Like Superheroes, All Climbers Have a Genesis Story

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Messages 21 - 26 of total 26 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 26, 2017 - 01:58pm PT
I didn't mean to sound snarky there. Sometimes things come out strangely on the web. I am really impressed by hard and wide (from a safe distance :-). To see a strong woman get drawn into this style of climbing and master it is great. And now she moves on to master yet another of life's great challenges which I've studiously avoided.

My "genesis" happened in an instant.

In my early 20's I was a big fan of the NYC Ballet. During these years Balanchine was the Artistic Director, Nureyev and Suzanne Farrell were dancing, Stravinsky was a huge creative force, and the company of 100 dancers were the crème de la crème in ballet. I had a keen eye for dance, and loved watching the great dancers move and express themselves as no one else could.

I liked to race bicycles. Then a friend asked me if I wanted to try climbing.

I was lucky, on my first day at the Gunks I got to watch a good climber lead what I later knew to be Retribution. He climbed like a dancer. Not only was his movement beautiful, it was perfectly suited to the task at hand. I was blown away, I had expected climbing to be a titanic struggle of man against mountain. But here I found beauty much like the beauty which drew me back to the ballet again and again.

I was hooked. I'd always been a terrible dancer and avoided it at any cost, but the purposefulness of climbing unlocked that inhibition. As I began learning to climb, visualizing the perfect movement of the man on Retribution was like a mantra for me.
Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Apr 26, 2017 - 05:31pm PT
So great!! Thanks for posting
Larry Nelson

Social climber
Apr 28, 2017 - 04:53pm PT
You have an inspiring writing style, great pictures, gritty determination on the wide stuff and a beautiful baby.
TFPU
christinafreschl

climber
Berkeley
Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2017 - 07:25pm PT
Thank you to those who shared their beginning climbing stories. I wonder if this would make an interesting book. And thanks for reading!

And as far as the "hanging on the cam" controversy, I don't think my little finger would help me through the Ahab crux. Just saying.
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
May 24, 2017 - 08:06pm PT
Christina, you are wiser well beyond your years....
It is really about 3 things; the love of a place, the history, and a community.

But hey we've (men) learned that it is more often the case these days we're getting our asses kicked by women and now like always (at least for me) in OW's. To hear your transformative story associated with mountains (place), history and community (climbing) lands on my path from long ago, a hardy Berg Heil to you and your family.

BTW You may or may not recognize it now but from my own experience you're holding your rope gun, there is no greater gift than a child.

Charlie D.
BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
May 24, 2017 - 08:27pm PT
One of my favorite stories!

Other than living in bizerkly anyway. Lol.

Charge it all! Life's rad isn't it!
Messages 21 - 26 of total 26 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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