Students Experience Exhilaration Of Sports Climbing On Greek Trip
27 June 2012
A student enjoying the challenge of sport climbing on a recent field trip to Greece
Rather than relaxing in the sun and sea, a group of adventurous students used a recent field trip to the Greek island of Kalymnos as an opportunity to get to grips with sports climbing.
The 22 Outdoor, Adventure and Countryside Management degree students from the University of Derby Buxton spent a week in one of the greatest rock climbing venues in the world, learning and honing their climbing skills, and leading groups in the sport.
The island's cliff faces of limestone orange and grey rock, giant caves plastered with tufa, pocketed walls and immaculate grey slabs, provided the students with plenty of challenges.
Duncan Marson, Programme Leader at the University of Derby Buxton, said: "Previous training sessions meant that the students had all the skills they needed to go sport climbing, all that was left to do was get on. From the very start, students threw themselves at routes with gusto and they didn't stop till the last minute of the very last day.
"By the end of the first day, every student had led a route towards the top end of their ability. As the week went on, each student's progression rose steeply, their confidence growing day-by-day.
"Without exception, each student pulled off several impressive leads during the course of the week, whether it was some of the more experienced students completing fiercely overhanging projects or students who have never led progressing to leading some fearsome routes."
For more information on the University's Outdoor, Adventure and Countryside Management degrees visit website www.derby.ac.uk/outdoor
