User Contributed Dictionary
Verb
smearing- present participle of smear
Extensive Definition
Smearing is a term used in rock
climbing.
It is the practice of using the sole of a shoe
against a flat rock face. Smearing can be one of the most insecure
and technical techniques used in climbing, requiring a combination
of leg/ankle tension, foot placement, and good balance. It is
frequently used on slabs, and in other situations with sparse
and/or sloping footholds.
Smearing can be one of the techniques with which
novice climbers are least confident - however, it is crucial to
learn how to smear properly at an early stage, as it tends to help
in the development of a more elegant and less tiring style of
climbing whereby a greater amount of weight is placed on the feet,
and less on the arms and hands.