Art of Falling

NEW! Pre-Conference Workshop:
The Art of Falling: Gymnastic Fall Technique for Bouldering

Workshop Description

The goal of this workshop is to enable attendees to effectively explain, demonstrate and enforce sound bouldering falling/landing techniques in a commercial climbing facility. Most importantly, we wish to create an enjoyable interactive climbing experience that encourages the attendees to share their experiences, explore a new perspective on a rapidly evolving discipline within our sport and to push their own personal limits in pursuit of mastery of the perfect fall.

The workshop adapts falling techniques from gymnastics and martial arts to the specific demands of the sport of indoor bouldering. Attendees will learn a progression of physically engaged falling/landing techniques that increase the climber’s body awareness and confidence. Also cover proper spotting, landing zone use, space management & monitoring policies that promote sound bouldering practices for commercial climbing facilities equipped with primary bouldering safety flooring surfaces.

Appropriate for climbing gym employees, coaches, climbing instructors, route setters and safety monitors.

Workshop Topics:

• Bouldering area conduct, space management
• Screening (who should and should not be bouldering based on personal physical limitations)
• Route setting considerations
• Youth considerations
• Opening height: varying age and ability appropriate fall certification
• Bouldering etiquette
• Spotting Techniques
• Bio-mechanics of falling and landing
• Gymnastic fall techniques

Presenter Bio

Timy Fairfield is a veteran of the US National Climbing Team, during which time he was ranked in the top 10 in World Cup Bouldering Ranking for 5 years. He is distinguished as being the only American to win professional level international events in all 3 competitive disciplines of the sport: Speed, Difficulty and Bouldering. He is co-founder of Futurist Climbing Consultants Inc. (FCC), which provides commercial climbing facility consulting/design services as well as bouldering safety flooring systems.