[Mutley]

Hi,

I'm looking to start bouldering this year.  I've never climbed before and have no bouldering experience.

I gather from this forum that the essential I need are:
Rock Boots
Chalk + Bag
Tooth Brush
Bouldering Mat

Unfortunately I don't know anyone who is into bouldering or climbing.  Whats the best way of finding a group of boulderers/climbers?  I understand that as a beginner I'll need to get to grips with spotting and being spotted... so I don't brain myself on the first outing!

I live in Walsall in the West Midlands... fairly close to the Peaks and North Wales.

I'd appreciate any advice.

Andy

[Bubba]

The essentials are the chalk/boots - if you can afford a pad too then that's great, and if you've got transport then you're sorted.

You can quite easily go bouldering on your own so long as you're not trying problems where you're going to hurt yourself without a spotter. If you don't know anyone else who boulders then I guess you'll just bump into people at the crag/down the wall/etc.
Most people are fairly accomodating - lots of times we've met somebody at the crag who's then just tagged along with us all day - just find some friendly faces.

[Johnny Brown]

Your best local venue will probably be the roaches, near Leek north of stoke. Turn up there any dry weekend and there's loads to go at and plenty of friendly locals to point you in the right direction.
Other spot might be grinshill north of shrewsbury. Some nice sandstone stuff, but maybe not the best for the first outing. have fun

[dave]

you don't have to have a bouldering pad to boulder, but it really is worth taking an offcut of carpet, or a doormat or a car mat so you'll always have something dry to stand on - it goes without saying that trying to climb with your shoes covered in wet mud and sheepshit just ain't a good look.

Some useful phrases to get you quickly integrating with other boulders:

"Yo yo yo I just iced that shit like a 3-tier wedding cake"

"Tight jon, tight"

"Yo punk bitches, spit some numbers at a wigga, one time"

"I'm Si O'Connor, who the fuck are you?"

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Some useful phrases to get you quickly integrating with other boulders:

I'd try speaking to the climbers not the rocks, otherwise you might get some funny looks...well, I spose that depends where you are in the Peak. In some parts they love that sort of ting :wink:

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Mutley, I'd argue that about the only thing your really need is the enthusiasm to go and try it. Go out wearing a thin soled old pair of trainers (and maybe an old towel/bit of carpet to wipe them on) have a play about and see if you enjoy it. Rock boots and chalk won't make a massive difference on the easiest stuff anyway and it would be a shame to fork out £60+ and find out you just don't like it.  

Certainly don't fork out lots ( chalkbag(£15), boots(£65), guide(£20) and pad(£100+) until you know your hooked.

[r-man]

I gather from this forum that the essential I need are:
Rock Boots
Chalk + Bag
Tooth Brush
Bouldering Mat

As Obi Wan said, try bouldering in your trainers (or even bare feet) first. Don't bother looking at the grades and things in a guidebook, just find some boulders and have a go at anything that looks like it might be a way up.

But if you make one purchase, the rock boots are probably the most useful. If you're lucky you might even be able to get them as cheap as 40 quid - Scarpa used to make a great beginners shoe for this price (the helix).

Have fun!