Alain Roberts in the NEW YORKER (story and video)

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Messages 1 - 18 of total 18 in this topic
J. Werlin

climber
Cedaredge
Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 20, 2009 - 11:12am PT
Pretty good read:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/04/20/090420fa_fact_collins

A two minute video of Alain cruxing on the Four Seasons building in Hong Kong:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2009/04/the-long-way-up.html
WBraun

climber
Apr 20, 2009 - 11:23am PT
Looks like he got a bit nervous at the crux.

He kept chalking up and chalking up ... a sure sign.

Yeowzzzz ..........
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
above the play park
Apr 20, 2009 - 11:45am PT
OK gang: living inspiration or 'just another French media whore'?

Discuss.
HighDesertDJ

Trad climber
Arid-zona
Apr 20, 2009 - 11:46am PT
He has an article that just came out in the Atlantic too.
Paulina

Trad climber
Apr 20, 2009 - 12:05pm PT
I was just going to post that link too!

Unfortunately, you have to pay or be a subscriber for the full text of the article - but I thought it was a very good article! Lauren Collins did a great job of both the man and the climbing (including the controversy). Cites Christian Beckwith and even someone's sarcastic post on the Alpinist blog site. (What? No ST citations?!?!)

Inspirational or media-whore? Er... in the best tradition of dialectic taught in French schools I will say: both, of course!

The video is gripping.
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Apr 20, 2009 - 12:08pm PT
That looks like a real ugly few moments sorting things out and sucking it up. Lot of folks would have panicked - got to give it to him there despite the fact I think he's likely to blow it sooner or later if he keep this up.
Rankin

climber
Bishop, CA
Apr 20, 2009 - 12:26pm PT
What a Frenchman. Alain Robert is one of my favorites. He's an exhibitionist, and a great interview. In the 90s, I first heard of Robert when he soloed some suspension cables on what I believe was the Golden Gate Bridge. He called it 12b and said it was 'like being with zee beautiful woman.' Hilarious. There's some great video of him soloing in the Verdon that is worth checking out. Robert catches a lot of flack from rock climbers now that he only climbs buildings. But he soloed a bunch of 5.13s back in the late 80s and early 90s.
Paulina

Trad climber
Apr 20, 2009 - 02:34pm PT
Bump
Blakey

Trad climber
Newcastle UK
Apr 20, 2009 - 04:10pm PT
He's a remarkable soloist who has done some heart stopping stuff, particularly in the Verdon.

Otherwise he's a bit of a Baseclimber is he not.

He would be an outstanding role model were it not for his pornstar dress sense and thinning 70's mullet. He'd be a really interesting entrant in a male makeover show........

Steve
J. Werlin

climber
Cedaredge
Topic Author's Reply - Apr 20, 2009 - 04:45pm PT
the mans been doing his pull ups, no?

Roger Breedlove

climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Apr 20, 2009 - 05:37pm PT
I like the script:

"He's going to die."

"Yeah."

"Jump in the pool."
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Jun 9, 2015 - 02:30pm PT

Alain ROBERT the french spiderman - escalade solo intégral : Œuvre posthume - 8 a - Entrechaux et l'Ange en décomposition - 7 a - Verdon.
[Click to View YouTube Video]

[Click to View YouTube Video]
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
Jun 9, 2015 - 07:45pm PT
Alain Roberts...? Voice of the crags...?
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Nov 3, 2015 - 09:26am PT

Alain Robert today climbed:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
couchmaster

climber
Nov 3, 2015 - 09:32am PT

Alain Roberts, good stuff. The first post doesn't have the vid in the link. I think it's this one of the tower in Hong Kong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98cC0ZZZjmg
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
Nov 3, 2015 - 10:36pm PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Reeotch

climber
4 Corners Area
Nov 4, 2015 - 04:04am PT
I couldn't keep watching that one couchmaster just posted. Yikes!
jstan

climber
Nov 4, 2015 - 09:04am PT
The video on the Petronas Tower mentioned Roberts occasionally suffers epileptic fits because of brain damage from a fall when he was a kid. On the Tower he had none of the medicine for this.

A well known climber in the Gunks had this same condition. If you are looking for a reason not to fall head down, this is one.
Messages 1 - 18 of total 18 in this topic
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