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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
DC is 13 y.o.  Can he just show up at the gym and magically some other customer will offer to belay him?  DC has taken a course, is quite big and strong for his age and could, in theory, belay for someone else... but, do you just let anyone belay you at the gym?  I mean, I'm not sure I'd look at any 13 yo and think, "I trust you to stop me if I fall."  Conversely, do you think it's safe to tell a 13 y.o., "go to the gym and hang out and see what strange adults will play with you..."  Clearly, since I don't climb, I don't understand the social and safety dynamics at work in this environment.

If you are a rock-climber or you have kids who climb, please recommend your location (we are in Upper NW/BCC area), classes, how you found a reliable belay partner or any other wisdom about how to help a kid spend time and develop in this sport.

Thanks![/quote]

Rock gyms usually have a message board for people looking for climbing partners. They usually specify what days of the week and times they can come. They sometimes specify gender and weight, but as another PP pointed out it is possible for a 100 pound woman to belay a 200 pound man using the anchors so it doesn't matter as much as you would think.

During peak hours, usually after work, you can sometimes show up and find a partner. Sometimes the front desk will informally keep track of this. You just tell them you're looking for a partner and they will nod their head over to someone else who is waiting or if you're the first one they will direct the next person to you.

I think chances are low that someone will magically offer to belay him. It's a back and forth. He climbs, they belay. They climb, he belays. You should buy your son a grigri or other belay device that has a safety catch mechanism and make sure he knows how to use it properly. Most climbers I know would feel comfortable having a 13-year-old belay them with one of these devices.

IMO, I think it's perfectly safe for him to go and interact with adults there. There are often really good kid climbers and all the older climbers know them and interact with them. [/quote]

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