Gym Climbing: Maximizing Your Indoor Experience (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series) »

From the editor of Urban Climber magazine: solid, clear instruction that takes gym climbers from novice to master.

• Indoor climbing is growing rapidly-significantly faster over the past five years than surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding and mountain climbing according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
• Author is a pioneering instructor and gym climbing course developer
• Key exercises reinforce fundamental skills, illustrated in sequential photos

Gym climbing has evolved into a sport in its own right and Matt Burbach has been there to spur it on. He established, developed, and directed the Indoor Climbing School of Earth Treks Climbing Center in Maryland, the largest climbing gym on the east coast. Now he presents the same techniques and training exercises honed by coaching hundreds of climbers. Burbach covers all aspects of indoor rock climbing in detail, including what to look for in a gym, analysis of equipment and how it works, proper top-rope systems management, and movement technique. More advanced indoor climbers will appreciate chapters on topics such as indoor leading, performance, competition climbing, and bouldering. For outdoor rock climbers now training in gyms, this guide aids the "reverse" transition from climbing on real rock to pulling on plastic. Throughout, Burbach not only demonstrates the proper techniques and skills, but goes one step further to explain why those practices are better.

Author Bio:Matt Burbach is the editor of Urban Climber magazine, which is devoted to the information, community, and entertainment needs of climbers who climb where they live, the city. He has worked in the climbing industry as an instructor, competitor, tech rep, and lead organizer of the largest indoor climbing competition in the U.S.