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General Climbing Discussion

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why do people climb?

njd

16-May-2005
1:16:54 PM

hi folks, im doing a bit of research for an assignment on climbing and thought i could put a question to you
all. it would be fantasic to hear your responses.
my question is pretty simple;what motivates you to climb? how do you feel before, during and after a
climb?do you prefer to climb in a gym or in the open? (a place like araps) why?
if anyone would like to answer any of these q's id be very happy:)

have a good one, Cheers


billk

16-May-2005
1:54:55 PM

Hi Nicky

Wot's da subject the assignment is for? Knowing that will help us to tailor responses that are on-track.


sabu

16-May-2005
2:03:13 PM

i suppose we could just repeat Hillary's response : "because it's there". or we could just tell you thats it's lots of fun!

climberman

16-May-2005
3:54:48 PM

why climb ? Why not ?


Eduardo Slabofvic

16-May-2005
4:51:42 PM

It feels right when I climb.


Gunta Skirtpulla

16-May-2005
5:07:40 PM

to help maintain my toight body - yes, toight like a toiger !


nmonteith

16-May-2005
5:17:28 PM

i climb because i don't have a life outside climbing. i am institutionalized.


master of drung

16-May-2005
5:40:27 PM

sabu that was mallory wash your mouth out.
i climb because i haven't got wings.

Onsight

16-May-2005
5:44:30 PM

For the view.


kezza

16-May-2005
6:01:44 PM

And climbing is our lifestyle, it's not merely a hobby.. It's difficult to explain.
In short, I don't know why I climb.. What else would I do though?
Plus I'm not much of a team player!


The good Dr

16-May-2005
6:10:10 PM

Maybe the best answer is -

If you have to ask, I can't possibly explain


climbau

16-May-2005
6:37:29 PM

On 16/05/2005 njd wrote:
>what motivates you to climb?
The fact that I don't have to deal with the general populace that place value on the unimportant things in life. And I love the opportunities that I get to explore, explore the textures and smells and feelings of the rock, nature and myself
> how do you feel before, during and after a climb?
Before: Nervous, yet excited. Will I be able to quiet my mind enough to get to the top, what moves will I learn/discover, am I strong enough and technical enough to get there safely and in good style?
During: I'm either really focused/absorbed to the point where I forget about the rope and the people around me, Or I am really struggling to keep control of the situation - mentally and physically.
After: Dissapointed, bordering on depressed. I hate the drive home (I'd be better off spending the time climbing/sleeping/housework) it is a real anti-climax to the day. If I have had a bad day on the rock (i.e Not won the challenges of the mind) I can be ready to quit and sell my gear. But hey! What the f*** else would I do???
>do you prefer to climb in a gym or in the open? (a place like araps)
Much prefer climbing outdoors, preferrably at the uncrowded places. If I have to line up for a climb, then I go elsewhere. Even if it is some crappy, chossy, mosquito ridden cess pit.
>why?
Because I hate people coming up to me and saying "Hey man, you should be pulling the crux this way...blubbedy dook, blubbedy dah.". Sometimes it is good to have a chat about these things to others, buit not whilst I'm on the climb. Also, people make me excessively nervous - I don't know why.

rightarmbad

16-May-2005
7:07:29 PM

It's all about the abseil....


Uncle Chester

17-May-2005
4:24:37 AM

When i climb i have complete freedom,
and climbing helps gets muscles in my man-boobs

earwig

17-May-2005
2:43:58 PM

Everything climbau said, plus I've never really been into competitive sport. Climbing is me versus me. It's also a sport that is hard to commercialise in that you can't sell tickets to a climb. Sure, you can get a commercial mob to haul you up something, but that isn't real climbing. Climbing is up to me and no-one else.


Super Saiyan

17-May-2005
3:24:11 PM

if u have to ask, u dont need to know.

to quote (and paraphase slightly) The Rock in every Wrestlemania for the last few years:

"everytime i set onto the rock, its that intangible feeling you cant describe. you just gotta feel it"

people as me why i climb and i answer- i dont know.

all i know is that it feels right, i think of nothing else but climbing when im not climbing.

Dont think. Just Climb. Nike.

copyright obsessedclimber 2005 lol

dj biggs

17-May-2005
7:20:15 PM

It stops my fingers itching for rock.......plastic under a roof is no substitute and as a geologist I like to hang dog some times just to check out the details.


rhinckle

17-May-2005
7:36:08 PM

climbing is the one activity i enjoy where fear is both appropriate and useful.
everywhere else, it gets in the way.


JamesMc

17-May-2005
9:00:05 PM

If you've watched a baby long enought you'd see. It's about mobility.
Babies learn to roll over.
Then they crawl.
Then they climb (pull themselves up on furniture & stuff). My oldest could get to the top of a chest of drawers before he was able to cross a room.
Then they walk.
Some of us are slightly retarded and never really got past the climbing stage. Sure we can walk, but we'd rather climb.

I explained this to a climber at work once, and she got a bit offended until it was explained to her that I was a climber too.

JamesMc


sabu

17-May-2005
9:58:54 PM

On 16/05/2005 master of drung wrote:
>sabu that was mallory wash your mouth out.

are you sure????? mayb they both said it...

to answer in full: i climb because i love the feeling (full stop: i won't rabbit on). i enjoy competition climbing as well but not nearly as much as being out on the rock, i enjoy the challenge of a hard climb but also the satisfaction and pleasure of a long trad route. I climb in a gym as a small substitute for when i can't get out. the gym is easy to get to and still fun but come choice between rock or gym i know where i would be.

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