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Gmburns2000
Jan 21, 2009, 8:41 PM
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dingus wrote: Gmburns2000 wrote: ajkclay wrote: Demystifying our "sport" for the masses may well bring some big advantages for us in terms of access. Probably some plusses and minuses on this, but I would think that with greater recognition comes greater education, and with greater education comes greater access. It would be interesting to see if anyone has ever looked at how access has evolved over time. Do we have more access than 50 years ago or less? My guess is more, and if that is true then I would suspect that trend to continue with greater visibility. Mainstraming this sport is only good if you are either: a. Mainstream yourself (ie you wouldn't participate at all without all these modern social trappings, like gyms and boulder posses (haha, that is so easily Freudian slipped!)). b. You can some how make money off the mainstream (guide, guide book author, commercial climbing related web site, gyms, how to books, blah blah blah Aside from these two attrributes I can see no other positives relative to main streaming climbing, in America. I look to examples from over the Pond and I think... if that's the end game of mainstream I want no part of it. But then again, I never did, want to be mainstream. Yall caught up to me a-swimmin in my own stream, not the other way around. Keep the Olymipcs and mainstream for more deserving sports like skiing and shuffle board. Cheers DMT
Well, I kind of like the climbing atmosphere across the pond. I also like it the way it is here, too, so I'm not as opposed to seeing it grow but at a tempered rate. Still, I don't think the Olympics are going to have that much of an effect on making the sport untolerable. Ping Pong is a far more important sport to people globally, and the tables are still more used for beer pong in the US than actual ping pong. I guess what I'm saying is that just because something makes the Olympics, that doesn't mean it will break cultural boundaries, particularly if it is boring, as you suggested earlier.
However, I don't think climbing will ever be as mainstream as something like baseball or football (large spectator sports), or golf and skiing (large participatory sports). Sure, there will be an increase in participation and some dilution of the counter-culture, but just as there's places where only the adventurous skiers go, there will always be those places that the non-mainstream climbers go, too.
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dingus
Jan 21, 2009, 8:54 PM
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Oh I mostly agree with you gymburner. I don't mind mainstreaming and I'm not as far removed as I might imply (or wish).
I was mainstreamed in my own way too.
Americans, as a whole, are not mountain people, so yes I agree it will never hold the public fascination the way it does in the mountain countries of Europe.
Who CARES what Floridians think about climbing haha.
DMT
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Gmburns2000
Jan 21, 2009, 9:01 PM
Post #53 of 83
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dingus wrote: Oh I mostly agree with you gymburner. I don't mind mainstreaming and I'm not as far removed as I might imply (or wish). I was mainstreamed in my own way too. Americans, as a whole, are not mountain people, so yes I agree it will never hold the public fascination the way it does in the mountain countries of Europe. Who CARES what Floridians think about climbing haha. DMT
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d0nk3yk0n9
Jan 22, 2009, 12:15 PM
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dingus wrote: The reason it never took off is that WATCHING plastic pulling comps is slightly less exciting than watching paint drying. Climbing is not a spectator sport. Its not a team sport. Its not a judging sport. It goes slowly and the subtlties of V8 vs. V9 are completely lost on a non-climbing audience.
I don't know about you, but at every onsight comp I've been to, the crowd gets really into it. Even the parents who don't climb can start to see what goes on as more and more people attempt the same problems. It's pretty freaking exciting to be honest, both to watch and to compete in.
I think if climbing gets into the Olympics, it should be onsight format bouldering like ABS regionals and nationals. However, it would probably end up being sport climbing, as from what I hear bouldering is less recognized as a sport internationally.
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daniel6412
Mar 4, 2009, 9:27 PM
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If you are a child who works hard, has talent and a little luck, you can play football in the NFL and make a minimum of $450,000 a year. What about the kid that wants to climb for a living?
Daniel Woods just won the largest bouldering comp in the US and walked away with a fat daddy check for $1,200. Wow, that sure is a lot of money.
What do all you people really care if climbing makes it into the Olympics? Can't you just be happy in life without holding others back? No?... Oh well, I tried. I guess some people can only be happy when they are whining.
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sungam
Mar 4, 2009, 9:40 PM
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CLimbing is more then just a little different from football. Until you realise that, yore whats rong with climbing.
Some of us don't want climbing to become just another mainstream sport about money. Go ahead and ask daniel woods whgat he'd think of it as an olympic sport and the effect that would have on the community.
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daniel6412
Mar 4, 2009, 9:42 PM
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I asked him and he said he was hungry
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sungam
Mar 4, 2009, 9:48 PM
Post #58 of 83
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daniel6412 wrote: I asked him and he said he was hungry
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ladyscarlett
Mar 4, 2009, 11:30 PM
Post #59 of 83
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mturner wrote: I say they do it over the dive pool and call it Deep Water Soloing.
