Exploration and description of certified and non-certified rock climbers’ attitudes, perceived social pressures and control over certification

Abstract

The current lack of knowledge of certification by South African rock climbers often leads to unclear career paths and untrained and illegal guiding that can ultimately prove fatal. This study explored recreational and certified rock climbers’ attitudes regarding certification, social pressure to obtain certification and the extent of control over certification. A qualitative design was used to interview a total of 28 participants; 11 participants were Mountaineering Development and Training Trust (MDT) certified and five participants were South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) qualified. The remaining 12 participants had no formal training and were non-certified. Data were collected in-person through semi-structured one-on-one interviews. The theory of planned behaviour was used as a theoretical framework to analyse the perceptions of rock climbers of certification in South Africa. The findings showed that the perceptions of non-certified rock climbers might be based on incorrect information. This may lead to certification being considered unnecessary when social pressure is not present. Furthermore, participants argued that only professional guides need proper training; in contrast, instructors teaching climbing did not need the same qualification. Ultimately, a change in the attitude of rock climbers towards the need for training could result in an internationally recognised South African rock-climbing industry with higher safety standards and fewer accidents.