Climbing + Bouldering

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Lead Belay Clinic

Are you ready to take on the challenge and responsibility of sport lead climbing?  This clinic will introduce you to the technical and mental tools necessary to climb on the sharp end of the rope. You will work with a knowledgeable instructor who will explain and demonstrate the key skills you need to know and will provide ample time for hands-on practice and individual coaching.  All climbing equipment is provided.  Please note that in order to obtain a lead belay qualification at the U of M Climbing Gym, all climbers must pass a practical lead belay test at a later date.  Attending this clinic does not automatically qualify you to lead belay, but will prepare you to be successful in the practical test.  Prerequisites:  Competence in top rope belay technique (i.e. Belay certified at a Climbing gym) and the ability to top-rope routes graded 5.8 or higher is required. 

Dates:
All Lead Belay Clinics will take place from 12:30pm-3pm.

  • 3/16/24
  • 4/27/24

Price:

  • $15, students
  • $25, faculty/staff

Register here.

Refund-Cancellation Policy
A full refund will be given in the event that the Outdoor Program cancels a trip or clinic due to lack of registration, weather, or other extenuating circumstances.  Canceled trips or clinics will not be rescheduled to an alternate date.  
Cancellations within 7 days of the scheduled trip departure date for day trips and clinics or 7 days from the scheduled pre-trip meeting for multi-day trips will not be refunded.
Cancellations prior to 7 days before the scheduled trip departure date for day trips and clinics or the scheduled pre-trip meeting for multi-day trips are eligible for a 50% refund.
Registrations canceled within 72 hours from the time of registration are eligible for a full refund provided the 72 hour period falls outside of 7 days prior to the scheduled trip departure or pre-trip meeting date.
Cancellation and refund requests should be directed to [email protected].

Top Rope Belay Clinic

If you like to climb and want to take the next step towards climbing independence, this clinic is for you.  The Top Rope Belay Clinic will cover everything you need to know to climb as safely as possible in a top-rope gym setting including harnesses, equipment, knots, climbing commands, and belay technique.  You will work with a knowledgeable instructor who will explain and demonstrate the key skills you need to know and will provide ample time for hands-on practice and individual coaching.  All climbing equipment is provided.  Please note that in order to obtain a belay qualification at the U of M Climbing Gym, all climbers must pass a practical belay test at a later date.  Attending this clinic does not automatically qualify you to belay, but will prepare you to be successful in the practical test.  

Dates:
All Top Rope Belay Clinics will take place from 10am-12pm.

  • 3/16/24
  • 4/27/24

Price:

  • $10, students
  • $20, faculty/staff

Register here.

Refund-Cancellation Policy
A full refund will be given in the event that the Outdoor Program cancels a trip or clinic due to lack of registration, weather, or other extenuating circumstances.  Canceled trips or clinics will not be rescheduled to an alternate date.  
Cancellations within 7 days of the scheduled trip departure date for day trips and clinics or 7 days from the scheduled pre-trip meeting for multi-day trips will not be refunded.
Cancellations prior to 7 days before the scheduled trip departure date for day trips and clinics or the scheduled pre-trip meeting for multi-day trips are eligible for a 50% refund.
Registrations canceled within 72 hours from the time of registration are eligible for a full refund provided the 72 hour period falls outside of 7 days prior to the scheduled trip departure or pre-trip meeting date.
Cancellation and refund requests should be directed to [email protected].

Climbing Movement and Technique

Climbing is primarily a movement sport--having proper technique is essential to your progress.  This clinic is geared toward intermediate climbers who want to learn and practice a variety of climbing techniques.  The clinic will build a foundation of footwork technique, discuss the role of the upper body, and teach key skills including flagging, backstepping, cross-overs, drop knees, and lie-backing.  Participants will leave having gained new skills, assessed areas for improvement, and knowing how to continue to improve their climbing skills.

Dates:

  • PAST EVENT

Price:

  • Free for members

Register here.

Climbing Self Rescue

Learn the foundational skills to respond to a climbing day gone wrong in this self rescue clinic.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice a variety of systems and techniques needed to get out of a tight spot.  Content covered is relevant to both single pitch and multi pitch climbing.

Dates:

  • 4/14/24, 11am-2pm

Price:

  • Free for members

Register here.

Multipitch Fundamentals Clinic

Learn the skills to climb more than one pitch of a climb with a partner. We will spend our time together working through the systems, techniques and considerations that enable you to climb past the first anchor to the summit and get back down.  There will be ample time for practice and feedback.  This clinic is designed for individuals with previous lead climbing experience who are looking to learn the skills and risk management practices that allow you to scale taller routes. Prerequisite: UMN Outdoor Program Lead Certification 

Dates:

  • 3/30/24, 12pm-2pm

Price:

  • Free for members

Register here.

