Lunatic Czech Tower Jumpers meet the New York Times!

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=e240fe22092f7b24a1565e0efb4e9bc93faa8ca3

And I thought speed climbing competitions were dumb.

A little bit more slack might help in the instances where people miss, huh?

The part about warm'n up by drinking beer at 10 AM is pretty cool, huh?

Czechs are kinda bad-ass. There's a law in their country that bolts cannot be closer than 4 meters together I believe. I wish some climbing areas in the States had that rule.

--Marc

Julian Smith wrote:The part about warm'n up by drinking beer at 10 AM is pretty cool, huh?

Russians start their day w/vodka and a side of pickled herring - witnessed in JT

Anyone know why this video looks like PeterMax acid-trip on my screen, thanks in adv

edit added* article for the video-impaired

My friend Patrick has spent a few years over there. He has never eaten a meal with me without having a beer, breakfast included.

OUCH! Some of these guys are jumping in regular climbing shoes. That's gotta hurt.

...There's a law in their country that bolts cannot be closer than 4 meters together I believe. ...
--Marc
It's not a law it's just the local ethic, but a strong one.
But before you wish to have these rules as well,
theres's no metal protection (like stoppers and cams) allowed
only knotted slings and cord.

Julian Smith wrote:The part about warm'n up by drinking beer at 10 AM is pretty cool, huh?

Let's all set a great role model here for the juvenile set by advocating both alcoholism as well as doing dangerous sports while impaired.

This was a fun video to watch of some guys who will likely be limping around and fat when they're 50, thinking about the good ol' daze when they did crazy stuff.

The way I look at these activities is that every injury you get at 25 is one that you will feel ten-fold when you're fifty. Each of us gets to choose how we want to wear out our bearings (knees, ankles, etc.).

My personal preference is to enjoy climbing and skiing when I'm 80 or 90, but others may want to shoot their whole wad and be done by 40.

"If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself" ... Mickey Mantle (always thought this was said by Pete Townsend)

Cheers,
Thom

Was I hearing cool techno chill music that was also used in Front Range Freaks?

That's no so dissimilar to the article in the last Alpinist Mag about the solo culture at "Stolby" in Russia.

FUCKTARTED!!!!

Nazdar,

There's no law, but the strong traditional ethic pertains mainly to the sandstone areas which are well known and popular not just among climbers, but all of czech people. There are plenty of limestone and granite sport climbs that are well protected.

Numero uno would probably have a seizure if he knew some of the other czech customs!

-Patrick

The Stolby video has been around for a while . . . here it is if you haven't seen it:

patagonia.com/usa/patagonia…