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mauta
Apr 2, 2002, 1:31 PM
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Registered: Dec 11, 2001
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Hi climbers,
Reinhold Messner, Alex Lowe, Chris Sharma, Lynn Hill, etc...
All of them GREAT and FAMOUS climbers, without any doubt.
However, they do so different types of climbing, that this raises my original question:
is climbing just a single sport?
I want to know your opinions,
JUAN
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bulldog
Apr 2, 2002, 1:54 PM
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Yes, I believe so.
Most sports have specializations within said sport.
For example, the role of the quarterback and the skills he needs are very different than that of the offensive lineman.
No different from the pitcher vs. the catcher.
The goalie vs. the striker.
The center vs. the point guard.
The only difference being that those are team sports, where climbing would be considered more of an individual sport.
But I could also argue that Tiger Woods plays a very different type of golf than say Phil Mickelson. Or that an olympic skier has a very different style than a competitor (ie, Bodie Miller vs. the Austians).
I see your point, and the argument can probably be made effectively each way. But I still think that all styles of climbing - whether aid or sport or trad or bouldering or even alpine, fall under the same genre.
Bulldog
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radistrad
Apr 2, 2002, 2:24 PM
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Registered: Feb 25, 2002
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I think climbing is a single sport with sub-sports in it.
Like you say there are many different styles.
I look at it as 3 different sub-sports. Trad, Aid and Sport climbing.
My little thought on it, its still to early to think any harder.
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dupree
Apr 2, 2002, 3:01 PM
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Disclaimer: I'm certainly more inexperienced than the folks who have already posted. However, the parallel that occurs to me between climbing and another sport is with cycling. It would be hard to argue -- convincingly anyway -- that mountain biking and road racing should both be considered part of the same sport. Sure, there's some overlap -- XC racers and road racers come to mind -- but surely downhill mtb and criteriums, for example, are so distinct as to be separate sports. Anyway, in my humble opinion, some of the different climbing disciplines seem to have similar splits...
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bcmtngrrrl
Apr 2, 2002, 3:35 PM
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I'd say yes personally, but people climb for different reasons, so it may not always seem that way. I started with hiking, which progressed into mountaineering, and the natural progression was then rockclimbing. For me it's the abilty to stand at the base of any mountain, and say,"I want to get up there", and then do it. But then again, I'd call it a lifestyle, not a sport.
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miagi
Apr 2, 2002, 4:55 PM
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I agree with radistad. For a multi-pitch trad route you depend on your other climber(s) for your safety on belay. You have to work with your partner to get both of you and your gear up to the summit. Things like mountineering definity require teamwork. For those of you who cant picture this, think of Verticle Horizon. Other things like a top rope or sport route where your climbing alone (with the exception of the belayer) is pretty much single.
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radistrad
Apr 2, 2002, 5:08 PM
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Registered: Feb 25, 2002
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My take on the question is climbing one sport, or is it many different sports under the climbing name.
A vague question.
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tavs
Apr 2, 2002, 5:21 PM
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Registered: Feb 26, 2002
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I'm with BC--lifestyle rather than a sport. Even with that, I'd also agree with the analogy to biking--the lifestyle (and tools, skills, etc involved) of a Valley wallrat is rather different from that of a bouldering fiend; or a mountaineer compared to a sport junkie. That said, there's nothing saying your average climber (or even your serious professional) can't partake of and enjoy all of these lifestyles, and of course there are similarities...But all part in parcel of the same "sport" (like pitchers and catchers in baseball)--not in my mind.
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lostangel
Apr 3, 2002, 2:39 AM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2001
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I believe this is a matter of opinion and situation, for example if you and your partner are trying to increase your ability to be able to climb a 5.12, that would be a team effort;or climb a really huge mountain where you gotta sleep on the side of it, I would also concider that a team effort. But climbing is mainly an individual sport, that is also great for competition, as we all know and are highly addicted too!
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angusmackay2000
Apr 8, 2002, 11:02 AM
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Registered: Oct 4, 2001
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Yes i would have to say that it is because if you lokk at most other sports people have there own ways of doing it in order to progress and make an name for themselves.
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roadtrip
Apr 9, 2002, 6:03 AM
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Registered: Mar 27, 2002
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Yes, climbing is a single sport; at least most of the climbers I know are single.
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