Glossary of Terms

A simple guide to the words you’ll hear around the gym

Climbing has its own language. You don’t need to know all of it to start climbing, but a bit of context helps things make more sense when you’re in the gym, listening to staff, or chatting with other climbers. This glossary keeps things clear, practical, and close to how the language is actually used at Portside.

Climbing Basics

Send

When you successfully complete a climb from start to finish. You’ll hear this a lot: “Nice send” just means “good job, you got it.”

Boulder problem / boulder route

A short climb on the bouldering wall. No ropes, just a sequence of moves from start to finish.

Beta

Tips or advice on how to climb a problem. Sometimes it’s a quick pointer, sometimes it’s the full sequence.

Grade

An indicator of difficulty for a climb. Grades help you choose climbs that feel right for your level, but they are not a rulebook. Everyone progresses differently.

Flash

Completing a climb on your first try, without falling. If someone gives you beta before you start, it still counts.

Project

A climb you’re working on over time. Something you haven’t sent yet, but keep coming back to.

Route setting / Wall reset

When old climbs are taken down and new ones are set.

Sector

A named section of a climbing wall in the gym (like Slab, Cave, Dune).

Movement & Wall Language

Crux

The hardest part of a climb. Usually the section that decides whether you’ll send or not.

Dyno

A jump between holds where both hands leave the wall.Big move, lots of commitment.

Smear

Using the rubber of your shoe on the wall when there’s no obvious foot hold.

Wall Types

• Slab: A less-than-vertical wall (i.e. leaning slightly away from you). Generally, balance and careful footwork matter more than strength.

• Vert: A straight-up vertical wall. A mix of balance, strength, and technique.

• Overhang: A wall that leans towards you. Usually more physical and requires body tension.

Hold Types

• Jug: A big, easy hold. You’ll be happy to see these.

• Crimp: A small edge hold that you grip with your fingertips. Often more technical and finger intensive.

• Pinch: A hold that requires you to hold it like a burger.

• Sloper: A large, round-ish hold that requires palm movement.

Heel hook

Using your heel on a hold to help pull or stabilise your body.

Training & Boards

Kilter Board

An LED training wall controlled by an app. You can climb set problems or create your own.

MoonBoard

A fixed training wall used worldwide with the same layout everywhere. Known for being powerful and intense.

Decoy Board

A fixed, symmetrical training wall used worldwide with the same layout everywhere. Great for training both sides of the body.

Hangboard

A training tool for finger strength. Used for controlled hangs rather than full climbs.

Campus Board

A training board with wooden rungs used to develop explosive strength and finger power. An advanced tool best used with care and good technique.

Stokt

An app used to create, track, and share climbs, especially for spray walls. It helps climbers log progress and share problems with others.

Spray Wall

A climbing wall covered in many holds with no set climbs. You can create your own problems or follow shared ones.

Events & Portside Terms

Holds change

When selected holds are adjusted or replaced on an existing climb to create a new experience.

Flagship event

One of our major annual events, like West Coast Blocs or Portside Youth Festival.

Winter Boulder League

A Portside endurance event where you try to climb as many problems as possible in a set time.

A final note

You don't need to know all of these terms before you start climbing. Most of them become familiar naturally over time just by being in the gym. If you are ever unsure, just ask a staff member – we're here to help.