FAQ

Climbing related questions I am often asked, believe it or not.

Q: Why 'Look Who's Chalking'?
A: Because one of the first things I have learnt is that chalk is absolutely crucial for any type of climbing, and I love a good pun. Runners up for blog titles included Learning The Ropes, but that didn't cover all the bouldering that I do, and Climb with Elena, which just seemed a little bit boring.

Q: You're really tall, does that make climbing easier?
A: It does help my reach, but there is also more of me to get bruised, and long limbs also means bigger hands which makes holds like crimps even harder, in my opinion.

Q: When did you start climbing? 
A: I did a little bit at school when I was about 13/14, but I properly took it up when I started my MA, so late September 2017.

Q: What's it like starting a new thing when you are so old?
A: 24 isn't old, stop calling me old. Only I can joke about me being old. Honestly, it was weird for my ego at first to be taught mostly by climbers that are a few years younger than me, but I like to think I've got over that now.

Q: You're not very muscley, doesn't that hinder your climbing progress?
A: I'm sure strength does help, but one of the things I love most about climbing is how technical it is. It's really not all about brute strength and pulling yourself up with each move, but about getting your foot placement right, having control and then standing up into your moves.

Q: How much do you climb a week?
A: It varies on how much of my life outside of climbing I'm trying to avoid, or the level of the event that's made me want to do an cathartic climb, but probably for an hour minimum, 3ish times a week.

Q: Do you prefer rope climbing or bouldering?
A: Bouldering.

Q: Why?
A: Indoor bouldering feels a lot safer, so I'm a lot braver with it than I am with top rope or lead climbing. Also with bouldering I can turn up whenever without having to rope (pun intended) anyone in to do any belaying.

Q: Where do you get all of your super cool leggings from?
A: I've done a post on my indoor climbing clothes here, but the coolest leggings I own are my mermaid ones from Society6, which has a huge selection of super cool designs and I want them all.

Q: You climb really awkwardly, why?
A: It's the knock knees. Can't help it, helps me out with the drop knee moves though.