I started concentrating on overhangs which requires a lot less work with your legs.

Technique, wall angle, or how one generally approches a climb? What does climb like a girl really mean? I've heard people say thinks like climbing strait arm or using your feet, but does that start excluding a woman from climbing steep routes and burley boulder problems?

I bring this up because after breaking my leg and pelvis my legs were weak and I started concentrating on overhangs which requires a lot less work with your legs. This is generally not an angle which many women who climb in the 5.10 range (which I did at the time) do well at and feel I really had to change my climbing style.

So was I climbing like a girl before, after, or both? Even though I had to change my style of climbing I kept my "girl" style? How many of you out there feel you climb like a "girl", and why?

What does climb like a girl really mean?

I think the term "climb like a girl" just means climbing like a scared little girl to most people. You chicks just let it bug you more then you should.

I do not at all think that fear is a feminine characteristic. I've seen a fair share of men freaking out on climbs.

I think the term "climb like a girl" just means climbing like a scared little girl to most people. You chicks just let it bug you more then you should.

I like what everyone here has said so far. I think girls climb more cognitively than men do, and with more balance and finesse.

I like what everyone here has said so far. I think girls climb more cognitively than men do, and with more balance and finesse. The chicks I climb with are better at giving beta than guys, even when they are giving beta to guys, and seem to work moves through in their heads before climbing.

Most of us have to work through tougher moves using our balance, footwork and technique instead of brute strength, which develops a different climbing style overall. Also, less related to climbing style, girls seem to develop a great camaraderie while climbing and focus less on the competition to perform better than those they are with and more on enjoying the experience of climbing with good friends, and watching others succeed.

Contrast that to Wonderwoman and BEC, well, they both look as if they read routes very well and think about how they are attacking the moves. They both look congnitive, but she is more graceful looking and he is more powerful looking.

All of this is really about your first few years in climbing or maybe your first 100 climbs. After that it's really more about what style you have and what climbs you like to do. A lay back is a lay back no matter if your a dude or a chick. Girls are not smarter nor do they climb better then men in any way. They just learn to use there legs more early on because they have to unless there just crazy strong in there upper body. In the end no two people climb the same men or women.

So was I climbing like a girl before, after, or both? Even though I had to change my style of climbing I kept my "girl" style? How many of you out there feel you climb like a "girl", and why?

I think it usually means climbing with good technique including foot work instead of muscling your way through a problem. It does not mean one style vs. other, I don't think. Even on a pretty steep route, a beginner dude with ginormous mucles can pretty much campus up a boulder problem while a beginner girl usually need to learn to use her feet and turn her body.

To me, it suggests climbing like Lynn Hill. I'm still working at it.

Curt

To me it just typifies the wedge driving between what people assume women can do and men can do.

I bring this up because after breaking my leg and pelvis my legs were weak and I started concentrating on overhangs which requires a lot less work with your legs. This is generally not an angle which many women who climb in the 5.10 range (which I did at the time) do well at and feel I really had to change my climbing style.

I thought of this too - that the phrase can indicate division, but it could also say that climbing isn't just for men - especially hard climbing. It's probably more of a tongue-in-cheek phrase to bring ladies together.

But man, I would love to get ahold of the clinic paraphanalia to give to my guy friends who are known for their climbing finesse.

Good climbers, male or female, all look more or less the same too me. They all have good techniques, fluid movement etc. The grunting and screaming sound however are somewhat different.

...

on the ladies side Alex puccio and lisa rands.. even little Cicada Jenerik(sp?) are powerful.. aggressive.

That is not at all what it means. It is just what you want it to mean. It is still a put down. Should it be?
Well, no. When MOST people use it it means your climbing badly or giving up way to easy.

I agree with those who have already said that the thing with "climb like a girl" is that it means something positive in contrast to most sport were [blank] like a girl is derogatory. it generally refers to footwork (girls' is usually superior) balance, flexibility, ect.

i totally disagree with this. i have never heard someone use the phrase climb like a girl to mean not doing well or giving up too easy.

climbing like a little bitch, i've heard to mean the above. sand in your vagina, seen to mean the above. pussy, ect. there are plenty of all purpose misogynistic insults that are in all sports, BUT

I agree with those who have already said that the thing with "climb like a girl" is that it means something positive in contrast to most sport were [blank] like a girl is derogatory. it generally refers to footwork (girls' is usually superior) balance, flexibility, ect.

So in other words if I said a young chick climbed like a dude that would be a bad thing right?
I think your just a full blown sexist.

IF what you say is true then all young girls should out climb all young boys. right? We all know that the young girls always climb harder then the boys. right?
Sexism is sexism EVEN IF YOUR A WOMAN.

So in other words if I said a young chick climbed like a dude that would be a bad thing right?
I think your just a full blown sexist.

IF what you say is true then all young girls should out climb all young boys. right? We all know that the young girls always climb harder then the boys. right?
Sexism is sexism EVEN IF YOUR A WOMAN.

