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Which climber inspires you to climb the way you do?

Original Post
Le gion · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 15

Sorry, it's a sign of the times... celebrity climbers and social media. But I think it's nice having role models or people who inspire you. So I'm curious who's on your radar.

Please keep it positive and rated PG since we're talking about real people (and they may run across this!) And no idol worshipping either! Don't want this to be a debate about climbers, it's just sharing your personal preference.

Past, present, or future. Famous or not. Know personally or not. As long as you share why!

Peter Croft. I get the sense it's really not about the grade or ego for him, he'd be fine just scrambling on a ridge with good friends.

Yuji Hirayama. There's a vid of him describing climbing like surfing, just riding the rock and not thinking too much.

I love both their versatility of climbing styles and their calm demeanors. They just seem like standup people who, despite their accomplishments, would be just as happy belaying a beginner.

Scott Grover · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 0

I'd say Dave Graham. I've seen many videos of him climbing and just talking and the extent of his conversations is nuts. Also his motivation

JasonT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 250

Loc Nguyen, because if he cant send 5.12 and v6 hes for damn sure gonna spray like he can.

Wait, did we say inspires?

Ed Wright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2006 · Points: 285

Since the first day I climbed in 1967: Jim Erickson.

Bryan Vernetson · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 130

Definitely TC. Boulders V13, established some of the hardest sport in NA and destroys big wall now. Super inspiring to see him in Endo Valley this summer and then check him out on the Dawn Wall with Kevin Jorgeson in Reel Rock. Amazing climber.

Will Gadd on the ice side. Been doing it forever and has some wisdom to share.

bv
www.whiteknuckled.com

Ryan Palo · · Bend, oregon · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 605

Im going to go with Adam Ondra. Not because he's currently leading the way for new standards (onsights 14c on the reg, onsights 14b big walls, onsights v13, wins world cups, etc), but because of his epic wobblers. I've seen some serious tantrums in my day (try hanging out at the Project Wall in Rifle), thrown a few myself, nothing compares to his.

http://vimeo.com/17904026

It seems like ever since Chris Sharma stepped onto the scene, throwing a wobbler just isnt cool anymore. I felt like the wobbler was a dying art until AO.

Thanks Adam, you're an inspiration to us all.

Bryan G · · June Lake, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 6,167

Basically any of the Yosemite pioneers from 60's, 70's, and 80's. The list is quite long. I've met very few of them in person, but whenever I see a route was FA'd by someone like Chuck Pratt or Dale Bard, it spikes my interest in climbing that route. Kind of like how a kid would collect trading cards of his favorite baseball heros... I like "collecting" routes that were FA'd by Yosemite legends.

The more modern "rock stars" like Caldwell or Honnold climb way too hard for me to ever repeat their FA's and FFA's.

Peter Franzen · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,730

Strangely enough it is Alex Honnold these days, but not because of the free solos. Even though he doesn't climb 14+ I am always amazed at how incredibly fluid and smooth he is on the rock.

It's often difficult to relate to someone climbing one of the latest cutting-edge Euro super-projects, but watching Honnold float up 5.13s is incredibly inspiring in its own way.

Ian Cavanaugh · · Ketchum, ID · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 620

Didier Berthod, Todd Skinner and Sonnie Trotter. I know that two of them are out of the game, but they all do or did go out and push things to the limit on hard gear routes. Established new bold lines and were quick to step up and repeat those set before them. Right now Sonnie is working the Prophet with Will Stanhope (another great climber).

koreo · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 85

Jonathan Siegrist, Ramon Julien Puigblanque, and Chris Sharma. All three of them climb with passion and aggression. Siegrist and Puigblanque are both shorter than the average climber and still crush it(I'm 5'6" with no ape index). Sharma for chasing some of the hardest redpoints in the world.

Rob Gordon · · Hollywood, CA · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 115

John Gaskins

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241

Who inspires me to climb the way I do? I honestly probably climb more like the kid in socks and rental shoes at the gym. So, to you, pizza party kid, I salute you.

NickViator · · Denver, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 10

+1 for Tommy Caldwell. He's a total nerd and an amazing climber with no ego.

England · · Colorado Springs · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 270
JasonT wrote:Loc Nguyen, because if he cant send 5.12 and v6 hes for damn sure gonna spray like he can. Wait, did we say inspires?
Ha Ha, so true.
Jimmiy Dunn, a good friend. Every time he's over it really gets me wanting to better myself all the way around. He still trains everyday.
SW Marlatt · · Arvada, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 50
Ed Wright wrote:Since the first day I climbed in 1967: Jim Erickson.
+1
S Denny · · Aspen, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 20

honnold.

erik wellborn · · manitou springs · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 355

Warren Harding. He didnt care or worry about style. He just wanted to climb and have a few (OK a lot) strong drinks with his partners afterwards.

Alex Vaught · · South Lake Tahoe, CA · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 60

PETER CROFT. He seems so stoked on climbing, I also like what and where he chooses to climb. Crazy bold and endlessly persistent.

phil broscovak · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 1,631

This guy.

This guy

Edited to add Jeff Stephens nails it. Four of my greatest climbing heros.

Jeff Stephens · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 80

These four guys are OK climbers. They took on bold challenges. They made creative innovations. They had technical prowess and physical strength. They endured wild epics. They had positive attitudes. They explored wild places in good style. And they survived.

Abel Jones · · Bishop, CA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 576

Peter croft on a bomber piece... "you could fall 100ft.... and it would not matter at all". Climb like him.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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