5 tips for the becoming of social media star!!!

Greg Tennyson wrote: I'll also point out that the girl who wrote the article you're all bitching about climbs harder than most of you.

Ugh, damnit. I'm already regretting wading into this, but I'll also point out that half the Spaniards at Siurana on a Wednesday are better than her, and you'll never hear of them.

I think what some folks are trying to point out is that there is a definite appreciation for those who have achieved success without product pedaling their way to the top.

Do I blame people like this for trying to make a living with this sport? Well yes...but I can emphathize. My heroes don't need an Instagram account to inspire me, and I do strongly believe that there is generally a correlation between number of "soft impact" activities like social media and raw talent: The less you have of one, the more you need of the other. It seems like, for the most part, the pros who can really bring something to the table in terms of performance don't need to pedal any products to produce devoted followers. Good ole' hard work and motivation still sells too.

evan h wrote: Ugh, damnit. I'm already regretting wading into this, but I'll also point out that half the Spaniards at Siurana on a Wednesday are better than her, and you'll never hear of them. I think what some folks are trying to point out is that there is a definite appreciation for those who have achieved success without product pedaling their way to the top. Do I blame people like this for trying to make a living with this sport? Well yes...but I can emphathize. My heroes don't need an Instagram account to inspire me, and I do strongly believe that there is generally a correlation between number of "soft impact" activities like social media and raw talent. It seems like, for the most part, the pros who can really bring something to the table in terms of performance don't need to pedal any products to produce devoted followers. God ole' hard work and motivation still sells too.

If you had the chance to earn a comfortable living traveling and climbing and all you had to do was smile for a photo with an energy drink, I bet you'd smile ear to ear.

Believe it or not, but some people in the world still carry themselves with principles. You can make your judgements on where I'd fall, but I think we know where you stand. Say cheese!

evan h wrote:Believe it or not, but some people in the world still carry themselves with principles. You can make your judgements on where I'd fall, but I think we know where you stand. Say cheese!

Queso!

Sasha has on sighted 5.14. Let's not question that she is better than just about every climber in the world. Have some respect. She may be a social media whore but don't get it twisted . Don't hate the player hate the game.

R. Moran wrote:Sasha has on sighted 5.14. Let's not question that she is better than just about every climber in the world. Have some respect. She may be a social media whore but don't get it twisted . Don't hate the player hate the game.

Finally someone with some common sense *applause*

Let's not confuse this with a lack of respect. Looking objectively, Sasha made some big waves in 2011 and 2012 and rightfully and deservedly gained attention. What about in the years since? Not much, yet she's become even more of a household name. Oprah? Come on man, we have to draw a line in the sand. Is this the game we want for this sport?

Evan, are you really saying that Sasha is a mediocre talent? She's one of the few women to send 9a, and is a former world champion. You may not like her style, but to imply that somehow she is the equivalent of a middling Spanish chuffer (which is still very strong) is disingenuous.

And those Spaniards are no chuffers!

True

No you were quite dismissive of her. I didn't confuse it with disrespect. You said that the average Euro was stronger. That's simply not true or alternative facts if you will! I guess if you want to know what else Sasha has done lately maybe you should follow her on instagram or friend her on FB.

T Roper wrote: mediocre tennis players dont get into big tournaments because they are hot

She peaked at #8 in singles and she's won two Australian open (Grand Slam) doubles titles. i would hardly call her mediocre.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_…

My snarky sense of humor has gotten me in trouble again...

Alright, no I don't think Sasha is mediocre and I don't think she's worse than half of Europe. I didn't say that, but apparently it was implied. I apologize. I know for a fact there there is a rather large number of European (and certain American) climbers who have achieved those same stats and hardly make a blip on the radar.

Obviously some of you have no problem with the fact that she's been riding the wave of her (very impressive) successes of 5-6 years ago, but I'm less impressed. She did some very big things in those days, I agree, but I don't like the rest...what you'd call whoring. I don't like that I've had non-climbing friends ask me about her. They ask me about Honnold too, but I'm ok with that, as it least he seems humble about the whole thing and they're mostly in awe of free soloing.

