INDEX fitness
Foothold on fitness
Exercising outdoors in
Climbing
IF YOU’VE GOT a head for heights and an eye for a good view, how about trying your hand (and foot) at climbing? For complete beginners wanting to learn how to climb, Chris Tullis is an excellent first port of call. His family has been involved in climbing and teaching the sport in the Kent and Sussex area for over 50 years, and his mother, Julie, was the first British woman to reach the summit of K2 – the world’s second highest mountain – in 1986. Chris manages Harrison’s Rocks, near Groombridge – which are owned and maintained by the British Mountaineering Council – and along with his father, Terry, started Soft Rock outdoor climbing company there in 1989. This was such a success that they followed this in 2002 by opening Evolution Indoor Climbing in Lye Green. Both companies offer climbing tuition, or simply the chance to come and try out climbing. Chris explains: “Because climbing is still an unregulated sport there are no rules to abide by, but it’s a good idea to have some training if you are interested in taking up climbing, not just to protect yourself but also to understand how not to damage the rocks, either.” Soft Rock and Evolution can supply all the kit a wannabe climber needs and will teach anyone from age six upwards, with lessons starting from £35 an hour on the inside wall for groups of up to ten people, and £35 for three hours outside. Another local venue at which you can experience the thrills of rock climbing in a safe, tutored environment is the Bowles Outdoor Education Centre, outside Crowborough. Laurence Reading tutors there, and across the UK via his own
www.indexmagazine.co.uk
autumn is a great way to keep fit and enjoy the beauty of our region, and there are plenty of
ways to test your mettle – as Sasa Jankovic discovers
company Mountain-Trips. “I’ve been teaching for over 12 years,” he says, “and it’s great to see the ways in which rock climbing can improve an individual’s confidence.”
To find out more about Chris’ climbing centres and courses, go to
www.softrockclimbing.co.uk and
www.evolutionindoorclimbing.co.uk, or call 01892 862924. Information on Bowles is at
www.bowles.ac, or call 01892 665665, while you can find out more about Mountain Trips at
www.mountain-trips.co.uk.
55
The INDEX magazine october 2011
Climbing photos courtesy of Bowles Outdoor Education Centre
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