IT’S not hard to teil
when summer on the
North Shore has final-
ly packed its bags to.
make room for the

rainy days of fall.

For many of us, the fall and
winter months have little to
offer as an incentive to get
—and stay — active. | had
the pleasure of finding a shiny pear! of fitness fun and wis-
dom this past weekend at The Edge Climbing Centre in
‘North Vancouver. Rated as one of the best indoor climbing
facilities in North America, the Edge.is a Meeea for the first
“timer and seasoned pro alike.

Being surrounded by mountainous, wails and rocky tex-
tures for a first-cime climber like myself was a little intimi-
"dating. But that feeling didn’t last long.

Jt was now time to don all the required rock climbing
gear, starting with climbing shoes. They should be made of
: suede or Jeather with a tacky rubber sole, and provide a
tight fir. They are the single most important piece of equip-
“ment to enhance a climbing experience. Good shoes allow
you to smear — to ust as much of the shoe's surface as pos-
sible to create a Solid grip with the wall. They also facilitate

‘Pick up a six-pack

Shaun
Ef

Training
Camp

spice things up.

.. , Perform your abdominal.
routine a minimum of three
days each week, but try to

avoid getting into a rut by

‘performing the same exercises
all of the time. Vasiation will

“prevent adaptation and pro-
vide vou with better results,

while also keeping you moti-
vated by making your routine
fun and exciting.

However, carving out that
six pack means more than just
abdominal work. Make sure
you also do cardiovascular

cises a minimum of three

_ times each week and concen- -

-wate.on having a balanced
‘diet. Always contact your doc:
tor before starting an exercise

_program.

Maun Karp mpns Karp

Personal. Training: © and
Rehabilitation iocated in’ Nort fi -
Vancouver. For further infor-

= mation please call 420-7800, °-

personal
= best
Q. Lused to perform ,
- 100 crunches a day and.
“I could not see any dif-

. ference — “what is the
next step?

OA Ulrinately, the key to.
improving your mid-section is
‘consistency and variation, If
you have perforined countless
crunches of sit-ups with litle»
~ ben fi tor. if you are sored and

abdoiiinal routin
to add some new

, aes in
i on te

vancouves
(StNioarion

edging, a technique in
which climbers use the edge
of the shoe for small toor
holds. Neat came the har-
ness, which fits around your
waist and legs for belaying.
A belay device attaches the
harness and rope to a kara-
biner-stvle belay device. The
last of my ensemble would
be the chalk bag, for my
delicate hands. Attached to
the waist, it allows you to
chalk vour hands to elimi-
nate perspiration. Climbers
often chalk their hands
before a crux, or 2 difficult
set of manocuvres.

Now I was ready.

The curator tor this
extreme exhibit was Andrew
Wilson, part owner and
operator of the gym. ‘He is
also Canada’s National
Climbing Team Coach and
teains the national team at
The Edge. Andrew proceed-
ed to give me the “Climbing
101° lowdown, checked my -
harness, tied me securely to
the rope with a figure 8 knot and demonstrated’ how he
would “belay” (take in any slack rope as I climbed). .

I started out on one of the beginner routes, my chalk-
dusted hands finding well placed jug-like holds, using my
legs to extend up the wall above: With mounting excire-
ment, I made it all the way to the top of the nine-metre:
face. [felt like I had just hammered the first flag into the
Peak of Mount Everest!”

Ladies, take note: this is definitely not a sport governed
by brute force and strength; soon you'll be asking” Mr. Joe
Bulfed-Muscle on the next wall if he needs any technique
tips! After thar first climb I was hooked, trying the natural
rock textured wall, “Enterprise” (it’s just like climbing out-

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NEWS photo Julie Iverton »

HELEN Kelesi gets a new slant on mountain climbing during a recent visit to The
Edge Climbing Centre in North Vancouver.

doors, but a lot warmer, and drier! and “bouldering” (tra-.
versing the wall). .

I was ready for my next ascent. So, with a little more
contidence and Purpose, I approached the wall and began
ny journey.

The Physical Aspect: I began to feel every step, lunge,
yrab, reach, pull, lift, slip, breath, sweat droplet, and broken
fingernail.

The Mental Aspect: it was like being smack-dab in the |
middle of a chess game. Having to plan and strategize your
every move and figure o out the, best way to the top. This -

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