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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 7, 2006 - 01:17pm PT
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Now is your chance to ask those questions in person.
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Micheal Reardon: No Strings Attached
@ R.E.I.
February 6 @ 7:00pm - REI Northridge
February 7 @ 7:00pm - REI Manhattan Beach
February 8 @ 7:00pm - REI Huntington Beach
February 9 @ 7:00pm - REI Encinitas
Michael Reardon is one of today’s leading free solo rock climbers – that’s no rope, no net! In a single day, Michael has soloed as many as 280 routes at Joshua Tree, 150 pitches at Tahquitz, and 50 pitch marathons in the Needles, Sierras and as far away as Ireland. Michael has pushed the grade as high as 5.13 and consistently solos a “vertical mile” when he climbs.
Michael’s slide show will provide a unique view into the training, discipline, and humorous side of what many consider the most serious of sports. So come out, enjoy the show, and earn a chance to win great prizes from Acopa and Metolius!
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
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I received a phone call today from someone who was at REI Northridge show last night.
He said there was some good heckling from a certain Stonemaster.
He also said (at least) two well-known Supertopo Forum members were in the audience.
Would anyone care to give first-hand comments relating to the festivities?
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Ca
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Well....
Mo tried to question Michael about why he could solo Equinox while Croft needed to be rescued. Mo failed to be persuaded that Michael was a better climber that day (Croft was said to have been in new shoes and it was too cold). Crowd hissed Mo into silence. At the end of the slide show, there were several slides in a row with Michael flipping the whole world off so that kind of put a damper on how much debate happened after. No one that was a doubter had their mind changed, but Michael is very willing to discuss the issue up to the point where he is called a liar and then the 'f*#k you's' start to come out. It was a good slide show though and the 'masters of stone' aspect of the crowd was pretty good.
All agreed to go climbing this weekend at the tree.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Man I would have probally gone. But was way to busy planning my turkey fest.
Juanito
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rradakovits
Sport climber
san diego
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i will try to go to the one in encenitas on thursday, anyone else going?
should be entertaining and it is for free.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Can you ask him if he is suffers Bipolar Disorder.
Thanks
Juanito
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can't say
Social climber
Pasadena CA
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I was there, and what I took away from his show is that he seems pretty good at tooting his own horn. He seemed overly defensive and self-absorbed and his tone mirrored this.
He opened the show saying that he had just thrown a bunch of slides together and sort of see what happened. Well as his show progresses, set graphic slides are shown that said, Detractors = Online Slime, or something similar to that. He had powerpoint bullets that showed his creds and why people should believe what he says. So, he had definately thought out the tone and meaning of his show.
He also said that anyone was free to interupt him during his presentation if they had any questions or comments. Well, Mo had a few things to say and MR didn't really articulate Mike's concerns in their exchange. Unfortunately some in the crowd started crying, saying they had driven all that way to see the show and not hear the verbaige. Mo was just getting warmed up when was over. There is still much unsaid by all parties, I'm sure this won't be the end of it.
That being said, MR has an obvious credibility problem to many people. Those same people have zero problems with the credibilty of all MR's soloist heros he lists. Yet they do have an issue with MR. Why is this?
If a man wants to regain his creds, and MR seems pretty intent on defending his rep, then he needs to step up and show em. A lot of this would be over with if he just says, hi guys, I'll be at the Baby Apes wall for any and all to eyeball. Said time arrives , he solos the rigs, and everyone goes home happy. In his slideshow he would continually refer to very difficult climbs as not very challenging. It seems very out of character, at least of the folks who solo. So I guess it shouldn't be any problem for him to shut them up with a few well timed solos.
Me, I hope all his claims are true, as I really like seeing huge leaps of performance unlike anyone before.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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I really do not know the story because I do not waste my money on climbing mags.
So what is all the controversy about?
From what I gather some of his claimed solo's may be a lie?
Did anyone see him solo the vampire?
Has he soloed Astroman?
Juanito
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Cloudraker
Trad climber
BC
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I saw Michael Reardon soloing a blank, overhanging problem in Lost Horse at J-Tree this past xmas holiday. My partner and I were definitely impressed but found the scene odd because it happened to be a photo shoot with 3 photographers and support people.
My impression of him is that he is a really strong climber but he's got something to prove. I don't understand why the guy feels the need to promote himself. He's a movie producer in Hollywood and probably has no shortage of cash....why not just climb and have a good time? If I were in his shoes I wouldn't give a rat's ass what anyone thought of my style and/or accomplishments. I would just climb with my friends.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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What movie did the guy work on?
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Cabin Fever (2002) is probably his biggest credential to date. I couldn't give a flying f*#k what he has or hasn't soloed. I can attest that he does have quite an ego.
Ed
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WBraun
climber
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"He also said (at least) two well-known Supertopo Forum members were in the audience."
Does this mean he lurks in the background? or does he post here?
How would he know?
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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dave - you are not the only one with the real name 'Dave' (not ST handle) in this forum. Angryboy wasn't referring to you. Do you drive a cab by chance? If not, then, it really wasn't you.
I'm sorta with Juan on this one. I don't read the climbing rags so I guess I'm missing most of the controversy.
MR sounds a little whacky and if he's really out to prove something while he's really out soloing crazy stuff then well... let it go? If he's NOT out soloing what he proports he is then prove it and disregard him as a spraymonkey and well.... let it go?
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addiroid
Big Wall climber
Long Beach, CA
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CAN'T SAY and ED...Why does he need to defend what he says by a circus show at some grid bolted chosspile that spandex-stuffers worship. Mike is a fun guy and just happens to have a great talent. No, he's not as humble as Ammon, but he enjoys doing sh#t that his peers can't do. Lay off the guy, go train, and do something big (for you, not anyone else)and challenging with uncertain outcome. Then be happy that you challenged YOURSELF, not someone else to a pissing match.
I'd go to the shows in MB and HB, but due to some massive "returns which are not only inconvenient to you, but costly to Rental Equipment Incorporated" I am no longer allowed in their establishments.
Quit giving the guy sh#t, and spend your time training instead wasting it on here.
http://www.gymjones.com
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
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Werner –– 2 of the people he mentioned were names I recognized from their posts here.
Anyway, as I said before, uncut video shot at a sufficiently wide angle goes a long way
to quiet any detractors. The EBGB's free-solo video is bad-ass and speaks for itself.
It would be great to see the videos doing the talking!!
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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If I leave Northridge now at 6pm I should be able to get to the Manhattan Beach REI by 9:30pm.
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Paul, you've mistaken me for someone who gives a sh#t. I'm not asking him to prove anything. I would call Michael a lot of other things before I called him a liar. I've seen him climb once and he's obviously very talented, and I'm not calling his integrity in to question. Others may have reasons to doubt him, but even if I gave two farts about what he climbs, I can't say he's ever been dishonest to me in our limited interaction.
Climbing does sound good, doesn't it?
Ed
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addiroid
Big Wall climber
Long Beach, CA
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Ed, you sir have obviously mistaken me for a climber.
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westhegimp
Social climber
granada hills
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What was Mo's point? All I heard was "Petes my good friend and thats not what he told me." three times. He just repeated that phrase like it meant something. I'm thinking he meant since Croft couldnt do it no one could, ever. But he never finished up his line of questions. Even at the end of the show when MR asked him if there were anymore Q's.
Wes
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
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Did he also happen to say anything like:
"Show us some videos so we can put this shIt to rest"
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