Dangers in Sport Climbing
My passion for the mountains and my profession requires me to carefully assess the dangers of climbing and ensure that climbing and safety form an inseparable bond.
I frequently visit the local crags and indoor climbing gyms, especially in winter or on rainy days. These gyms are often overcrowded, and it’s common to witness dangerous behavior.
Climbing dangers are practically nonexistent on crags and in gyms as long as you follow a few simple rules.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see distracted belayers chatting instead of focusing on their climbing partner, very lightweight children belaying their strong dads (80 kg!) just a few meters from the wall, improvised knots, etc.
When you’re at the anchor, remember to check the carabiner/lowering ring: sometimes, they’re worn out from use and aren’t always as solid and safe as they should be.
Although, as I mentioned, the dangers in sport climbing are very few, it’s important to note that unfortunate—and sometimes tragic—accidents have also happened to the most experienced climbers. Most of the time, in such cases, the repetitive nature of the actions led to the accident. We shouldn’t become overconfident because we’ve tied that knot or performed those maneuvers thousands of times.
One way to avoid this mistake, which often happens during preparation, is to use the partner check. It’s a simple concept: “I check you, and you check me.”
Check that your partner is wearing the harness correctly, has the necessary gear, has tied the knot properly, and has securely fastened the helmet. Just a quick look can clear your mind and help you focus on the athletic task ahead.
A brief moment of distraction, fatigue, or overconfidence—just a few seconds- could lead to an irreversible mistake.
As a mountain guide, I always advise my students to adopt the partner check—a simple yet essential habit that helps reduce climbing risks.
And even when climbing with friends, I never forget its importance—safety matters!
It’s easy to limit the dangers of climbing. A simple mutual check between the climber and belayer is crucial. You can read more about this on the Petzl website.
Climbing and safety should always go hand in hand, and it’s really easy to minimize the few risks involved in sport climbing on bolted crags or in indoor climbing gyms.
Partner Check
Related articles: Indoor Climbing: let’s have fun safely!