Now THIS would be something to see!!
I would think all you people excited about climbing in various states of undress would be all over this...and totally doable. As a past denizen of the dive pool, I will say that jumping off a platform IS different than jumping off a wall, but I'm sure some crazies can figure out a way. We could see the real meaning of 'falling gracefully.' Easily filmed, aesthetically appealing, with just enough adrenaline...great idea!
I wonder if the Chinese would still dominate though...
ls
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macblaze
Mar 5, 2009, 4:59 AM
Post #60 of 83
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Gmburns2000 wrote: dingus wrote: Gmburns2000 wrote: ajkclay wrote: Demystifying our "sport" for the masses may well bring some big advantages for us in terms of access. Probably some plusses and minuses on this, but I would think that with greater recognition comes greater education, and with greater education comes greater access. It would be interesting to see if anyone has ever looked at how access has evolved over time. Do we have more access than 50 years ago or less? My guess is more, and if that is true then I would suspect that trend to continue with greater visibility. Mainstraming this sport is only good if you are either: a. Mainstream yourself (ie you wouldn't participate at all without all these modern social trappings, like gyms and boulder posses (haha, that is so easily Freudian slipped!)). b. You can some how make money off the mainstream (guide, guide book author, commercial climbing related web site, gyms, how to books, blah blah blah Aside from these two attrributes I can see no other positives relative to main streaming climbing, in America. I look to examples from over the Pond and I think... if that's the end game of mainstream I want no part of it. But then again, I never did, want to be mainstream. Yall caught up to me a-swimmin in my own stream, not the other way around. Keep the Olymipcs and mainstream for more deserving sports like skiing and shuffle board. Cheers DMT Well, I kind of like the climbing atmosphere across the pond. I also like it the way it is here, too, so I'm not as opposed to seeing it grow but at a tempered rate. Still, I don't think the Olympics are going to have that much of an effect on making the sport untolerable. Ping Pong is a far more important sport to people globally, and the tables are still more used for beer pong in the US than actual ping pong. I guess what I'm saying is that just because something makes the Olympics, that doesn't mean it will break cultural boundaries, particularly if it is boring, as you suggested earlier. However, I don't think climbing will ever be as mainstream as something like baseball or football (large spectator sports), or golf and skiing (large participatory sports). Sure, there will be an increase in participation and some dilution of the counter-culture, but just as there's places where only the adventurous skiers go, there will always be those places that the non-mainstream climbers go, too.
The main reason climbing won't catch on like snowboarding here in North America is that we are fat lazy bastards.
Snowboarding means buying a fancy board and riding the lift to the top and falling you way down to the chalet for a congratulatory jug of beer. Who wouldn't want to do that if the Olympics says its cool!
Climbing on the other hand makes me get off my fat ass and hike the stupid %^&$ approaches just so I can get to the BOTTOM of the f'n thing... and there ain't a bar in sight when I'm finally done. Christ, who designed this idiotic sport?
Except for the already overcrowded road side walls, I don't think there's much danger of the average North American wanting to go to all that effort when there won't even be an audience of ski bunnies to coo and sigh...
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desertwanderer81
May 5, 2009, 11:04 PM
Post #61 of 83
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erma.....snowboarding/skiing well takes a ton of physical strength.
The reason why it'll never catch on as an olympic sport is because A) the holds are entirely contrived and B) you could never do it on natural rock because the people who practiced on the specific climbs that were in the olympics would have a huge advantage.
Although I guess that didn't stop them from making kayaking an olympic sport :p
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Craggmire
May 15, 2009, 2:31 AM
Post #62 of 83
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I don't think Climbing is a thing to be judged at all but obviously many other people do.
One of the great things about climbing is the small community feeling and the bond we all tend to feel with another. Even if you're one of those silly people who are a bit elitist and look down on some of the different styles of climbing that you feel are inferior. You still feel some bond to climbers no matter if they're a lowly little sport climber and you're a high and mighty Traddie (which is lame, do it all, love it all) I believe it climbing is more mainstream that community feel will disapate. Look at all the mainstream sports there's no other culture like ours, there's reasons for that and I like it the way it is.
Also the Heros/pioneers/legends of our sport are EXTREMELY accessible relative to say basketball, football or, hell even skateboarding stars. How many people could first of all walk up to Lebron James without getting your face smashed in by his entourage let alone ask him to play H.O.R.S.E and for him to accept. I bet if he had nothing better to do (which would be the unlikely part) and you ran into Tommy Caldwell and asked him to go cragging not only would he most likely say yes he'd probably be super stoked to share a rope with a new friend. Hell you could probably Spot Graham and Sharma if you we're hanging around.
I can almost promise you that it would not be that way if climbing mainstreamed and became a full-medal Olympic sport not only would you not get within yards of the pros the crags/areas/parks they're climbing would be shut down to the rest of us mere mortals for the week they're there.
