drytoolinguk.com

FAQ's for participants

• What should I take part in, a taster, workshop, masterclass or competition?

Taster sessions are set up for anyone that wants come along and have a go. We will provide a bit of initial coaching, and you will then be free to try out some of the routes that have been set. Workshops are open to anyone, and are designed to give you a number of the skills essential for climbing indoor tooling routes. We will look at a variety of skills and techniques, and have plenty of time to climb on a number of lines.
Masterclasses are aimed at those who have some ice axe and winter climbing experience, and who wish to investigate what leashless climbing with technical tools can offer. The skills learned will not only be useful indoors, but should also be transferable to outside routes on rock and ice.
Competitions are great fun, and are open to first-time toolers as well as experienced climbers. Routes are set to allow all abilities to take part, with three attempts at each route being allowed and a running score being kept.
You would be able to take part in at least two of the above, as people taking part in a workshop or taster session will often want to go on to try their hand at a competition. The choice is completely up to you.

• I’m a bit concerned that I’ve never done any drytooling before. Does this matter?

Not at all. This is quite a new discipline, and as such not many people have tried it at all! The important thing is that the events are held in a non-serious and fun atmosphere, and we encourage anyone who would like to have a go to come along and try. There is no pressure to perform at any standard, just take your time, try things out and enjoy yourself! We can guarantee that you will have a great time and be hooked!

Come along, try something new and have fun!

• I have a son/daughter who would like to take part; can they?

There is no specific age restriction for events, unless some are laid down by the individual venues. However, the younger the participant the harder it is for them to hold an ice axe above their heads. Participants over 14 years of age should have no problem, strong 10-12 year-olds would also be able to cope.
So that everyone can take part, we also provide Schmoolz indoor training tools., These are made of wood and have a rubber band instead of an axe head, which can be hooked over holds. Used for training by adults, they are ideal as event tools for use by younger folk, as thgere are no sharp points that could cause injury.

• How do I book?

It is best to book direct with the venue, as they will have paperwork set out for their specific event. If you are unable to do this, we have a submit form on our events page; send this through to us and we will forward it to the relevant venue.

• How much does it cost?

This is up to the individual venue, but will often not be more than a normal wall entry fee. Tasters may be around £10.00, workshops £15.00, if you go on to take part in a competition then there may well be a discount in place. Contact the venue for full information. Note that there is no charge for using some of the specialised equipment that we provide.

• What do I need to bring to an event?

We can provide most of the equipment that you need to take part. However, we would encourage you to bring as much of your own equipment as you can. Even if your ice axes are not special technical axes, it would still be worth bringing them along to use just in case our kit is being used by other participants at the time. A kit list consists of: helmet, gloves, eye protection (DIY safety glasses or ski goggles), axes, harness and belay device.

• What should I do to my axes to make them ready?

You need to take the leashes off, as they will not be used and can actually be dangerous. The adze and hammer sections need to be covered, so that they cannot hit you in the face and cause injury if they slip off a hold. Covering them can easily be done with a piece of foam or carpet, taped into place. Some participants use a split tennis-ball, again held in place with tape. If you don’t have anything to cover your axes with, we will have plenty of padding and tape available.