I, and I suspect others in this sport, are still motivated by good ole' fashioned try-hard.

I'm not gonna beat a dead horse but.... She juST GOT THE FA of a 13+ in the New River Gorge. She Climbed 6000 ft 13A on the NorthFace of the Eiger a year ago. I know not that impressive number wise but she hasn't been on the radar much in the last 4 years because she Just Graduated Columbia University in the Spring of last year.arguably a bigger achievement than any climbing grades. Especially if you have already ticked em.

R. Moran wrote:I'm not gonna beat a dead horse but.... She juST GOT THE FA of a 13+ in the New River Gorge. She Climbed 6000 ft 13A on the NorthFace of the Eiger a year ago. I know not that impressive number wise but she hasn't been on the radar much in the last 4 years because she Just Graduated Columbia University in the Spring of last year.arguably a bigger achievement than any climbing grades. Especially if you have already ticked em.

Also an author on Outside Online, did you read that article? WOW!

R. Moran wrote:she Just Graduated Columbia University in the Spring of last year.arguably a bigger achievement than any climbing grades. Especially if you have already ticked em.

THIS is why she hasn't been performing at quite the level she was before she was a full-time student. As a student myself, her ability to maintain the level she has is pretty damn impressive. Now that she's graduated, I'd expect things to change again.

Perhaps we need reminding of the phenomenal achievements done by folks like Adam Ondra and Michaela Kiersch while juggling full-time college life. Or those who maintain high-level climbing while working full-time jobs and raising young children (Anderson's).

Look, I was actually armed with the knowledge of Sasha's college degree before I wrote a word here, and I'm not judging her for her lull in major activity. I'm just saying it exists, yet she's still been putting her face on every screen she can find. The point of this thread is the article being linked, which to me is a disgrace. This sport doesn't need this. I have a strong passion and devotion for this sport, and it's the only reason I found myself contributing to the sort of thread I'd usually run away from. I guess that was a mistake.

evan h wrote: The point of this thread is the article being linked, which to me is a disgrace. This sport doesn't need this. I have a strong passion and devotion for this sport, and it's the only reason I found myself contributing to the sort of thread I'd usually run away from. I guess that was a mistake.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

I have to agree with Evan.

Sasha Digiulian could be the best climber in the world for all I care, but she still detracts from modern climbing culture, and especially the long standing ethic of anti-commercialism (seen more so in the UK, but certainly to some extent elsewhere)

I understand the symbiotic relationship climbers have with their sponsors, but I think the climbing story naturally sells itself. Daily updates about every single warm up climb, training day, and product sponsor shoot, coupled with the 8 or so hash tags (which insult both the power of human thought and expression) water down the inspiring, visceral, and human stories that climbers have offered for so many decades.

So would I take $10,000 for a photo shoot with Coca Cola? No quicker than I'd put up advertisement for Coca Cola in the school I work at.

Climbing has long been a sport that escapes consumerism, or at the very least has a gentle take on it- selling honest products in honest ways. Whether you like the climbing companies now or not, they are fundamentally different from what they used to be, and often require their climbers to excessively advertise their products as widely as they can.

So getting back to the original point, whether or not you think Sasha is a great climber, this kind of insta-self-advertising, and especially promoting this kind of insta-self-advertising, will fundamentally change our sport, and force it to become a part of the corporate over stimulated world we all try to escape on our precious weekends at the crag.

I hear what you guys are saying . The keeping up with the climbing Kardashians gets old. Fact of the matter is it's the world we live in. Like it or lump it. But Evan dismissed Sasha and the reality is she is one of the preeminent women climbers in the world. And a world champion. Certainly stronger than your average Euro or human. THE IRONY IS ALL YOU POSTING IN A Forum on the Internet in order to voice your dismay with social media. It's intrinsic in our culture. If you disdain it so then don't click on it or search for it.