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Essential Knots and Carabiners

Join our knowledgeable instructors for a tailored climbing skill lesson.  Learn which 3 knots are going to serve you best 99% of the time as well as why some carabiners look different then others.

Dates:

  • PAST EVENT

Price:

  • Free for Climbing Members

Register here.

How to Clean a Sport Route

Join our knowledgeable instructors  for a tailored climbing skill lesson. Come and learn how to retrieve your gear at the end of a day of sport climbing. 

Dates:

  • PAST EVENT

Price:

  • Free for Climbing Members

Register here.

Climbing Anchor Basics

Join our knowledgeable instructors  for a tailored climbing skill lesson. Learn the basics climbing anchors built on pre-placed bolts for top roping, multi-pitch climbing or securing yourself to the cliff edge. 

Dates:

  • 3/19/24, 6pm-7pm

Price:

  • Free for Climbing Members

Register here.

Top Managed Belay Systems

Join our knowledgeable instructors  for a tailored climbing skill lesson. Have you ever wondered what happens when you can't belay from the bottom? Come and learn how to bring your partner up the cliff once you are on top.

Dates:

  • 4/2/24, 6pm-7pm

Price:

  • Free for Climbing Members

Register here.

Rappelling

Join our knowledgeable instructors  for a tailored climbing skill lesson. Come and learn how to descend safely and efficiently by rappelling on two strands of rope. 

Dates:

  • 4/16/24, 6pm-7pm

Price:

  • Free for Climbing Members

Register here.

Q&A

Join our knowledgeable instructors  for a tailored climbing skill lesson. If you're going on a spring break trip and want to sharpen up some skills, join us for an hour of open ended instruction to help you have a fun spring break! 

Dates:

  • PAST EVENT

Price:

  • Free for Climbing Members

Register here.

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Community Climb Day - LGBTQIA+

Community Climb Days seek to foster inclusivity and diversity in the University of Minnesota Climbing Community. During these events, we strive to create a safe space for students to climb and build relationships with others who identify with their community and share an interest in climbing!  All climbers - new and experienced - are encouraged to come to try the sport in a welcoming and fun environment and to create a strong community at the U of M Climbing Gym! 

Dates:

  • PAST EVENT

Price:

  • FREE

Register here.

Comp de Bloc Climbing Competition

Comp de Bloc is a fun, community focused climbing competition at the University of Minnesota Climbing Gym. Join us for great routes, great people, and great prizes. The Comp will cater to climbers of all ability levels. Competition is open to all University of Minnesota students.

The competition will follow a modified flash format with an onsight finals round.  The highest point value will be awarded for a flash of a boulder (climbing it successfully on the first attempt).  A lower point value will be awarded for a successful send on additional attempts.  A competitor's five highest scores will be added together for the total score.  Come, try hard, and have fun.  Additionally, the top 5 climbers from Advanced Women and the top 5 from Advanced Men categories will advance on to an onsight finals round. 

All prizes are given out in a door prize drawing.  You don't need to win to win some great new gear!

Categories:
Beginner (VB to V3)
Intermediate (V3 - V5)
Advanced Women (V4 and up)
Advanced Men (V4 and up)

Comp Schedule:
9:00 am: Registration and Route Previews
10:00 am: Welcome and Rules
10:15 am: Climbing begins
1:45 pm: Climbing ends
2:00  pm: Door prizes and Scores
2:30 pm:  Finals round
4:00 pm:  Awards Ceremony

Dates:

  • 4/13/24, 9am-4:30pm

Price:

  • $45
 
Refund-Cancellation Policy
A full refund will be given if the Outdoor Program cancels the event due to lack of registration or other extenuating circumstances. Event participants will receive a 50% refund only if they cancel seven days prior to the event date. Registrations are non-refundable if a participant cancels fewer than seven days prior to the event date.  Event registrations are non-transferable.
 

Register here.

Community Climb Day - BIPOC

Community Climb Days seek to foster inclusivity and diversity in the University of Minnesota Climbing Community. During these events, we strive to create a safe space for students to climb and build relationships with others who identify with their community and share an interest in climbing!  All climbers - new and experienced - are encouraged to come to try the sport in a welcoming and fun environment and to create a strong community at the U of M Climbing Gym! 

Dates:

  • 3/23/24, 11:30am-2pm

Price:

  • FREE

Register here.

Community Climb Day - Femmes, Women, Nonbinary

Community Climb Days seek to foster inclusivity and diversity in the University of Minnesota Climbing Community. During these events, we strive to create a safe space for students to climb and build relationships with others who identify with their community and share an interest in climbing!  All climbers - new and experienced - are encouraged to come to try the sport in a welcoming and fun environment and to create a strong community at the U of M Climbing Gym! 

Dates:

  • 4/6/24, 11:30am-2pm

Price:

  • FREE

Register here.