Mar 20, 2020
Six months ago it would have seemed more likely Honnold would follow Freerider with a cheeky ropeless flash of the Dawn Wall, than the whole planet would grind to a halt at the feet of a global pandemic. But here we are, self-isolating, dusting off those hangboards for home workouts, and staring longingly out the window.
But we're climbers. It's in our nature to hold on tight, keep others safe, and push through discomfort.
So here we are to guide you on a few steps we think you can take to support yourself, and others, during your time off.
Visit Animated Knots here, and get tying!
2. Catch-up On Your Favourite Climbing Movies
Looking for some entertaining distraction? Well, we've got a separate blog post here giving you a run down on the top 5 funny climbing movies you can watch to keep psych high while activity is low. From cheesy hollywood classics, to youtube favourites, it's the closest you'll be able to get to rock while staying indoors.
3. Reach Out To Your Local Small Business
Small businesses don't operate with a four month buffer of savings, and most are looking at a four month period of severely impacted income - ourselves included. If you're a member of your local bouldering gym, frequenter of a yoga studio, or customer of a small online retailer, consider doing what you can to support them at this time.
Whether that's ordering some new sustainable climbing clothes, or keeping a membership active through a period of closure, it might make all the difference.
3. Workout At Home
If self-isolation has taught us one thing, it's that there are a lot of people who want to help you work out indoors! We're even running live yoga classes on our 3RD ROCK instagram channel - check them out!
We're also big fans of Louis Parkinson. They don't call him "Captain Cutloose" for nothing - the man with shoulders that can withstand any swing, Louis is currently posting countless free instagram stories and posts about climbing training that you can do in the luxury of your own home. What's more, he's even offering bespoke training plans to help you through your time away from the wall.
If someone had told us to design a t-shirt for the event of a global pandemic, we'd be lucky to have come up with something half as appropriate as the one we made completely without expecting one. Our "KEEP CALM AND CLIMB ON" t-shirt (and tote bag) is a reference to the classic (unused) wartime poster encouraging calmness in the case of foreign occupation.
Well, the virus has hit our shores, folks, so we can't think of a better time to heed the message. If you feel like spending a little bit of time prepping your wardrobe for the return of the outdoors, and want to support a small UK business during a difficult time, then they're in stock and ready to ship.
5. Learn The Language of Your Favourite Foreign Crag
Whether it's the Spanish of Siurana, the French of Font, or the Greek of... Leonidio, we can all stand to learn a few extra words to greet the locals at our favourite foreign climbing location. With amazing free resources like DuoLingo, or Memrise, you can also invest in something a little more substantial like Rosetta Stone if you'd like to put your money where your mouth is.
6. Practice Climber's Yoga
The barrier of entry for yoga is far lower than most people think. Rather than expensive classes and kit, you can get some of the world's best yoga teachers instructing you from the privacy of your own front room with nothing more than a yoga mat beneath you. Our favourite is Adam Husler, who has his own youtube channel offering bespoke classes for specific activities.
We all know technique is a critical part of climbing effectively, so take this opportunity to work on your flexibility. This way, when you do get back on the rock, you'll be less injury prone, and capable of higher feet and wider smears.
7. Read Up On How To Be A Sustainable Climber
Now is the perfect time to take some important steps for the future of our planet, and the future of our sport. We've got a blog post about "How to be a more sustainable climber" that gives you tips on things like how to wash your clothes for minimum impact, and how to find and support vital causes that help preserve our natural resources. Check it out here!
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Thanks for reading. We're 3RD ROCK. We design and manufacture sustainable climbing clothes & activewear that's made to move, and made to last. Using recycled ocean plastic, organic cotton, and upcycled materials, we're making items that help protect the very environments we depend on for our adventures.
We've even been awarded "Most Ethical Climbing Brand" by the Ethical Consumer trade body, beating out Black Diamond, Prana, and even Patagonia!
It's our way of saying "no" to fast fashion, "yes" to the protecting the climate, and "absolutely" to a life spent outdoors.