I think she is correctly pointing out that so far you are the only person posting here who thinks the term 'climb like a girl' is negative and means giving up, weakness, poor skill or fear. Maybe you should reflect on the stuff in your quote that I just put in bold. Most people that I know think the opposite, and that's also seems to be the general consensus of this thread.

Yea ok, and a black dude calling his bro the N word makes the N word a good word. Fine I'll stop now go back to your "girls climb better the men" posts.

Like i said to start with they climb DIFFERENT at first not better.

So in other words if I said a young chick climbed like a dude that would be a bad thing right?

Like I said, I think you need to reflect a little bit. None of us were being derogatory to one another or about the term "Climb Like a Girl".

hits like a girl
runs like a girl
jumps like a girl
All good? Maybe not.
I climb with women more then men and have NOTHING but respect for how they climb.
I just don't like the term "climbs like a girl"
Just say they "climb well".

Yea ok, and a black dude calling his bro the N word makes the N word a good word. Fine I'll stop now go back to your "girls climb better the men" posts.

Like i said to start with they climb DIFFERENT at first not better.

Well does have a point in that, despite "climbs like a girl" being used as a compliment, the bold is better.

hits like a girl
runs like a girl
jumps like a girl
All good? Maybe not.
I climb with women more then men and have NOTHING but respect for how they climb.
I just don't like the term "climbs like a girl"
Just say they "climb well".

If climbing like a girl were a bad thing, why would these people be teaching you how to do it?
http://www.mountaingear.com/...details.aspx?id=3194

I admit that usually, the expression "to do something like a girl"is used in a derogatory manner. Climbing is different.

Kathy

I disagree.. most of the pro climbers all have their own style and they are definitely not all smooth. Sharma and Jason Kehl tend to be really dynamic.. could care less about their feet most of the time lots of power and yelling. Graham, Pringle, Paul Robinson,tommy caldwell etc are much better at scoping routes and use alot more body tension, foot work, heel/toe hooks, drop knees. Daniel woods, Matt Bosely, ty landman tend to be a bit in the middle.. mixing in dynamic stuff when needed but not relying on it.

on the ladies side Alex puccio and lisa rands.. even little Cicada Jenerik(sp?) are powerful.. aggressive. They all have the ability to get delicate when it's called for.. ie Gaia for Rands but they can also pull out the steep comp style routes too. Then you have Lynn Hill, Beth Rodden, katie brown.. tend to be the technique style... which makes sense since they trend towards the hard trad routes. Tho Lynn just sent Chablanke V12 down in Hueco which is pretty powerful stuff though not foot cutting steep.

it's fun to go on Momentum video and watch Angie Payne's way to do Jitterbug Perfume v11 then watch Paul Robinson and Daniel woods beta..
http://www.momentumvm.com/cms/?initVidURL=197

http://www.momentumvm.com/cms/?initVidURL=34

so... for the original question.. i think the term is a bit out dated.

"Climb like a girl" is an empowering reference TO women, referring to the way we tend to use balance and different body positions over arm strength to climb.

But.... when GUYS use balance and similar techniques, hardly anyone would say "You climb like a girl" as a compliment. They'd say something more like "Good technique, dude."

About Madhatter's assumption that 'climb like a girl' is derogatory: IF a person says to a GUY, "You climb like a girl" maybe they would consider it a negative....

"Climb like a girl" is an empowering reference TO women, referring to the way we tend to use balance and different body positions over arm strength to climb.

But.... when GUYS use balance and similar techniques, hardly anyone would say "You climb like a girl" as a compliment. They'd say something more like "Good technique, dude."


So....maybe
"Climb like a girl" to/about women = compliment
"Climb like a girl" to/about men = something else

This might be true if girls climbed better then boys, but they don't. Girls just want to think that way.
If some one climbs well just tell them they climb well!!
If a chick makes a strong dyno she is NOT climbing like a man. She is just climbing well.

To say wow girl you pulled that like a dude is the same as you did well "for a girl"

what???

Opps! almost forgot!

Hi Mom!


Girls don't "climb better" they climb different.

Going to disagree with you on this, particularly about newer climbers. We're not talking advanced level or elite level climbers here, we're talking about the beginners or the ones who are newer to the sport and haven't yet reached that upper level of skill.
Newer female climbers DO climb 'better' than newer male climbers. Male climbers climb 'stronger' for sure. I see that all the time, and I see male climbers bull their way up something that could have been more easily and efficiently finessed. Then I see a female climber struggle on the same climb for a bit, then finesse through it.
There's a reason newer male climbers hit a plateau very very quickly...it's because after a certain point (or grade) on climbs, it's not something that can be mauled and pulled and grabbed and smeared through, it's something that has to be balanced and shifted and twisted through.

I'm not talking about the Alex Puccios or the Lynn Hills of the world, nor am I talking about the Sharmas etc., I'm talking about the Jacks and Janes who go to the gym on the weekend because they're bored, then they actually like the sport and start getting into it.

