The Art of Climbing Slowly

Like downclimbing, climbing slowly takes much skill and practice; however, once mastered, this art can enhance your climbing experience greatly. All genres of climbing can be slowed down, from taking as long as possible to set up for a one-move bouldering dyno to taking your time to place each piece on a multi-pitch trad route.

Why climbing slowly is awesome:

1. You get to enjoy each movement, sometimes setting up for it multiple times, making a few half-hearted efforts to get yourself psyched and then going for the move full-value when you’re ready.
2. Each climb can take up to 7½ times longer, which can mean up to 7½ times more enjoyment for those who think problems and routes are over too soon.
3. You have time to take advantage of every rest position on every hold available, which will prevent you from getting pumped. You can now shake out and reposition on the same hold several times, even resting each finger individually. 
4. You can complete lengthy conversations while sending.
5. You can find, try out and then reject every alternate hand and foothold before deciding with confidence that the most chalked holds are indeed the ones to use.
6. You have more time to complain to anyone who will listen about the trickiness of the climb, any and all loose rock you encounter, vegetation, and how sharp, slopy, sandy and/or non-existent each hold is.
7. You can make each movement as perfect as possible, decreasing your energy expenditure.
8. You will use the most amount of chalk possible.

Now that you understand the benefits of moving at a snail-like pace, here are some quick tips to help you slow down:

1. Take advantage of every rest you encounter, even if you rested the movement before. Try counting to ten each time you rest to really slow yourself down.
2. Shake out on every hold possible.
3. Always chalk up twice.
4. Talk to your belayer/spotter about how you feel or would like to change about the climb before you make each movement.
5. Try out every crystal that might be a hand or foothold before making difficult movements.
6. Try to sit down whenever possible. If you spot a good sitting ledge halfway up a route, put a juice box in your chalk bag to enjoy mid-climb.
7. Place twice the amount of gear you think you’ll need. Also test out multiple pieces each time you place.
8. Downclimb to rest below bulges several times before committing to pulling over them.
9. Pretend to move from good rests my chalking up, shuffling your feet, feeling the next holds and then returning to rest position to repeat the process at least once more before committing to continuing to the next rest.
10. Climb above the chains to “top out” routes and gain an extra two movements.

Remember: Sending is everything, and climbing slowly will allow you all the time you need for an onsight.