I'm not Crushing and it's Bumming me Out

[telemarker]

Even though personally I like to think I've had a great start to the climbing season, I just don't feel like I'm CRUSHING. you know? I'll do a hard pitch, lower down, and my buddies will say in a monotonous tone, "Nice job," or, "Well Done," or, "cool". Or sometimes they're not even that generous, and just say something banal like, "Should I clean the anchor?"

 

When cragging I hear others crushing in abundance. All around me all the time. What am I doing wrong?! I'm starting to feel very alienated from the rest of our climbing community.

 

So I'm asking for your help. How can I go about crushing? Any advice would be helpful.

 

Thanks.

[dave schultz]

Climb with me and you'll feel like your crushing it.

[genepires]

not enough verbal recognition and rewards from partners?

I would say that you either get internal rewards (preferred) or get new partners, most likely those who climb worse than you. they are easy to impress. You can find them at the mountaineers lodge in large groups.

Not sure if I really understand the issue. "crushing" as I thought of it was how one felt internally after doing a climb. How smoothly and confident it went, not the accolades received afterwards.

[Drederek]

Road trip.

[boadman]

Even though personally I like to think I've had a great start to the climbing season, I just don't feel like I'm CRUSHING. you know? I'll do a hard pitch, lower down, and my buddies will say in a monotonous tone, "Nice job," or, "Well Done," or, "cool". Or sometimes they're not even that generous, and just say something banal like, "Should I clean the anchor?"

 

When cragging I hear others crushing in abundance. All around me all the time. What am I doing wrong?! I'm starting to feel very alienated from the rest of our climbing community.

 

So I'm asking for your help. How can I go about crushing? Any advice would be helpful.

 

Thanks.

 

Your problem is in your approach. You have to look at the route of the word, "Crushing", which is "Crush", as in - Turning hard things in to little bittie hard things. So, stop climbing with technique, using your feet, etc. Just grab the top of the cliff, and bring it down to the ground. It doesn't matter how tall it is, just reach a little higher, hold tight, and crush it.

 

Get it? You'll never crush if you keep walking up stuff with your lower appendages.

[G-spotter]

I'll do a hard pitch,

 

That's your problem. Chuffing is for old people. To crush, you need to do PROBLEMS.

[Raoul Duke]

I've been having this problem lately too. I find it's easiest if you get stoked before you try to crush. If that doesn't work, I've had some luck with being super stoked as well.

[ivan]

maybe yer just not listening to enough REM?

[video:youtube]

[tanstaafl]

Perhaps you could try tearing your shirt off at the bottom of each route. I went to a bouldering comp once and I noticed that's what Sharma did.

[Pete_H]

Try a couple bong hits, shotgun three beers, and four shots of espresso. There will be about a ten minute window when you can climb just about anything.

[Water]

you may benefit from spending some time in a body-builder's gym. Not getting stronger there mind you, but observing the grunt techniques used during squats and bench presses. I think with some careful observation at the gym setting, you can find the secret to out crushing most of the other crushers you hear all around you.

[wayne]

I dont know where you regularly climb, but climb a bunch at Index, then you will crush everywhere but there!

[tvashtarkatena]

Try yelling "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" immediately after every pitch, regardless of performance. Crush the post-finish. Eventually, this mindlessness over doesn't-matter method may reverse osmoze into your actual climbing if someone doesn't whack you with a 2 x 4 first.

[ColinB]

Pretty sure you just need to deadlift more.

[Pete_H]

Need to work on your bowstaff skills.

[Rad]

Are you "Master of your own world"?

 

[Sol]

Do you lift brah?

 

[montypiton]

just live a while longer, John -- these days, even a measly 5.8 evokes sighs of admiration: "gawd I hope I can do that when I'm in my sixties...) -- Paul Myhre, Mark Shipman, the two Freds, Dave Jaecks, all in their sixties and seventies, holding their own with guys half their age. Proof that if you REALLY want to CRUSH, just get old....

 

-Haireball

[Jason4]

I've heard viagra will make you climb hard.

 

If that doesn't work, take your shirt off. Please put it back on when the crushing is done.

 

Claiming your victory while lowering off might help but don't afterbang too hard.

 

Whatever you do avoid alpine climbing. There will be no crowds at the bottom to witness your crushing of the alpine.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Jason4

[G-spotter]

I'm starting to feel very alienated

 

YOU NEED TO HAVE SUPER FUN!

[mhux]

you obviously need more redbull- it gives you wingz, after all.

[Kyle_Flick]

Noooo...not super fun again--that's worse than crushing.

[Vernman23]

Climb some place other than Castle Rock?

[Tony_Bentley]

You're not crushing because you're not challenged by the Icicle anymore. Head to the Yellowhead Highway and go fall in love with the limestone. You'll never regret it.

[olyclimber]

Learn to meditate and find your inner soul. Put your soul in a small bird cage and teach it the Weirding Way. Abstain from showering or baths until your scent calls to the rock, and your musk will cause the stone to exude sticky, tacky properties. squeeze a soft rubber ball, working both hands for a least 4 hours a day. Have preclimb psych pow wows with your belayer. select your technical garments with care, their usage should be listed on the tag or website description. Buy yourself a new pair of climbing shoes, even if the old ones aren't worn out. Fast. Travel to India. Go to the library, blindfold yourself, and pick out a book randomly and read it. See a doctor and get medication.