Beached Whale (Climbing Move)

Beached Whale refers to an awkward climbing move where the climber struggles to get over the top of a boulder. In this move, the climber's belly is often flat against the rock, resembling the position of a beached whale. Typically, the climber uses a combination of pushing and wriggling motions to navigate their torso and legs over the edge. It's not graceful but can be effective for topping out.

Examples

When a climber reaches the top of a boulder but struggles to pull themselves fully over the edge, they often resort to a beached whale move. It involves flopping their stomach onto the top and wriggling up, using their arms and legs awkwardly to find a stable position. This move lacks finesse but sometimes becomes necessary to complete the climb. For example, on a high top-out, Emily finds herself stuck; she pushes her chest onto the edge and yanks her leg up, inching herself over the lip in an ungraceful but effective manner.