Is it still a redpoint if you skip bolts?

Since stopping to clip a bolt can take a lot of energy, one could make a route easier by skipping bolts. If one does that, can they really claim they sent the route?

I would say it's still good.

If you free solo it, does it count?

are we talking quickdraws or just a carabiner? Also, if you use more than a 2 foot runner on a bolt, is that still a redpoint?

lol

If you really want somebody to tell you the true way to climb a sport route, then you need to post this in the Trad forum.

yes

I'd give this OP a 70% chance of being a troll, but on the off chance that anyone is interested in an actual conversation:
My impression is that the goal of sport climbing is to strip climbing down to the challenge of physical movement on rock and as such, the extra challenge of placing and clipping quickdraws is basically irrelevant. I've read that at high levels, having pre-placed draws can make a climb feel about one letter grade easier, but as placing draws is not exactly a challenge anyone is interested in/derived fulfillment from, no one cares. A true redpoint of a sport climb is climbing the route without falling or resting and the manner of protection is basically irrelevant as long as there isn't a top-rope. The whole distinction between pinkpointing and redpointing is really only meaningful when talking about trad climbs, where the challenge of placing pro is an important and valued part of the experience.

Mark E Dixon wrote:If you really want somebody to tell you the true way to climb a sport route, then you need to post this in the Trad forum.

A while back, I climbed a bolted route at the Monastery at Lumpy Ridge. Before I started, I noticed placements for gear so I took along some small stoppers and tricams. I placed about three of them. When I was back on the ground, I was talking to a young climber, who insisted I hadn't done a clean ascent since placing the gear had made the climb easier. Well, it certainly made it easier psychologically. At first I assumed he was just teasing me, but finally decided that he was serious about my ascent being marred by placing the extra gear.

rob.calm

What kind of harnesses were being used? What kind of belay device? What kind of shoes? What kind of chalk? What brand name was on the hanger that you skipped? Did you power scream when you climbed past the bolt that you skipped?

A day of rain, here, in Halfway, OR.

rob.calm wrote:A while back, I climbed a bolted route at the Monastery at Lumpy Ridge. Before I started, I noticed placements for gear so I took along some small stoppers and tricams. I placed about three of them. When I was back on the ground, I was talking to a young climber, who insisted I hadn't done a clean ascent since placing the gear had made the climb easier. Well, it certainly made it easier psychologically. At first I assumed he was just teasing me, but finally decided that he was serious about my ascent being marred by placing the extra gear. rob.calm

The only ethic in sport climbing is "look rad." If you looked "rad" skipping the bolts, it counts. If you looked sketchy, no good.

C. Archibald wrote:The only ethic in sport climbing is "look rad." If you looked "rad" skipping the bolts, it counts. If you looked sketchy, no good.

Jacob Smith wrote: A true redpoint of a sport climb is climbing the route without falling or resting and the manner of protection is basically irrelevant as long as there isn't a top-rope.

Troy S wrote: That's a new one, didn't know we weren't allowed to rest. So just power your way through the route, how many seconds of shaking out on a hold before it's considered a rest? Just wanna make sure I'm doing this climbing thing legit...

So every no hands knee bar, or hand jam I've ever picked on a sport route basically negates all my sends?

Climb smart, not hard. Resting your way up a route is the best way to send a route.

rob.calm wrote:A while back, I climbed a bolted route at the Monastery at Lumpy Ridge. Before I started, I noticed placements for gear so I took along some small stoppers and tricams. I placed about three of them. When I was back on the ground, I was talking to a young climber, who insisted I hadn't done a clean ascent since placing the gear had made the climb easier. Well, it certainly made it easier psychologically. At first I assumed he was just teasing me, but finally decided that he was serious about my ascent being marred by placing the extra gear. rob.calm

Sam Stephens wrote:So every no hands knee bar, or hand jam I've ever picked on a sport route basically negates all my sends?

Yeah, that always bothered me about climbing comps. While I get why they would have a rule like that (liability, insurance, etc), it is rather silly, as skipping clips is often prudent given the situation, especially on gym routes where there are draws every 2 feet.

As far as OP, I agree with Jacob that this is probably trolling, echoing the nonsense over in the trad forum about pinkpointing. In the event that it is not: YES, obviously it still counts.

Redpoint/free-solo