Ask yourself, is it really worth losing alot of the unique, amazing, traits of our sport and lifestyle to see someone climbing on Network T.V. every four years, some wirey little climber on a box of wheaties and not being able to buy your favorite piece of gear because the line of twelve year olds in front of you bought them out because, thats what the gold medalist had hanging on his gear loop.
Oh yeah, sounds swell.
P.S. I used to be a BMX Racer and I was sad to see it make it in last go around. The track looked awful and the format was retarded.
(This post was edited by Craggmire on May 15, 2009, 2:39 AM)
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healyje
May 15, 2009, 2:59 AM
Post #63 of 83
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Ah, the Olympics - the final step in the journey to the darkside. By all means Luke, complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end those destructive drug habits, and bring order to the chaos that is climbing.
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bill413
May 15, 2009, 10:58 AM
Post #64 of 83
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healyje wrote: Ah, the Olympics - the final step in the journey to the darkside. By all means Luke, complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end those destructive drug habits, and bring order to the chaos that is climbing.
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rocknice2
May 15, 2009, 11:58 AM
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The Olympics make every sport mainstream.
The shot-put field behind my place is always crowded and don't even get me started about gymnasiums filled with ribbon dancers practicing their routine.
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Toast_in_the_Machine
May 15, 2009, 12:10 PM
Post #66 of 83
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rocknice2 wrote: The Olympics make every sport mainstream. The shot-put field behind my place is always crowded and don't even get me started about gymnasiums filled with ribbon dancers practicing their routine.
So back when "rhythmic gymnastics” was first added as a demonstration sport, I was in “City View” after work and we were drinking some beers and watching it on the old TV they had there. Everyone gave a “butthead” like grunt to the name “rhythmic gymnastics” and everyone really like how this one performer kept throw a ball way up in the air and catching it with her thighs. After the first one, the guys would raise their voices in a “uhhhhh” as the ball went up and then a “yeah” as she caught it between her legs. We were all very pleased with how this new event was going and excitement was building as the routine went on. After she finished and bowed the announcer said:
“What a great performer and such poise at age 14”
I have never seen a collective bunch of guys feel so dirty at the same time.
Needless to say it has taken me years to get over that. Only this past year did I brave to watch rhythmic gymnastics again.
I fear climbing would share a similar fate.
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dingus
May 15, 2009, 12:11 PM
Post #67 of 83
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healyje wrote: Ah, the Olympics - the final step in the journey to the darkside. By all means Luke, complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end those destructive drug habits, and bring order to the chaos that is climbing.
Bbbbbut Master! I LIKE my destructive drug habits!
DMT
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rocknice2
May 15, 2009, 12:26 PM
Post #68 of 83
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Toast_in_the_Machine wrote: rocknice2 wrote: The Olympics make every sport mainstream. The shot-put field behind my place is always crowded and don't even get me started about gymnasiums filled with ribbon dancers practicing their routine. So back when "rhythmic gymnastics” was first added as a demonstration sport, I was in “City View” after work and we were drinking some beers and watching it on the old TV they had there. Everyone gave a “butthead” like grunt to the name “rhythmic gymnastics” and everyone really like how this one performer kept throw a ball way up in the air and catching it with her thighs. After the first one, the guys would raise their voices in a “uhhhhh” as the ball went up and then a “yeah” as she caught it between her legs. We were all very pleased with how this new event was going and excitement was building as the routine went on. After she finished and bowed the announcer said: “What a great performer and such poise at age 14” I have never seen a collective bunch of guys feel so dirty at the same time. Needless to say it has taken me years to get over that. Only this past year did I brave to watch rhythmic gymnastics again. I fear climbing would share a similar fate.
OMG
Kiddy Porn in the Olympics.
call Tom Brokaw
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dingus
May 15, 2009, 1:01 PM
Post #69 of 83
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Tom Brokaw climbed the Exum route on the Grand.
I'm jus sayin...
DMT
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rainman0915
May 20, 2009, 4:04 AM
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well all i know is that the only kind of climbing that has a chance is sport. also i know that it is recognized as a sport by the Olympic comity
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mturner
May 20, 2009, 1:59 PM
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rainman0915 wrote: well all i know is that the only kind of climbing that has a chance is sport.
why do you say that so confidently? Bouldering is growing in popularity and seems to draw big crowds in competitions.
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rainman0915
May 20, 2009, 5:36 PM
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i love bouldering but i did some research on this and i found a list of recognized sports and the only one that on there that had to do with climbing was sport
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sungam
May 20, 2009, 6:01 PM
Post #73 of 83
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Oh, well if it's not recognized as a sport, then of course the wouldn't be any worldwide competitions in bouldering!
Oh... Wait...
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