The Progressions

Apart from the Cross Progression (simultaneous and non-simultaneous) which is applied in particular on classic terrain, the most important techniques for ice falls and for the most vertical sections of the wall are:

• Fundamental Progression with 2 supports
• Fundamental Progression with split
• the Fundamental Progression with staggered
• Triangle Progression (with 2 and 4 steps) with 2 supports (with split and with staggered)
• Fixed Vertex Triangle Progression
• Fixed Vertex Triangle Progression with Paired Feet
• The Pairing of the Feet

The techniques of the Ice Method are also the reference for teachers who aim to transmit to their students the correct movement in ice climbing. Although progressions on ice are easier to understand than the more numerous techniques used on rock, frequent and gross errors have equally spread among many teachers that derive from a limited and superficial understanding of the subject.

For example, in addition to the numerous specific errors inherent in MC techniques, it happens that some basic concepts are seriously misunderstood, such as those relating to, for example, the terms “retroversion and anteversion (anteroversion)” of the pelvis. This results in serious conceptual errors that, for example, identify the retroversion of the pelvis with the pelvis moving closer to the wall and the anteroversion with the pelvis moving away from the wall, as when performing intermediate steps. In reality, anyone who teaches at a minimum sufficient level knows that the two terms indicated refer to the rotation of the pelvis on a transverse axis and therefore indicate the increase or decrease of the lumbar lordosis, which has nothing to do with the entire pelvis moving away from or closer to the wall. It is obvious that if basic concepts such as this are not understood, the more complex motor aspects relating to movement techniques will be at the very least mysterious. For example, it will not be possible to understand the difference in the execution of a movement with an even or odd number of steps in the Triangle Progression, just as the meaning of the Triangle Progression with a fixed vertex with odd steps will be completely obscure. But already from the names of the techniques, which do not correspond to the original ones, it is possible to understand how similar manuals are nothing more than a poorly made and incorrect copy that can lead a large number of practitioners “astray”.

In fact, it is particularly serious to publish manuals that contain gross errors: it is like spreading viruses and distortions. At the same time, however, this type of manual can serve to highlight the right techniques: anyone who decides to inform themselves by going to the source will easily discover the errors and, therefore, will be able to easily avoid them. As for learning, it is better to learn by self-taught rather than follow wrong teachings. The technique has the purpose of correcting errors, but if it generates them it becomes something harmful and dangerous in antithesis with itself. It is better, therefore, to learn by self-taught, if you make a mistake at least the responsibility is personal and does not derive from impositions of others.

Experience shows that correcting mistakes costs much more, in terms of time and effort, than learning correctly from the start.