We're ready to rock, how about you?

 

Rock climbing was the subject of this week's Get Involved.

The British Mountaineering Council has witnessed a dramatic climb in membership over the last two decades – with 70,000 people registered in 2012 compared to just 25,000 in 1990 – while there are approximately 300 climbing and mountaineering clubs affiliated with the BMC.

SKY SPORTS – Get Involved in Rock Climbing

While many feel it is a niche sport and fear high expenses, John Gibbons – manager of White Spider Climbing Centre – insists it's an affordable and enjoyable way of maintaining fitness.

He told Sky Sports News: “I would say it's not expensive. You can climb for as little as £10 and have an hour's coaching session.

“We are running those sessions every day over Christmas at various times of the day. You don't need any equipment – we'll provide everything.”

Overcoming fear and improving your skills are key benefits of engaging in the sport – and Climbing Instructor Andy Fairgrieve revealed initial reservations are easily overcome.

Fairgrieve said: “You can have someone who's very nervous about heights and we have tactics and ways of getting them used to it.

“One of the ways is to make them take falls. Once they take falls, it relaxes them hugely.”

If you want a sedate start to your climbing experience, you can always test your mettle on any of the 300 indoor walls in the UK, something 5 million people do each year.

If you want to get started in the sport, visit the BMC website: www.thebmc.co.uk