Post by johnybinwv on Jul 6, 2015 14:56:17 GMT -7
Hello all,
I wanted to start a thread to discuss ice climbing, and how to apply principles and training methodologies discussed in the RCTM to ice. Base, Strength, Power, PE, and Performance.
Ice is a ton of fun, but presents some unique challenges for the training climber:
1) the incredibly fickle nature of ice in our region (mid-Atlantic), requiring true commitment to go when it's good and to develop a lot of knowledge about local ice conditions given the weather dynamics.
2) The high dependence upon knowledge of the medium to facilitate advancement, but this is really not so different than rock climbing, it is just that the ice season is much shorter in my region.
I find that developing my roped climbing game, trad and sport, in general translates well to the movement and mental aspects of ice climbing.
Some thoughts I have are the importance of traveling (Ouray, anyone?) to dependable ice for early season tune-ups and strength and technique maintenance throughout the year through indoor dry-tool hangs and bouldering and outdoor dry-tool sessions as the ice season approaches.
To address these needs, I have been doing one dry-tool weighted hang set with my hang board sessions and adding dry-tool bouldering on my home wall in the power and power-endurance phases. I actually use "Dry-Ice" tools because the ice tools feel so crazy dangerous in the home setting and the picks chew up holds.
Any other ice climbers out there- and how do they advance technique/fitness in the off-season and prepare themselves well for the season?
I wanted to start a thread to discuss ice climbing, and how to apply principles and training methodologies discussed in the RCTM to ice. Base, Strength, Power, PE, and Performance.
Ice is a ton of fun, but presents some unique challenges for the training climber:
1) the incredibly fickle nature of ice in our region (mid-Atlantic), requiring true commitment to go when it's good and to develop a lot of knowledge about local ice conditions given the weather dynamics.
2) The high dependence upon knowledge of the medium to facilitate advancement, but this is really not so different than rock climbing, it is just that the ice season is much shorter in my region.
I find that developing my roped climbing game, trad and sport, in general translates well to the movement and mental aspects of ice climbing.
Some thoughts I have are the importance of traveling (Ouray, anyone?) to dependable ice for early season tune-ups and strength and technique maintenance throughout the year through indoor dry-tool hangs and bouldering and outdoor dry-tool sessions as the ice season approaches.
To address these needs, I have been doing one dry-tool weighted hang set with my hang board sessions and adding dry-tool bouldering on my home wall in the power and power-endurance phases. I actually use "Dry-Ice" tools because the ice tools feel so crazy dangerous in the home setting and the picks chew up holds.
Any other ice climbers out there- and how do they advance technique/fitness in the off-season and prepare themselves well for the season?