Date: 7th June 2019

NEW Circuit Board

A brand new addition to DCC is ready now and already proving popular!

How to use the Circuit Board at Durham Climbing Centre

(Located right hand tunnel looking towards training area)

The circuit board is useful for warming up, improving endurance, improving footwork and traverse climbing. It is recommended a maximum of 2 people may use the circuit board at any one time. Follow the numbered hand holds in each coloured circuit to complete one or more laps. Multiple foothold options are available.

There are 5 circuits available ranging from F4 – F6c. To make the board more difficult, complete more laps on harder footholds.

Designated footholds only may be used for feet

The only hand holds that may be used for feet are yellow.

Black, green and pink (footholds) may be used for feet

Wooden holds maybe used for HANDS ONLY

Blue, pink & orange may be used for HANDS ONLYexcept orange footholds half way up circuit board.

To advance any circuits, use the green footholds and add more laps.

The brand new circuit board has been painted and reset by Ian Dunn

Circuit 1: Yellow is the easiest circuit and is the only circuit you can use hand holds as foot holds on the loop back around. You can also work on advancing your footwork and having positive hand holds by trying the small black and pink foot holds. The yellow circuit starts on the left-hand side of the board. Follow the numbers in order with your hands to complete the full circuit correctly ending back at the starting hold. Full circuit grade with yellow footholds F4+ or with pink or black footholds F5+

Circuit 2: Pink is the only loop that is set in a figure of 8. This circuit starts in the middle and climbs up to the left traversing across into a down climb back down to the starting hold and moving up to the right-hand side of the figure of 8 and back down to starting hand hold. If you would like to advance this climb try 1 colour only for your feet i.e. pink, black or green. Grade: F6bwhen using the smaller foot holds the grade will increase.

Circuit 3: Orange starts on the right-hand side of the circuit board with a high climb to the top then into a high and low traverse moving to the left you will notice some small orange foot holds that can be used in this high traverse. The circuit then moves into a down climb and a traverse to the finish. If you would like to advance this climb, try 1 colour only for your feet. Grade: F6b– Option of using orange foot holds along the top of the high traverse for anyone struggling to reach the black and pink footholds.

Circuit 4: Blue starts on the left hand side of the circuit board and is one of the harder circuits. This circuit starts on the left hand side of the circuit board for a full loop of the board. Grade: F6c- when using the smaller foot holds the grade will increase.

Circuit 5: Woodis one of the harder circuits and allows the climber to use wooden handholds. This circuit starts on the left hand side of the circuit board for a full loop of the board. Route reading is important so you don’t miss the hidden hand holds around the arete. Grade: F6c - when using the smaller foot holds the grade will increase.

Adding variations

Add more laps to train endurance- Find a circuit you can do, and you enjoy! Try doing 2/3 laps of this circuit- if you can do more maybe try moving up a colour or advancing your foot work to more specific foot holds.

  • Try each circuit for one lap using different footholds each time.

  • Try one circuit, then a harder one back to back.

  • Try two laps of 1 circuit then rest for 2 mins then go again, or try 2 laps of a harder circuit

  • Etc, etc!

Hayley McKenna Manager