bouldering by bernd zangerl

bouldering

climbing, no ropes attached

by bernd zangerl

according to ‘natural-born free climber’ bernd zangerl “there are many reasons for climbing mountains. there are even more reasons for climbing a boulder.” an activity that was considered only 20 years ago to be mostly a form of training for rock and mountain climbing with ropes has been fascinating a steadily increasing number of enthusiasts, who argue that bouldering is a more playful form of climbing. while tactical and psychological components play a major role in rope climbing, the central focus of bouldering is finding a solution to the problem of how you move your body. a sport where victories over gravity are measured in millimeters and achieved directly above the ground, with scrunched-up fingertips, nail-biting scrapes, and acrobatic contortions. the concentration on body positions and how you move, without the ‘distractions’ of safety equipment prompted the british climbing legend ben moon to speak of bouldering as the “essence of climbing.” today bouldering has developed into an extremely athletic and dynamic variant of climbing, and from the turn of the millennium on, the difficulty levels that have been accomplished have seen a further, unprecedented rise.

bouldering goes beyond being just a pastime, it is a sense of community that teaches you to challenge your physical and mental boundaries. power, discipline, and pure focus that pushes you to new heights. this book shows the different motifs behind bouldering and the inspirational figures of this high-performance sport. the joy of experimenting teaches perseverance and how to deal with failure, bouldering forces the body to new limits.

“bouldering is an inspiration for all the senses. when we dive into the microcosm of bouldering, the everyday things of life lose their importance, and a feeling of peace and serenity arises. the joy of simply existing.” bernd zangerl

in the past few years, people of all ages have taken up indoor bouldering, and bouldering gyms are springing up in an increasing number of towns and cities. bouldering has gone from niche sport to a worldwide movement. outdoor bouldering areas can be found all over the world and you can even go bouldering on buildings – buildering. in short, as a game of gravity, bouldering is part of a trend of creative and individual sports. apart from climbing shoes, chalk, and a crash pad, it doesn’t require much – all you need is a boulder, a piece of rock, and an idea. 
from the history of bouldering, to equipment tips and training techniques; inspiring portraits of famous boulderers and overview of geological diverse bouldering areas around the world and bouldering with children – bernd zangerl and his fellow authors and boulderers brought together this definitive guide to modern bouldering. 

bernd zangerl is regarded as one of the best boulderers of all-time. born in 1978 in tyrol, he was surrounded by mountains and began bouldering at a young age. after great success in alpine climbing, he later turned to bouldering and found his true passion here.