James Loy 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast by the host and guests may or may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Miami University.

Student 

I'm a senior. I'm about to graduate, and I've done a lot of cool things in college.

Student 

I never thought that I was going to be an intramural curler. I never thought that I was going to be the student body president.

Student 

These four years have been the biggest amount of growth I've seen in my entire life.

Student 

It's not just about the academics, but like, what kind of person you turn into, which is super cool.

Michaela 

Hello everyone, and welcome back to our newest episode of the sounds of college life. Today we are here with Katie in the studio. So tell us where we went this time, Katie.

Katie 

This week, we went to the rock climbing club. Have you ever tried rock climbing?

Michaela 

I've never been rock climbing in my life, dude.

Katie 

I had the best time. I never thought I would be good at it. I have the worst like arm strength and just like I do not feel like I'm built enough to be doing that, but I had the best time ever. Like I almost went back the next day and was trying to climb at seven in the morning during my workout.

Michaela 

It's a full blown sport, and I think, like that is not recognized by a lot of people, but one of my first memories when I came to college was seeing the rock wall at the rec, and I was like, oh my gosh. Like, this looks very involved. And so now just even like seeing that you went there. I think it's so cool.

Katie 

Yeah, and I know they'll probably talk about it in a little bit, but a lot of them had no experience with it either, and kind of just showed up for the same thing. Like, it's right in the middle of the Rec Center, and I think a lot of people see it and they're like, oh, that would be fun. Like, it's always kind of in your mind when you go to the rec so some of them were brand new and had never tried before, and some of them still maybe are only going once a week, and maybe only are going, like, every so often, but they are so excited to, like, help me figure out how to climb. And they were trying to help me figure out exactly where to go. I probably sound like, I'm like, just ran a 5k in the audio. But we got to talk to a couple people there, and they were showing me how to climb, talking a little bit about, like, their advice for me. And then just kind of like, kind of, like, the basics of why they've loved the club so much.

Michaela 

Yeah, did you like it?

Katie 

I loved it. I almost went-- I was at the Rec the following day, and I was like, I'm trying that one again, because they kept telling me I could do it, and I just couldn't that day. And I almost went back, and was like, I'm gonna do this now, because I'm bound and determined this time.

Michaela 

Katie's joining the climbing club everybody.

Katie 

 I will be there every day, actually, if you see me. No, you don't.

Michaela 

That's amazing. Yeah, I know it sounded super fun, and I can't wait for everyone to hear, kind of your experience, the advice that they all have for you, and honestly, how a lot of people got into it, because I think it's kind of a club that, like you said, is a lot of newbies, so maybe kind of their trajectory, and now looking back on their four years, how experienced they've gotten with the wall. So, yeah, I'm pumped.

Nev Simmons 

Nice. Okay, now left foot, where your right foot is.

Katie 

I feel like literal Spider Man right now.

Nev Simmons   

Now reach up with your right hand and grab that up and to the right.

Katie 

Up there?

Nev Simmons 

Yep. Now, grab that, reach out and grab. Straight arm, straight arm.

Katie 

Oh my gosh,

Nev Simmons 

You can do it.

Katie 

I do not have the arms for that. I'm trying so hard not to cuss into this mic, James. Tried really hard not to say, oh sh-.

Nev Simmons 

Hi. My name is Nev Simmons. I'm a junior data analytics and economics major. I'm here at the rock climbing mall for rock climbing club.

Nev Simmons 

So actually, I've never climbed before coming into climbing club. So before the summer of sophomore year, my best friend Colin decided that we should, you know, give it a try, and we've been climbing ever since.

Student 

That was really strong, you almost had that, you got it.

David Abersold 

My name is David Abersold. I'm the president of the climbing club. So the basics of climbing are very, very, very simple. It's like stairs, only harder.

Student 

Nice, nice hold. Good job.

David Abersold 

What I would recommend if you're a beginner is you start with a little boulder, which is a shorter route, and it'll be marked V zero. Our V difficulty system goes from zero being the easiest, and the hardest we have in our gym is like a seven, and I can't even do that, so.

David Abersold 

 Come on, hold it. Come on. Oh, you're close. You're strong there.

Speaker 1 

Flip on the last one. Damn is that a visa? Yeah, we're calling it a visa. I think, I don't think I've seen anybody do it.

David Abersold 

Climbing has nothing to do with like going super high. It's just, how low can you hold on to the rock and how long?

Colin 

Yeah, so I'm Colin, I'm a math and stats major at Miami.

Katie 

It's a very like, I don't know a better word than analytical. You both are like math and data analytics type majors, right? Do you think that like mindset has something to do with it, or the fact that you're very like analytical people.

Colin 

Unfortunately, I can't escape math. I've been told that it's a it is a very analytical sport. In fact, they're called problems, so maybe we call them routes or problems, but that's exactly what it is. It's like a problem that you have to figure out how to solve. You have choices of, you know, left hand, right hand, where to move your left and right hand and your feet. And it's definitely puzzle in a way.

Katie 

Yeah, well, I've only ever climbed at like those birthday parties when I was like 10, so I need all the advice you can get.

Nev Simmons 

So I think to start a big thing is, before you even get on the wall, climbing shoes should be usually very tight, because that's going to help with your footwork. A lot of people like to use chalk, so having chalk is always helpful, and then just a good warm up is always good before like, you even get on the wall, because you're kind of exposing your joints to unfamiliar ranges of motion. Once you get on the wall, obviously, start you know something that you're comfortable with. We have a VB and V zero range, which is our beginner range. That's just like an easy warm up, where it's almost feels like a ladder, like if you can do a VB, V zero to start off, then you're gonna be all right.

Katie 

Okay, let me see.

Nev Simmons 

Just put your left foot on that. Left foot hold, yep, yep. And then now you can start.  Okay, so first one, I'd probably go left hand first. You'll see why, now you gotta reach out with your right. So you want to switch your feet, so get your right foot over.

Katie 

I'm trying to figure out. How the heck do I get up there? That's like five feet up.

Nev Simmons 

Just reach out with your right.

Katie 

 You Got a lot of faith in me right now.

Katie 

Oh gosh, oh, I see. Yeah, that's so cool. Hold on. Now I'm determined. So now I go, here, nice. I'm already really proud of the fact I found a way up here.

Nev Simmons 

And then now, just right, hand up, and then get both hands on it.

Nev Simmons 

Just reach. Oh, good, nice. Okay, okay, okay. Last one with your left hand, yeah, I'd say that's pretty good. Yeah, that was good. Yeah, yeah,

Katie 

It looked a lot simpler when you did it.

Katie 

There's parts of it where it looks so much simpler than it is, until you're trying to move your entire body weight up another hold. It's such a different experience once you try it. I got-- what two? I got two of them.

Nev Simmons 

Getting a VB coming here. I mean, that's good. That's something to be proud of.

Katie 

 I'm very proud of myself.

Katie 

Do you have any like last advice, maybe for anybody who's interested in joining or maybe is nervous about coming without any experience.

Nev Simmons 

I would say, from someone who was in those same shoes, just show up at first. It's very intimidating, but you're gonna grow into it. And I'd say anyone should definitely try it out, if they can.