|
sidepull
May 17, 2011, 5:47 PM
Post #1 of 21
(11756 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 11, 2001
Posts: 2335
|
I posted on ESPN's chat this morning with Tony Hawk. I thought the exchange was interesting:
jeff (Lincoln, NB)
Hi Tony! Thanks for chatting. What do you think about bringing back some of the original sports from the x-games, specifically rock climbing? Or should the x-games just be wheels and boards?
Tony Hawk
That's not up to me, to be honest. My main focus is skateboarding. It might be interesting to bring sports that are more indigenous to where the events are taking place. If there is a place where rock climbing is more popular, that would be interesting. The sports they have, they've refined them so much to determine how popular they are and how much the crowds like them. I'd like to see surfing back in there.
Link (I'm not sure how to link to the transcript, it's unclear where they file it on their system):
http://espn.go.com/...92/x-games-tony-hawk
|
|
|
|
|
macherry
May 17, 2011, 7:34 PM
Post #2 of 21
(11682 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 15848
|
they've tried. i don't believe that the climbing brought in the ratings. I watched the previous games where climbing was featured.......it was boring.
|
|
|
|
|
TarHeelEMT
May 17, 2011, 8:55 PM
Post #3 of 21
(11611 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 20, 2009
Posts: 724
|
Climbing really isn't conducive to good television in real time or any sort of competition format.
I prefer it that way, honestly.
|
|
|
|
|
climber49er
May 18, 2011, 2:20 AM
Post #4 of 21
(11501 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 8, 2003
Posts: 1404
|
Speed climbing is about the only think that makes any sense at all for TV and it's just not pretty to watch.
I can't imagine that hard cranking on real rock would ever be understood by the non climbing populace.
|
|
|
|
|
maldaly
May 18, 2011, 3:29 AM
Post #5 of 21
(11473 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 31, 2002
Posts: 1208
|
I was the live announcer for the XGames rock climbing in San Diego and for ice climbing at Winter X up in Big Bear.
Both were boring as hell despite my great live commentary boosted by 500,000 watts and multi-pitch speaker stacks. It was like announcing a golf contest.
Unless the sport involves lots of air, forget it at X Games.
Mal
|
|
|
|
|
enigma
May 18, 2011, 3:48 AM
Post #6 of 21
(11457 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 19, 2002
Posts: 2279
|
climber49er wrote: Speed climbing is about the only think that makes any sense at all for TV and it's just not pretty to watch. I can't imagine that hard cranking on real rock would ever be understood by the non climbing populace.
Pretty Climbers speed climbing= pretty to watch
maybe its in the clothes?
c'mon If Gabriel Aubrey , Dave Beckham, Megan Fox or Katy Perry was climbing?
|
|
|
|
|
macherry
May 18, 2011, 3:56 AM
Post #7 of 21
(11452 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 15848
|
maldaly wrote: I was the live announcer for the XGames rock climbing in San Diego and for ice climbing at Winter X up in Big Bear. Both were boring as hell despite my great live commentary boosted by 500,000 watts and multi-pitch speaker stacks. It was like announcing a golf contest. Unless the sport involves lots of air, forget it at X Games.
Mal
this is true
|
|
|
|
|
gmggg
May 18, 2011, 1:21 PM
Post #8 of 21
(11353 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 25, 2009
Posts: 2099
|
macherry wrote: maldaly wrote: I was the live announcer for the XGames rock climbing in San Diego and for ice climbing at Winter X up in Big Bear. Both were boring as hell despite my great live commentary boosted by 500,000 watts and multi-pitch speaker stacks. It was like announcing a golf contest. Unless the sport involves lots of air, forget it at X Games.
Mal this is true
Maybe 5.4x slab routes are the answer. The XXXtreme is built right into the grade.
|
|
|
|
|
freezorburn
May 18, 2011, 1:54 PM
Post #9 of 21
(11340 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 228
|
Yeah I saw the climbing "Dyno" comp and a Speed Comp. I don't think either is going to be and X game thing. Why dose it have to?
I don't get speed Climbing...
and
I don't get Free solo Climbing...
Both seem like a stupid Risk to me, maybe I'm too old?
|
|
|
|
|
blueeyedclimber
May 18, 2011, 2:42 PM
Post #10 of 21
(11311 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 19, 2002
Posts: 4602
|
freezorburn wrote: Yeah I saw the climbing "Dyno" comp and a Speed Comp. I don't think either is going to be and X game thing. Why dose it have to? I don't get speed Climbing... and I don't get Free solo Climbing... Both seem like a stupid Risk to me, maybe I'm too old?
Why is speed climbing risky and what does free soloing have to do with anything?
Josh
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
freezorburn
May 18, 2011, 3:05 PM
Post #12 of 21
(11292 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 228
|
1) Why is speed climbing risky?
