing so that I am exercising the whole body, and rock climbing is a very whole body thing. However, despite all the drama with the virus, I will continue climbing outside of school as it is a really fun activity and challenging.
#LO2, #LO5