The difference between how a male climbs and how a female climbs is readily evident in newer climbers. It just is.

Once the skill level advances, 'climbs like a girl' is no longer applicable, because technique overall starts rounding out. Until then...yeah. It really is different.

ONCE AGAIN!! Show me ONE gym that the new girls out climb the new boys. Better? I think not.

I don't know, are you considering the brute mauling of a route/problem to be a good climb?
I'm saying that pretty much across the boards, for the first six months to a year that a female climbs, her technique is going to be better than a male's, because she's not brute forcing through the problem or route.
It doesn't make the guy a bad climber it just means he hasn't developed certain techniques yet.
If you're just going by numbers, no...new females don't climb better than new males.
If you're going by the initial sense of movement, then overall, yes, new females are 'better' than new males.

Last time I checked the hardest numbers win the comp. Most new girls to climbing can learn just as much from climbing with the new boys as with the new girls and most times the girls that climb with the boys climb harder then the ones that climb with only other girls. It goes both ways. Different not better.

Last time I checked the hardest numbers win the comp. Most new girls to climbing can learn just as much from climbing with the new boys as with the new girls and most times the girls that climb with the boys climb harder then the ones that climb with only other girls. It goes both ways. Different not better.

you keep saying "different not better." and yet you keep saying girls don't climb as well as boys. so, really, what you're saying is that girls suck. and any time anyone implies that they don't suck, you have a rabid fit.

can you fuck off now that your completely sexist and fucking irritating opinion is fully on the table?

for the record, as far as you're "show me one" request, I climb better than any male at my gym, bar my husband. and in the first year or two I climbed, I was better than most any guy around who'd only been climbing a year or two as well. and by "better," I mean I redpoint and onsite harder graded routes. Harder grades win the comp, yes? sometimes girls climb better, deal with it.

(and you live like, less than two hours from me. you're welcome to come up to the OSU gym or down to the red anytime to see how much harder I climb than you, your undoubtedly superior general strength notwithstanding. )

ok, dude but the thing you don't seem to get is that you are the only one *being* sexist.

you are the only one in this thread saying that one gender inherently sucks worse- women.

can you not see that your statement that "climbing like a girl" means being scared and failing is so much sexism?

and how is refuting your assertion that all men climb better than women with the fact that I climb a fuck of a lot better than a lot of men having no facts and throwing shit? that's called having a rebuttal, actually.

I don't know, are you considering the brute mauling of a route/problem to be a good climb?

Last time I checked

DRYDOCK!!!!!!!1111111

DMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2b1D5w82yU

Stop playing, I know who you really are.

So when I see a climber relying on upper body strength, with little white stick legs poking through their harness leg loops like toothpicks through a wedding ring?

I think of a male sport climbing weenie..., big talk on the stone, virtually worthless in a bar fight though.

Wow this really got some fur flying!

thanks, bitch.

Whoa! I didn't even think about that kind of fur - I was thinking of animal tussles and bits of fur fly up all over the place.

sorry for the offense

ls

So...while I was doing the stickers, I got another idea for a Women's Only design:

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/happiegrrrl/ClimbAddict/Girls-With-Nuts-Pink-T.jpg[/IMG]

Funny!

"This is a must clinic for all the Neanderthal men out there. "

okay, okay, I'll admit! Neanderthal is probably derogatory, but we didn't say it here!

Here's my opinion:

IN GENERAL:
Girls tend to make up for what they lack in strength with technique.
Guys tend to make up for what they lack in technique with strength.

But the best climbers, both male and female are both very strong and have very good technique. A lot of responses here imply that women develop better technique to compensate for their lack of strength. And I think maybe women focus more on technique because it comes more natural to them. And I'll admit, I am guilty of this as well. And I jokingly told my friend that she climbed like a guy when she grabbed two giant jug holds in the gym and did a pull up rather than work out some technical moves with her feet like I did. I meant it as an insult in a totally joking way. But if I really thought that, the joke would be on me, because good technique will only get you so far. If you never work on strength training, you'll hit s ceiling pretty quickly. And of course the flip side of that is that if you never work on technique, you'll burn out really quickly. To have any kind of endurance, you need technique. But to pull some of the tricky moves on overhanging routes on sections where the feet are really thin or non-existent, you have to have strength. So focusing only on technique because you think that's how girls do or should climb makes about as much sense to me as men trying to do a zillion pull-ups because it'll make them a better climber. I do think women should focus on improving their technique. They should also focus on strength training.

So in the end, to me, saying you climb like a girl is neither a compliment or an insult. It means you're focusing on technique at the expense of strength training.

And climbing like a guy means you're focusing on strength training at the expense of technique.

Good climbers (and good people) are androgens in that they develop all aspects of themselves (masculine, feminine, etc.) they have more tools available and they use the appropriate tool when called for.

Probably the best post in the thread thus far.

the typo made me giggle a bit, though. a little bit of saying the opposite of what you mean.