History of rock climbing

Climbing on rocks and hills has its own place in the life of fans of outdoor activities. It all began with mountain climbing, and over time, this activity has grown into an independent sport.

Climbing

Rock climbing dates back to ancient times. People were constantly faced with obstacles, trying to adapt to them by overcoming them. In the nineteenth century, this activity became a sport for people who were climbing on a rock route.
Rock climbing became most popular in Europe, especially in those countries where the terrain was covered with rocks. The most popular are considered the rocky areas of Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Scotland.
In England, this activity began to be considered a sport since 1875. Climbing the mountain alone was very popular. One of the first famous English climbers was Jones O.G.
The Munich schoolboy Georg Winkler was the first to overcome the route “Die Vajolettrme” in 1887, thereby encouraging many people in his country and abroad to take up rock climbing.
The famous Austrian Fritz Benesch invented the difficulty levels of the routes. The scale had 7 levels. The most difficult routes were considered level 1 and the easiest level 7.
In America rock climbing became popular in the early twentieth century with climbing on the rocks in Yosemite Park.
In Russia the sport was born 150 years ago with climbing on the poles in Krasnoyarsk.
With the development of the sport expanded its geography, opening up new places for climbing. Climbing became popular all over the planet in the second half of the twentieth century.

In the USSR in 1947 the development of rock climbing as a sport was begun. At that time the world’s first official competitions were held. At these competitions on rock climbing there were rules and regulations, as well as prizes and awards. Competitions were held in Dombai, the territory of the Western Caucasus.
One of the first championships in the sport was held in Crimea in 1955, and the next in 1965. Thereafter, competitions were held systematically.
In 1966, climbing was recognized in the USSR as a separate sport, level requirements were approved. The titles of candidates and masters of sports, as well as masters of international competitions were awarded.
In 1971 the Soviet Union invited climbers from other countries to compete. Such countries as Spain, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Yugoslavia, Mongolia and Czechoslovakia took part in the competitions.
The city of Yalta became the unofficial center of European competition in 1986. 10 countries from around the world participated in the competition. The winners were the Soviet athletes.
Further development of climbing, pushed the members of the federation to create separate sports of this sport. In 1987 appeared Climbing Speed and Climbing Difficulty.
The first official world championship was held in Germany in 1991 and then began to be held every two years. In the first competitions on speed climbing victory was gained by Krivosheitsev E. and Ovchinnikova. Е. In the competition on the difficulty of passing the route won François Legrand and Erbesfield Robin.
In 1996 young men had the honor to test their strength at the first youth world championship held in Moscow in DDS.
In 2007 an international federation IFCS appeared. It includes 68 member countries from around the world.

Rock climbing as a sport has acquired standards, rules and great athletes who are the idols of many young climbers. Continental and world championships are held, a large number of competitions around the world. There are countries where rock climbing is compulsory at school, which shows the importance and popularity of it at the present time.