What is psychobloc?
The psychobloc is one of the most current climbing modalities in recent times. It consists of climbing a wall without any type of ropes or harnesses, but instead of ground or crash pad as can occur in traditional or bouldering climbing, we find water.
It is usually practiced on sea cliffs which lend themselves to it as well as in reservoirs, swamps or lakes where perfect conditions exist.
What you have to keep in mind is that, although in principle the most that can happen to you is that you take a dip if you fall into the water, you have to know how to fall well and the second thing is that the higher the altitude, the more " hard" is the water and therefore the greater the impact against it will be.
It is a perfect option for summer, because while to go rock climbing you have to get up early and avoid the middle of the day, which is when it is hottest, if you are on the beach This is not a problem, since all the time you are falling into the water and cooling off.
Those who do psychobloc may have various reasons: from training to personal improvement to having a good time or enjoying a good dose of adrenaline. Many climbers also take the opportunity to rehearse jumps into the water, performing even pirouettes. What is undeniable is that fun is guaranteed.
Competitions on the rise
Although until not many years ago it was something that was only practiced by those who were very fond of climbing and lived on the beach or knew people who practiced it as a hobby, lately competitions such as the I and II Open have been held. Psicobloc in Bilbao and Barcelona respectively.
These championships may arise due to the great demand for this activity or perhaps also because it is quite a spectacle to see how climbers climb with no help other than their body and mind and fall into the water from a height of 15 or 20 meters strong>.
Mallorca, psychobloc mecca
The great climber and psychobloc expert, Miquel Riera, published a guide on this activity on the island and it is that it has good quality rock cliffs, vertical and overhanging and with the perfect conditions for its practice . In general, many islands of the Mediterranean have these characteristics, but the Spanish one has become the reference at a national and international level.
The Porto Pi Dam was the first area in which the block began to open in the late '70s, mainly in levels such as V and later introducing routes with greater difficulty. Of course, from then on, more information was provided about the height and level of demand, carrying out a new graduation for new climbers.
Some of the points to climb in this modality in Mallorca are Cala Ferrera, Cala Varques, Porto Cristo or Ses Puntes, among others. Depending on where you go, you can do the approach by swimming or in a small boat.
You're likely to run into a lot of people in the water, although it also depends on the time of year you go. But don't worry, even if there are 15 people in the block, as it is a fairly dynamic activity in which you rise and fall all the time, your turn will come soon. In addition, there is a very good atmosphere among the climbers, which will make the wait more enjoyable.
It is recommended that you go at the end of the summer, in September, since the high season is already over and apart from the fact that you will find fewer people, you will be able to enjoy good weather and still hot water, which you will be grateful for when you take a dip.
As for accommodation, it will be worth looking for places near the climbing areas, where you will find everything from chalets to apartments to luxurious hotels. In some places camping is prohibited, so pay special attention to this point if it was your idea: find out before packing your tent.
Take a look at this video to get the idea, it's amazing!
