As a recreational activity, it helps beat the boredom of monotonous city life, and one does not need to reach out to the mountains to feel the thrill of hanging on a cliff.[break]
For the enthusiasts, the benefit of sports climbing is multifaceted as it helps in physical fitness and also works as a stress buster.
“When I’m climbing, I’m totally absorbed in the activity. It helps to reduce tension,” said Bhadra Parajuli, a climbing instructor. Parajuli added that the climber needs both physical strength and concentration to do well.
Sports climbing is a relatively new sport -- introduced in Nepal about eight years ago by the Pasang Lamhu Mountaineering Foundation (PLMF) -- but it is gaining popularity among youngsters.
Instructors believe it still has a long way to go before it gets established as a sport in its own right. It is almost similar to rock climbing. “Rock climbing is natural but sports climbing is done on artificially constructed walls,” said instructor Rajendra Pandey, adding, “The climbers use the equipments used in mountaineering but this sport has its own identity.”
“Sports climbing has been included in the Winter Olympics but the concerned body in Nepal has no policy regarding this sport,” Bachhu Narayan Shrestha, general secretary of PLMF, said.
“It’s not even considered a sport in Nepal,” he added. “Several times we requested the involvement of sports authorities but there was no response.”
Due to this apathy, PLMF has been promoting sports climbing as an adventure sport to draw the attention of foreigners. “However, Nepal Tourism Board has supported us,” said Shrestha.
“I just like it,” Jurgen Conings, a Belgian national who enjoys the sport said.
“People associate the sport with mountaineering but this is a physical sport,” said Hari Ram Khadka, who won the Second National Open Climbing Competition in 2007. PLMF
has already organized
four national-level compettions.
Sports climbing is available at the Pasang Lamhu Mountaineering Foundation at Dhumbarahi. Costs Rs 350 for foreigners (cost of gear not included), Rs 250 for Nepali nationals (including gear), Rs 200 for students and Rs 175 for a child.
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