catbirdseat Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 The slideshow was great and so was the beer. My thanks to Feathered Friends for being a good host. Quote
JayB Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 Word. "Steve House and some guy from Portland were supposed to be there, but as it turned out I was the only American competing..." Quote
catbirdseat Posted October 16, 2003 Author Posted October 16, 2003 We don't know any speed climbers from Portland, do we? Quote
specialed Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 Not to spill worms all over the floor, and I didn't see bro's slideshow, but... Is it just me or does the idea of an alpine speed climbing comp. seem silly? I know this russian thing is a tradition and all and lots of rad climbers have done it, even Henry Barber, but give me a break. Comp climbing for a lack of a better word, is fucking GEH. Isn't the point of climbing in the mountains to not compete at all, except maybe against yourself. I think the whole thing is really self-contradictory as alpine climbing implies freedom, self-expression, rebellion, and in the abstract -a complete dissonant lack of formal structure. All of which, competitions are inherently the opposite. Anyway, that's what I think. Quote
Gary_Yngve Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 Chad was disappointed that he won the comp but didn't get to summit. So he summited the peak a few days later. That shows me his attitude. I agree that there is some sort of contrived silliness behind these speed comps, but who could turn down a trip to the Tien Shen? Quote
Lambone Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 I kind of agree with specialed, but I still think it's cool when American's win. Too bad we don't have "iron lung" Lowe to sweep the competition anymore. Quote
slothrop Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 Speaking of "iron lung": Chad Kellogg was competing against a Kazakh who had been training in a pressure chamber to simulate altitudes of up to 9000m (!). Bubble boy only got third, though. Quote
catbirdseat Posted October 16, 2003 Author Posted October 16, 2003 Chad had some great photographs. Whether or not you approve of speed climbing, the mountain photos made the show worthwhile. You should have been there. Quote
Lambone Posted October 17, 2003 Posted October 17, 2003 Wish I could have...but FF is kind of a long drive for me these days. Which is sad, because it's my favorite geear shop, along with PMS. Climbing shops in Southern Oregon are lame, unless you want a new set of quickdraws... Quote
catbirdseat Posted October 17, 2003 Author Posted October 17, 2003 They sell what people buy, I guess. Quote
cman Posted October 17, 2003 Posted October 17, 2003 that was a great show. the peak he climbed after was incredible, a 4 mile? ridge above7000m. i thought the race was pretty cool. i loved the pictures looking down the "course", super steep. and 7800ft up and down in 5:11, silly or not that is fast Quote
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