Honnold's recent "The Relativity of Risk" show in Boulder

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Messages 1 - 16 of total 16 in this topic
Peter Haan

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 21, 2014 - 03:21pm PT
Really quite good:

http://www.climbing.com/video/alex-honnold-the-relativity-of-risk/
Rollover

climber
Gross Vegas
Aug 21, 2014 - 05:09pm PT
Thank you Peter!!
Good find!
chappy

Social climber
ventura
Aug 21, 2014 - 05:10pm PT
Thanks for the heads up Peter. I quite enjoyed it. Hope you are well.
Chappy
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Aug 21, 2014 - 05:14pm PT
It's a good one- thanks for digging it up Peter, and thanks Alex for expanding the boundaries of perception of what is possible.
crunch

Social climber
CO
Aug 21, 2014 - 05:57pm PT
It was an excellent show! Sold out, too.

ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
extraordinaire
Aug 21, 2014 - 08:53pm PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]
bixquite

Social climber
humboldt nation
Aug 21, 2014 - 08:55pm PT
i could see shane dorian, twiggy and greg long in that forum
Daphne

Trad climber
Northern California
Aug 21, 2014 - 09:41pm PT
Watching that was a great use of my time, thanks so much for posting it up.
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Aurora Colorado
Aug 22, 2014 - 05:55am PT
I think he's in denial that what he's doing is dangerous. Anyone can see how solid he is, but still. If there really is pressure to keep doing more dangerous stunts for the TV camera, that's a little sad. That is not a good path to follow in life. I would more respect a doctor who went to Liberia and died in an Ebola clinic, than someone falling off a cliff for a TV stunt. What's the point? This is one of my fears, that my epitaph would be something like, "hiker falls off frozen cliff in Estes Park," and people will just shake their heads.
Bad Climber

climber
Aug 22, 2014 - 06:13am PT
I get your point, Dan, but I'm just glad our world is big enough to encompass ebola doctors and Alex Honnolds. We got both. Win win for the world, if you ask me.

BAd
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Aug 22, 2014 - 07:10am PT
He is quite charismatic and lovable in addition to smart and talented isn't he? I hope he gets his genome mapped and he makes it public, that could be yet another great contribution on his part to civilization.

What's always a given is how my feet sweat when I watch him solo in a video, it's like there is this direct wiring somehow between my eyes, sweat supply and feet. Weirdest thing.

I've given up trying to imagine that "headspace" of his. I just couldn't believe it if I didn't see it. His cool under the circumstances, that is. "Unique" seems to be an understatement.

I think he's in denial...

I think he's in that sweet spot, that perfect balance between tensions, some super high voltage, yes of course, and he's figured for him it's all very manageable.

"Hey, Alex, I'm not that solid, watch out."

lol!
crunch

Social climber
CO
Aug 22, 2014 - 08:16am PT
On stage, he was articulate, smart, humorous, humble. In person, he's more guarded, quiet. Whatever he has planned he keeps to himself.

He understands the risks and he's indeed at that "sweet spot" where, on a good day, he can go out and solo improbable climbs. Watching some of the incredible footage brought back memories of how it was for me, once, too, being completely at ease with being high on a cliff, unroped (at a far more humble level of difficulty). Made me smile.

When you're at the sweet spot, it all feels easy, unencumbered movement, no ropes, no gear, no sounds, just meditative, relaxed, laser-sharp focus, everything in complete control, fantastically rewarding.

The biggest risk, perhaps, is hubris, where you start to think that you can get away with it every day, over and over.

Getting my own head into that perfect "sweet spot" of relaxed focus (and keeping it there as long as need be) became harder with age. One option is to ignore this, to keep on going, using less mastery, more muscle. This is less rewarding, sometimes outright scary, so I eased off, went in other directions.

Honnold seems to have a high level of carefulness and self-awareness, so that, I think, he will know when things are not perfect any more and it's time to slow down.

jstan

climber
Aug 22, 2014 - 08:39am PT
What's always a given is how my feet sweat when I watch him solo in a video, it's like there is this direct wiring somehow between my eyes, sweat supply and feet. Weirdest thing.
H/F

Take a look at Ramachandran's work on Mirror Neurons.


Since Alex first appeared on the scene it has been apparent his talents run very wide and deep. Ammon's another one who falls into that category. I objected several times to our getting involved in discussions on third classing. We should not be interfering with the decisions others make.
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Aug 22, 2014 - 09:11am PT
A funny thing, j, one of the guests mentioned his palms get sweaty when he watches Alex. My palms never get sweaty, but my feet sure do sometimes to the point where changing my socks wouldn't be a bad idea, lol! So apparently my genome calls for mirror neurons to the feet, not hands. :)

I read Rama's Tell Tale book not long ago.

btw...


Who are these guys?

"being completely at ease with being high on a cliff, unroped..."

I don't know how you guys can do it. It's just nowhere in my mindspace, at least not at the level I imagine it being done.
goatboy smellz

climber
लघिमा
Aug 22, 2014 - 09:23am PT

Well said Crusher.
JLP

Social climber
The internet
Aug 22, 2014 - 10:40am PT
...became harder with age.
...and the resulting deeper appreciation for mortality and statistics.
Messages 1 - 16 of total 16 in this topic
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