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General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Triathlon as a cross trainer / weight loss method? 10-Aug-2009 At 1:05:12 PM Richard

Message

On 8/08/2009 Hugh wrote:
>As for swimming, go for it. Swimming is great for the core and
>we all know that is needed to climb well.

Swimming needs strong core muslces, but as a form of exersize, it does not develop them. You need to do land based resistance training to get strong abs, it won't happen by swimming on its own. (Water does not offer the same level of resistance as sit ups, for example. Do 20 sit ups and see how your abs feel, swim 500m (or any distance) and see how your abs feel.)

Swimming will work your pecs and biceps, but not as well as climbing. Good climbing technique is non-aerobic, it requires predominantly static strength, not dynamic strength. Cardio exercise will improve your fitness on the approach walk in, but has limited benefit rock climbing. It will however reduce your fat storage, so give you a good weight / strength ratio, though its not quite the same type of strength, and does not have quite the right muscle specificty that you want for climbing (ie nothing in triathlongs developes lower forearm or finger strength.)

Cheers