Climbing Wall Builds Confidence, Skills


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Climbing wall builds confidence

Every week, hundreds of students from different majors test their dexterity on the 橙子视频app鈥檚 Climbing Wall. Located within the Health and Human Performance Center, the wall is a critical modality of academic instruction for both the adventure education and physical education programs and a resource for the entire campus community.  

PSU鈥檚 climbing wall features two sections: a horizontal bouldering wall that climbers work their way up and across, and a 37-foot-high vertical section. Students learn to belay or climb with the assistance of a safety rope system as they would in outdoor conditions.  

鈥淲e want students to have a healthy respect鈥痮f height so they will learn to climb safely, but in reality, once you鈥檙e tied to a climbing rope managed by an experienced belayer you鈥檙e perfectly safe,鈥 says Professor Christian Bisson, coordinator of the BS program in adventure education. 

Plymouth State has a vibrant adventure education program with multiple courses, and the climbing wall is an essential lab. It鈥檚 also a good alternative to going outside so classes don鈥檛 have to be canceled in bad weather. 

Shaeleen 鈥淪hae鈥 Hughes 鈥22 and Ethan Vannata 鈥23 are both adventure education students who serve as wall staff, helping others get their footholds. Both used the wall in their Fundamentals of Rock Climbing course. 鈥淭he climbing wall is where I learned how to belay and use鈥痶echnical rock climbing skills such as pickoffs and belay takeovers,鈥 Vannata says.鈥淚t has better prepared me to manage risks in adventure education activities.鈥 

The wall鈥檚 recreational side brings together students of all abilities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful atmosphere and very social,鈥 says Bisson. 鈥淧eople come and just like to hang around each other because it is competition against one鈥檚 self and very supportive. It鈥檚 confidence building and there鈥檚 always music, discussion, and tips for helping each other.鈥 

鈥淭he community welcomes you with open arms,鈥 confirms Hughes. 鈥淭he reason why I fell so in love with climbing is because of the people. We have many strong, skilled climbers using the wall on a frequent basis, and they are some of the most encouraging, supportive people for those who are just starting out.鈥 

After Hughes completes her PSU studies, she is hoping to lead expeditions, then potentially go into guiding before continuing on for advanced study to ultimately become a teacher or professor. 鈥淭he wall has prepped me to be a good facilitator as well as manage risk in an indoor setting,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t has also has helped build confidence and my personal limit with risk taking. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working there.鈥 

A goal for the wall is to have it open as a public resource, of which there are only a handful in the northern half of the state. The option would heighten PSU鈥檚 profile within the climbing community, which is already significant in part due to the University鈥檚 proximity to Rumney Rocks, an area set within the White Mountain National Forest. It鈥檚 just a short drive from campus and an international destination for sport climbers. 

At present, the wall is open to all members of the Plymouth State community on Monday through Thursday evenings, with experienced climbers on hand to help beginners. 鈥淚 strongly recommend this sport to anyone looking to try something new who might be nervous to break into a new community,鈥 says Hughes. 鈥淭his is the place for you!鈥

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