About the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; where for the first time climbing is included as an Olympic sport, I remembered the first experience I had in March of this year in climbing practice. I had always wanted to do it but due to fear and lack of time, I had not done it. So after quitting my formal job as a lawyer, I decided to experience this sport that fascinates me and increasingly becomes a weekend activity, very attractive here in my city in Maracaibo Venezuela.
I decided to contact a group of climbers in the city that recently opened a school, and I spent about two hours getting to know the Bulder or artificial climbing wall, covered with synthetic stones that are organized to make climbing routes, some easier to traverse than others. This modality is done without a safety harness because the height is 4 meters more or less and there are mats on the ground to protect from any fall, my instructor was guiding me to complete the route. But I must tell you that it is quite complicated to do it, beyond physical conditions it requires a mental disposition.
For me those hours were wonderful, the activity is done under the open sky and the sun and the breeze made the tour more exciting, I found it incredible how in my mind I could climb easily, although the fear of falling could paralyze my body. It takes an impressive mind-body connection, which I didn't even suspect! I only knew it when I started to climb. The activity was very exciting, the whole body is used to climb, feet, legs, arms, and be very willing mentally and focused on the fact that it is possible!
This park where the climbing wall is located is called the Vereda del Lago, and is quite large with a boardwalk that borders the great lake of Maracaibo. There are many sports and recreational activities in the city on weekends, I go there very often and this climbing academy is one more reason to come back! I can tell you that the day I was able to start my climbing activity, it was wonderful for me, I had always wanted to do it and finally I decided to do it. I totally felt the adrenaline to try something new and to see how I could overcome my fear of climbing. That search for the goal that is the ascent was a magical process that I loved to live in my weekend, in a perfect day!
Here are some pictures of that first time in bulder climbing