Unsless I am missunderstanding it. I don't think there double checking there pro when in a rush. I could just see someone saying:
"Hurry up! we have to top out in 5 min to break the record"
2) what does free soloing have to do with anything? With X games Free solo seams like the the sport that would make it.
How about Free Solo Speed Climbing, there you go that should make it into the X games. Till somone Decks into a group of people from hundred feet or so.
I can't get my brain around speed or free solo climbing at all. I don't care what other people do with there own lives, just don't land on me.
|
|
|
|
|
blueeyedclimber
May 18, 2011, 3:17 PM
Post #13 of 21
(11276 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 19, 2002
Posts: 4602
|
freezorburn wrote: 1) Why is speed climbing risky? Unsless I am missunderstanding it. I don't think there double checking there pro when in a rush. I could just see someone saying: "Hurry up! we have to top out in 5 min to break the record"
Oh, I understand now. You have no idea what speed climbing is. It is a type of event in competition climbing (always on toprope).
In reply to: 2) what does free soloing have to do with anything? With X games Free solo seams like the the sport that would make it. How about Free Solo Speed Climbing, there you go that should make it into the X games. Till somone Decks into a group of people from hundred feet or so. I can't get my brain around speed or free solo climbing at all. I don't care what other people do with there own lives, just don't land on me.
No one has brought up free soloing and why would you ever think that it would make it into an organized sports event?
Josh
|
|
|
|
|
freezorburn
May 18, 2011, 3:22 PM
Post #14 of 21
(11268 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 228
|
Toprope? Then this is not Speed climbing
www.metacafe.com/watch/2068402/extreme_speed_climbing_insane/
Or the People in National Geo. that Just Climbed the Nose at El Cap in a few Hours? I thought that was speed climbing
(This post was edited by freezorburn on May 18, 2011, 3:28 PM)
|
|
|
|
|
Toast_in_the_Machine
May 18, 2011, 3:27 PM
Post #15 of 21
(11261 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 12, 2008
Posts: 5208
|
freezorburn wrote: 1) Why is speed climbing risky? Unsless I am missunderstanding it. I don't think there double checking there pro when in a rush. I could just see someone saying: "Hurry up! we have to top out in 5 min to break the record"
Most speed comps are done on toprope.
|
|
|
|
|
blueeyedclimber
May 18, 2011, 3:33 PM
Post #16 of 21
(11254 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 19, 2002
Posts: 4602
|
freezorburn wrote: Toprope? Then this is not Speed climbing www.metacafe.com/watch/2068402/extreme_speed_climbing_insane/
I will try to be more clear. In competition climbing, during roped comps, there are usually 2 events: Difficulty and Speed. Difficulty refers to routes set so that the stronger climbers (in theory) will get further up the route.
Speed climbing is set usually with less technical moves and the climbers objective is to get from bottom to top as fast as possible. It is a timed event.
No one is talking about Hans Florines speed record or Dan Osman's "Extreme Speed Climbing."
Is that clear?
The X games are an organized competition. Only competition climbing events would be involved, which, once again, free soloing is not.
Josh
|
|
|
|
|
climber49er
May 18, 2011, 3:47 PM
Post #17 of 21
(11235 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 8, 2003
Posts: 1404
|
good explanation blue eyes
|
|
|
|
|
squierbypetzl
Moderator
May 18, 2011, 8:17 PM
Post #18 of 21
(11133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 6, 2005
Posts: 3431
|
My thoughts exactly, but that's in Europe isn't it? Falling into a nasty greyish-green river likely isn't enough to keep most Americans interested in the long term.
Check out 1:55 in the vid. Damn, what a move.
|
|
|
|
|
vtaylor
May 18, 2011, 11:50 PM
Post #19 of 21
(11056 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 18, 2011
Posts: 7
|
|
|
|
|
|
JasonsDrivingForce
May 19, 2011, 11:58 AM
Post #20 of 21
(10927 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 3, 2009
Posts: 687
|
macherry wrote: they've tried. i don't believe that the climbing brought in the ratings. I watched the previous games where climbing was featured.......it was boring.
It would need to be an event like this for it to make it on TV. More acrobatics than true climbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOmbVuzkLk
I always thought the speed lead climbing events are cool as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kANZQAn_ZD4
(This post was edited by JasonsDrivingForce on May 19, 2011, 12:16 PM)
|
|
|
|
|
sungam
May 19, 2011, 1:13 PM
Post #21 of 21
(10909 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 26804
|
freezorburn wrote: Toprope? Then this is not Speed climbing www.metacafe.com/watch/2068402/extreme_speed_climbing_insane/
You know, rc.com user Lazlo and I went to match or better Dano's speed record on that very route!
In the end, he still outfoxxed us by around 2 hours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
