Gaston

A "Gaston" is a climbing grip where the climber uses an outward pressure against a hold with a bent arm. The hand is turned sideways with the thumb pointing down, and the fingers are pushing away from the body. This technique requires upper body strength and is commonly used on holds that are positioned like vertical cracks or edges.

Examples

When she approached the overhang, she noticed the small hold and immediately set up for a Gaston, pressing her palm outward while engaging her shoulder and chest muscles to maintain balance. During the steep section, he found himself reaching out sideways and applying a Gaston technique, pushing against the hold with his elbow high and fingers pointing downward to keep his body close to the wall. In order to transition smoothly to the next hold, she used a Gaston move, thrusting her arm outwards and gripping the hold with her thumb pointing down, creating tension to secure her stance on the route.