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General Climbing Discussion

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Australian Mountaineering 5-May-2004 At 2:47:00 PM Damietta

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The thing is, that if I did take climbing that seriously that the concept of national pride came into question (ie Aus vs the US vs the Brits vs the Frenchies) - I would liken it to an Ashes game where we are all out for 51. But who cares, really.

I have always struggled with the notion of organised climbing competitions - I suppose there is the sponsorship and exposure thing but in terms of a spectator sport (the point of it) it is pretty dreary. The climbers themslves take it awfully seriously, but it's not like the cricket where a good win will lift the nation's spirits.

The concept of competition in climbing then becomes even more obscure when you take it to the high peaks and you're drinking with the likes of Lindblade, Whimp, Child, Macartney Snape, Mortimer, Hall, Fantini, Muir, White in the Last Chance Saloon. It is terrific stuff but I wonder how it relates to 99.9% of the climbing fraternity, let alone the wider community - and perhaps it shouldn't - and I guess that's why we/they do it.

Why.........