Hey mate. I boulder regularly at rockface (along with loads of other these days) and i can honestly tell you that you shouldnt feel embarrassed to jump in and have a go. All the problems are set by colours and graded using the bouldering V grading system. So start with the V0 problems (easiest) and slowly work your way up. If you find it too hard to climb the V0’s to start with just climb using any holds get used to gripping the holds … USE YOUR FEET A LOT to help your movement up and across the wall.

A great way to start is to have a look at all the problems and find a could of V0’s you might like to try. Watch as someone will eventually jump on and climb the problem. Watch their technique, body position and where they move each hand and foot. Its also really helpful to just sit and watch other people climb for a while.

I too started with no help or friends who climb. Just jump on the wall have a little climb up and down using any holds. Then rest for a bit. Jump up again and climb for a bit. Before you know it you can start trying the V0’s then the V1’s and so on.

Hope this helps

And don’t be shy about asking for advice from experienced climbers (especially those who look like they have good technique). Everybody was a beginner once. I’m stoked if a beginner asks me for advice – to the extent that I’ll jump on their problem and spend way too long talking about and demonstrating all the intricacies of movement :p Similarly, I ask for advice from people who are better than me.

Each boulder problem is a separate colour. There will be a label at the start or the problem with a V number on it indicating the start of the problem

Hey man. 🙂 Wouldn’t be an American visitor would you (I noticed you wrote ‘colored’ as opposed to ‘coloured’)? There’s a few Americans around the Perth scene.

I’ve found that 99% of the experienced climbers are very accommodating, and in my first year of climbing, I got advice from just about everyone, and it was a very friendly community. You’ll quickly learn that there’s a large series of manoeuvres that we rely on as basic technique; most rookies want to use strength and brute force, but it really is about technique. Ask about this, particularly when you see a cool move, most climbers love to share technique.

Also keep your ears out, as you’ll hear a lot of terminology thrown around: “crimp, flag, dyno to that hold, mantle over that lip and you’re away….”. These are the terms that really break down the basics of climbing (again, the technique), and a beginner who wants to know these rudiments is always welcomed enthusiastically.

As for personalities, the only climbers I know who haven’t been approachable are the ones who aren’t really that good anyway, and aren’t worth worrying about. The best climbers are just about always eccentric Zen masters. 😉