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Messages 1 - 10 of total 10 in this topic |
Jeffrey VanMiddlebrook
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 22, 2019 - 01:53pm PT
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Not that Alex needs or wants to be defended, but I feel compelled to make a point on his behalf anyway. No bones about it, I am in awe of what he has achieved, and every climber should be. I don't expect much from non-climbers from whom one hears such uninitiated drivel as "he's crazy" or "he's got a death wish" or "it's faked". I chalk those people up to, well...........!! But when I keep hearing climbers making dismissive comments about what Alex has done all I can figure is they are defensive and jealous, quite childish really. Recently an old (as in OLD) friend of mine and former bouldering partner (before I quit climbing due to chronic injuries) referred to Alex as "poor baby" and went on to suggest that because Alex practiced his El Cap free-solo several times with ropes, taking copious notes about moves, that somehow his unparalleled athletic achievement is flawed. Really? No chance of making a mistake and falling 3,000 feet to the talus below, right? Nah, practice always makes perfect, right, and once a route is practiced with ropes the free-soloist will never fall, right? Tell that to Bachar and to Hersey. So any climbers out there who think that what Alex has achieved isn't the greatest athletic accomplishment of all time, and that somehow what Alex did is no big deal, well I say put up or shut up. Go repeat his free-solos of HD and El Cap if "you" are such hotshots!!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 22, 2019 - 01:58pm PT
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Easy now....the vast majority of climbers are fully aware and appreciative of Alex’s stupendous accomplishment. Don’t sweat the outliers.
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Feb 22, 2019 - 02:12pm PT
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Let's hope not, Jim!
BAd
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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Feb 22, 2019 - 02:12pm PT
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At age 82, I consider Alex brilliant. But I hope he tapers off gradually so he can enjoy old age. His choice, but he's a great climber.
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johntp
Trad climber
Punter
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Feb 22, 2019 - 02:21pm PT
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Where did this come from? I don't think there is anyone on this forum that doesn't consider his soloing great achievements.
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August West
Trad climber
Where the wind blows strange
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Feb 22, 2019 - 02:31pm PT
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I'm not dismissive of what Alex has done as far as climbing achievement.
I'm dismissive of the glorification of celebrities in general.
Oh and also, dismissive of people that think SuperTopo needs another Alex thread....
Cheers.
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Feb 22, 2019 - 06:38pm PT
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I like turtles
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Trump
climber
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Feb 22, 2019 - 08:20pm PT
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I think it’s ok for any climber to say that what Alex has achieved isn’t the greatest athletic accomplishment of all time, without needing to do anything. Talk is cheap - it’s what people on this forum are doing here - it’s what I’m doing, it’s what they’re doing, it’s what you’re doing. And if any other climber thinks differently, that’s ok with me too. Admire him, admire his accomplishments, or don’t - that’s up to each of us. I’d expect Alex isn’t really all that fussed by it, and to me, that’s one of his most admirable qualities.
Heck I don’t even mind you being fussed by people saying it, or you saying that other people who doubt it’s the greatest athletic achievement of all time need to put up or shut up. But me, I’ve got a hard enough time telling myself what to do to tell them what they need to do.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Feb 22, 2019 - 08:48pm PT
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Great climber but he sure looks awkward wearing a tux.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Feb 23, 2019 - 11:27am PT
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The Larry liked turtles, too.
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