Do You French Blow?

Do you do the French blow? I think it's a euro thing but i see people do it in the states pretty often, or maybe I'm just weird. The french blow is when you chalk up, but then blow on your hand for some reason. I don't know if it's to remind you to breathe, for flare, or if it blows the extra chalk off for maximum friction!

Lets try to get some stats here.
1. Yes/ No
2. Why or why not?
3. What type of climbing do you do?

for me:
1. Yes
2. I don't know why, it's like smoking. You don't know why you start, but can't seem to stop. I do feel like it helps a lot sometimes
3. I'm an all-around climber sport, trad, boulder.

FACT: No one knows what you are talking about.

Stich wrote:FACT: No one knows what you are talking about.

+1. I even googled it. Nothing.

I know what you are talking about.

1. yes I do it.
2. an attempt to dry the moisture between fingers and to get the extra unnecessary chalk off the finger tips (better friction).
3. I only do it sport climbing.

I know what your talking about but I don't do it.

What exactly do the French have to do with this vague act?

Stich wrote:What exactly do the French have to do with this vague act?

it's like grabbing draws; a lot of them seem to do it.

1. yup (but i call it the Euro Blow)
2. because its cool, especially mid move.
3. rock

You know what? I guess I do... I think it just started recently though, i must have seen one of my climbing idols doing it and then thought i would be cool like them if I did too. I mean, if it helps some european superdude send his projects, why shouldn't it help me send mine?

Then again.. every time I chalk up these days I think about Earl Wiggins climbing the Cruise free solo with no chalk bag.. then I start to feel silly and stop chalking, at which point I will start french blowing if i'm not quite ready to get on with the business because i've already ruled out more chalk as an option..

Does that answer your question?

OK, without searching for this, I'm taking a stab at it. This is the act of dabbing a ton of chalk on the hands and then blowing each hand to remove the excess, thusly creating an impressive cloud.

Am I right?

1. Yes I do
2. Because I put excessive amount of chalk on my hands, especially at rests right before the crux.
3. 50% sport, 40% trad, 10% boulder

Don't forget the wine. Cheese eating surrender monkeys.

Climbing.

Although whether the fingertip chalk blow actually helps on hard redpoints has yet to be proven, the practice is ubiquitous. The “Euroblow” was in fact popularized by French mega-star Patrick Edlinger in the documentary La vie au bout des doigts (1982), in which we see the trademark blow giving him amazing free-soloing powers, augmented only by filmy running shorts and a red bandana, in France’s Verdon Gorge. Wrote Dale Goddard in a 1988 Climbing piece: “Ever since Edlinger popularized the practice… the French have been conspicuously turning their heads to the side and with a casual expression, blowing their fingertips.”

Another Thread.

1. Sometimes and
1. I don't know why
2. I climb everything but I do it a lot ice climbing, makes the digits warm and substitutes glove s :)

Stich wrote:What exactly do the French have to do with this vague act?

http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/features/10_things_you_didnt_know_about_sport_climbings_early_days/index1.html

See #9:

9 Although whether the fingertip chalk blow actually helps on hard redpoints has yet to be proven, the practice is ubiquitous. The “Euroblow” was in fact popularized by French mega-star Patrick Edlinger in the documentary La vie au bout des doigts (1982), in which we see the trademark blow giving him amazing free-soloing powers, augmented only by filmy running shorts and a red bandana, in France’s Verdon Gorge. Wrote Dale Goddard in a 1988 Climbing piece: “Ever since Edlinger popularized the practice… the French have been conspicuously turning their heads to the side and with a casual expression, blowing their fingertips.”

you know, every once in a while i get excited and do it, but i usually end up accidently spitting on my fingers, which results in the need to chalk up again.

NO, and nice to blame this action on the French; glad it's not the Brits or Italians this time.

should probably rename it the 'freedom blow" !

There's a mom joke in there somewhere....

1) Yes
2) Mainly I do it to remove chalk from my hands(duh). I hate getting on routes that are covered with years of chalk. "To Defy the Laws of Tradition" at the Red River Gorge comes to mind. It's a 5.10, and it's basically one solid wall of chalk.

If it's cooler, sometimes I'll just wipe my hand on my pants instead. But when it's hot out, there really is no dry part of me (except my freshly-chalked hands). "The blow" seems like the most practical solution.

3) Trad, sport. Rarely go to the gym.

slim wrote:should probably rename it the 'freedom blow" !

Agreed. I fondly remember that brief, embarassing time of renewed hatred of the French for their lack on enthusiasm for warmongering. I bolted a forgettable sport route at Reimer's Ranch near Austin and named it "Freedom Fries." Sadly, it didn't make it in the guide book, and so is long fogotten.

slim wrote:should probably rename it the 'freedom blow" !

Definitely the best comment yet. So many places to go with it..

I find myself not using chalk for multiple pitches in a row and then needing it all of a sudden. I sometimes use the "French Blow" several times in a row on said pitch. I think it's because I only use Bison's Competition Chalk, which seems to be super fine. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Only when I'm ice climbing... sometimes if I get too gripped on radical aid.

but never my partner...

sorry.