Versante Sud Bouldering book

Versante Sud Bouldering is more than just a book on bouldering; it is the complete manual for the boulderer, covering: technique, safety, ethics, and exploration.

This manual aims to provide a reference for practicing bouldering on rock, both for those approaching this discipline and for those who are already experienced but want to deepen their knowledge in every aspect.

In the first part of the book, you will find all the fundamental information related to bouldering on rock: what it means to boulder, what the “rules” and considerations are that must be observed for a respectful and sustainable practice, what terminology is important to know, what movements and technical gestures need to be learned, and what the grading system and types of rocks commonly encountered are.

An entire chapter is dedicated to the history of this discipline, starting from the early steps at the end of the 1800s to the present day. This is followed by a detailed analysis of the required equipment: shoes, types of crash pads and the criteria for their selection, brushes, chalk, and tools for a more “advanced” practice. A very extensive chapter is dedicated to safety, providing detailed information on how to use and position pads, how to spot correctly and safely in different situations, and how to approach highballs.

The second part of the book aims to provide a reference for the exploration and enhancement of still untouched bouldering areas: what additional equipment is required in these cases, what criteria we can use to start exploring new boulders, how to conduct all phases of cleaning when creating access, preparing the bases, and brushing the rock, what the ethical principles are in opening new lines, and how we can then evaluate and share our boulders.

The author is Alberto Milani, a lifelong boulderer and climber, who has been dedicated to the exploration and enhancement of new areas for over twenty years.