Anybody else not like getting cheered on during climbing

I know my friends mean well, but I feel like it gets to me mentally and ruins the flow when I have somebody behind me shouting "come on dude" or "you got it". Especially when I've made it through the crux and my friends know it too and cheer me on harder, I get too excited about it, ignoring technique subconsciously. Is this just me or can anybody else relate? Do people actually climber better when somebody cheers them?

Honestly I've had my belayer shout "it's a jug you got it" and it's helped me just commit to moves more. Especially on flash attempts or on new terrain scoping out projects. 

Connor Dobson wrote:

Honestly I've had my belayer shout "it's a jug you got it" and it's helped me just commit to moves more. Especially on flash attempts or on new terrain scoping out projects. 

Oh I've had that happen and it does help, but when I've just started to get on the wall and my friend behind me just says "cmon dude you got it" i feel this pressure and it makes me climb worse. Not that I'm too embarrassed to fall in front of them but it's like I don't wanna disappoint them 

I dislike it. Some folks I climb with hate it. I think there's a wide range of how people feel about onlookers generally and cheering particularly. 

But the dominant culture does seem to promote cheering folks on. If you don't like it, let people know. Most sane folks will pipe down and you'll have a better time if they know.

Honestly cheering I think is more for the people yelling than the people getting yelled at.

Stoke is good and a big part of climbing.  Let it flo bro. 

Yelling ON BELAY!!! gets me. Leave No Trace should be Bring No Trace. 

I used to think 2-way radios were stupid. Changed my mind. Anyways, got my AirPods pumping a cheering soundtrack on loop to drown ya all out.

Can’t stand it.

I like it when my partner yells, "Dude, you're gonna f'ckn die if you fall right there.. hahaha!"

I find that it is a distraction, and I climb much better without distractions.  I've always done best with one friend who keeps his/her mouth shut while I'm climbing.  I get that it helps some people, but not me.

In my experience the quickest way to guarantee a climber will fall on their project is to tell them "its over now, you got this" when they are past the crux but still not to the top

Matt Robinson wrote:

In my experience the quickest way to guarantee a climber will fall on their project is to tell them "its over now, you got this" when they are past the crux but still not to the top

This hits too close to home

Hate it.  Especially the inane comments like "Breath!" (really? - I thought holding my breath was a good strategy..) and "Strong work" (actually this is as far from "work" as one can get).    "You got this" before I put my shoes on (maybe they are actually talking about me putting my shoes on - I'm old enough so that it can be challenging).   One of the more vocal ones in my crew likes to bellow what he thinks is constructive beta.  He is 5-6 inches shorter and infinitely more flexible then me.  His beta is always anti-beta for me but his bellowing is distracting.

I prefer silence. The harder the climb, the quieter the better

Cory B wrote:

I prefer silence. The harder the climb, the quieter the better

“WAY TO GO, YOU GOT IT”. I’m impressed that you even attempted “Silence” but preferring it really deserves a shout out. 

I don’t really care, personally, either way with the encouragement thing. I don’t think it makes a big difference for me.

But, one thing I have noticed in the last few years is CLAPPING. When some one sends the group starts clapping. I haven’t ever heard that before, and I really hate it. Feels like I am at a sporting even.

For me it’s the people yelling. I don’t like encouragement because I don’t want people yelling at the crag. As unrealistic as it is, I wish nobody would even talk. Anywhere, ever. I get that people want to encourage their friends but I think there’s a time and place for it, as well as a proper way to do it. Maybe a light encouraging comment before getting into the opening moves. Yelling is not the way. In my opinion. 

I hate it.

My brain is hyper focused when I’m climbing and out of the quiet comes completely unnecessarily communication that shifts my attention from the delicate task of clinging to the wall 40ft off the ground.

No thank you.

Quiet please.

Let me climb.

I honestly don’t notice it. If I’m focused, the only person I can hear is my belayer. They’ll offer some quiet encouragement at times, but are mostly quiet. 

My friend said, "You make this sound when you're trying really hard, like a long exhale."

...I am saying "SHHHHHHHhhhhhhh!"   Telling him to shut the fuck up. 

I prefer to have no one else in sight when I’m climbing, let alone a cheer squad.

I guess some people climb better with an audience shouting encouragement - it’s just a distraction for me

Too many years of climbing in untouched solitude to adjust to the arena scene