Surfing v. Climbing... Complimentary Pursuits?

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socialclimber

Trad climber
CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 29, 2012 - 01:53pm PT
Randy Leavitt once said in a short article that the best day surfing was better than the best day climbing...

My piece on it: the ratio of time spent climbing on a climbing trip is greater than the time spent actually standing on a board on a surf trip of same duration.

For me on the coast I can sneak in a surf in the morning before work, to do that with climbing I usually have to gym it...

At the end of this mornings session though I had about 5 waves, 2 of which were memorable and overall I felt like telling people I had gone out to work on my paddling rather than surfing...

Charles
dmons

climber
Jan 29, 2012 - 02:10pm PT
entirely different pursuits
stone isnt a fluid in terms of mortals

were still arguing how hard 9a climbed 20 years ago really are

you cant take two pictures of waves which are the same




go-B

climber
Habakkuk 3:19 Sozo
Jan 29, 2012 - 02:39pm PT
With both you don't want to fall at the lip!
karodrinker

Trad climber
San Jose, CA
Jan 29, 2012 - 02:42pm PT
I love surfing, I love climbing. ...so yes.
briham89

Trad climber
los gatos. ca
Jan 29, 2012 - 02:46pm PT
Both leave you with a deep appreciation of nature....both suck when crowded
pyro

Big Wall climber
Calabasas
Jan 29, 2012 - 03:13pm PT
surfing is fun.
climbing is fun.

sufing has better looking women....
climber chick's are...overall just not nice.


i've had the same fun both surfing and climbing in the same day!


the rock is always there so climbing is better is not a good enuff excuse.
Mondos
Pitas point.
County line
Frumy is going for it.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Jan 29, 2012 - 03:21pm PT
I'm a far better climber than I am a surfer, but there is something to surfing that keeps bringing me back.

Now, billygoating into a chute filled with waist deep fluff, making the turn and blasting out into the bowl at sixty? That is truly sublime, and I don't suck at it like I do at surfing.

Surfing rules.
Climbing rules.
Difficult skiing rules.
karodrinker

Trad climber
San Jose, CA
Jan 29, 2012 - 04:48pm PT
head high in Santa Cruz, I'll be enjoying the waves tomorrow! And hitting up castle rock state park for bouldering on the way home. Whoop whoop phuck yea!
pyro

Big Wall climber
Calabasas
Jan 29, 2012 - 05:24pm PT
it's hitting pretty good at c-street which is near the patagonia shop.

nice thread charles.

reminds me of the video 180 south!
east side underground

Trad climber
Hilton crk,ca
Jan 29, 2012 - 07:00pm PT
the 4 S club:

Surf
ski
stone
sex
karodrinker

Trad climber
San Jose, CA
Jan 29, 2012 - 07:07pm PT
only 4? What about skating, swearing, sweeping, singing. Yeah we do all that stuff round here, call ourselves the 24 S club. Were pretty rad.
east side underground

Trad climber
Hilton crk,ca
Jan 29, 2012 - 07:32pm PT
Karo , you are rad! But the 4 S are the ones that you: will quit your job, blow-off loved ones , sell your soul, but hey if you feel that way about square- dancing, all the power to ya!
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Jan 29, 2012 - 08:45pm PT
Surfing was absolutely essential to my climbing by 1968. The cardiovascular nature of the surfing in waves over five feet really feeds right into what you need for climbing: terrific cardio power. Similarly, paddling built up muscle sets mostly the same as those used for pulling down.

I have to agree with Randy Leavitt's quote at the beginning in that the best day surfing is better than the best day climbing. However, I can say my best days climbing will stand forever while my best days surfing have long since completely utterly vanished.

That most wave rides are only a matter of seconds, literally is both a beautiful and miraculous thing but also underlines how ephemeral rides and perhaps thus a life in surfing really are.

Climbing is often so painful; I don't remember any pain at all in surfing other than running out of breath and burning big time in desperate paddles avoiding the big unexpected cleanup sets in big surf.

Mixing the two sports has been going on for about fifty years now.
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Jan 29, 2012 - 09:07pm PT
Nuthin like a good dredger.
Jim Clipper

climber
from: forests to tree farms
Jan 29, 2012 - 09:21pm PT
^^^ Where is that!? Near a pier!!!? That looks like quite a few people scratching for some thrills.
east side underground

Trad climber
Hilton crk,ca
Jan 29, 2012 - 10:05pm PT
east side underground

Trad climber
Hilton crk,ca
Jan 29, 2012 - 10:10pm PT

yea small days can be fun
The Alpine

Big Wall climber
Jan 29, 2012 - 10:49pm PT
The problem with climbing is it is a constant fight. You must always fight against the constant pull of gravity. As climbers, we develop our whole climbing 'careers' around this. It becomes engrained.

Surfing (and other gravity sports) are the exact opposite. You must literally let go and give in to the force of gravity. Once you are riding it is no longer a struggle or fight.

Great compliments I suppose.

I also like that after a day of surfing you end up CLEANER than when you started.
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Jan 29, 2012 - 10:57pm PT
I agree with some of what Peter said, however...

Surfing and climbing are my two favorite things in the whole wide world.

For me, though, they are not "complimentary". At least not when surfing is the primary gig.
When I lived on the coast, walking distance from some of California's best waves, there was no way in hell you could get me to go climbing. I didn't want to miss something.
Catching the points before the hordes, or checking the beachie repeatedly and watching it go from crap to a draining uncrowded wonderland....that sh¡t took time and dedication. Not to mention developing enough skills to get waves in a crowded lineup at a marquee break, or be able to actually ride when the beachbreak is draining and breaking boards. Couldn't really be "bothered" with the thought of leaving the coast to climb.
Ok, maybe once in a while, when it was genuinely flat and scheduled to stay that way, a run to Woodson, Tahquitz, Black Mtn or Josh was great. But my fingers were made of water, no real serious climbing.

Surfing was way more addicting.
When the medium for your enjoyment wasn't always there, or could change instantly, I wanted to be onnit. After all, that's why i lived there and put up with all the bs socal can offer.

Now, though, living in the desert stoked as hell on climbing, I jones for a proper surf. I'd pass up a climbing trip for a Midnight rambler surgical strike for a day and a half (hopefully) of surf anyday. I have lost my paddle power but luckily the rest is like riding a bike now, but only after 12 years of surfing everyday.

I dunno. I'm babbling. I just had a great bouldering session but maybe it's time for some saltw#ter therapy.
My project will still be there...but will my callouses?


Edit
The only time i climbed and surfed in the same day was sick. Santa Ana low humidity at Rainbow, low tide backlit mysto barrels at Oside jetty. That's livin right there!


drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Jan 29, 2012 - 11:17pm PT
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