Question for the pros?
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While I'm no pro, I'd say you transition from a beginner to pro when you start getting paid to climb whether you're an athelete or a guide. |
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Merlin wrote: Stop hurting his feelings, the younger generation is quite sensitive.Sad but true. They are making the SNAGS of the nineties (sensitive new age guys) look like badasses. |
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Never stop learning. |
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Boots Ylectric wrote:Never stop learning. This applies to climbing.so true! I just got humbled on big wall climbing. I thought that even though I am not pushing hard grades on sport and trad I was not a beginner after 17 years, but no, not true when it comes to big wall. I am a novice! Climbing has so many aspects. We can become comfortable at one, yet loose the edge at another. It's a sport of constant growth and training. You can't be too sensitive either. Sometimes you have to take things with a grain of salt especially from old timers just to learn from them. Nothing wrong though to point out if people are rude or being plain jack asses. That happens everywhere not just in climbing. |
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Bstoker2 wrote:At what point did you consider yourself not a beginner anymore? Was it when you led a certain 5.#?? Was it when you took a big fall? When did you find yourself finally being out of the world of beginner climbers? ThanksI dont think that the grade you crush really compars to if you are a beginner or a pro. I have seen way to many children crushing 5.13+ but are doing stupid $#!^ as well. I think that the point you are no longer a biginner is at the point you can saftly start shareong your past knowledge with some one that has less experince than you, but keep an open mind and realize that there are many forms of climbing. Big Wall Trad Sport Ice Aid alpine I think that there are very few people that know everything about every style of climbing so it is important to keep soaking up information. |
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I guess I have never thought of this question... |
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I have to agree with trundlebum; I stopped considering myself a beginner once I got to a certain skill/competence level rather than a certain grade. Once I got to the point that I could comfortably lead a trad multipitch (and had some basic self-rescue knowledge), I felt that I was no longer a beginner. |
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Many good comments here. I'll just add that there are still many "beginners" that can climb 5.12 or better so the grade is immaterial. Snatch away their Gri-gri and they will just stare slack-jawed at the rope. |
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That awkward moment when you realize that you can just use a bight of your rope in place of that $30 PAS you've been wearing around town. |
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Good one Jon. |
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trundlebum wrote:Good one Jon. Concise and making a great point !(i still use mine. shhhhhh.) |
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As far as the differentiation between pro and non-pro goes, that one is easy. A pro is someone who does something for a profession, a career. An amateur is someone who does not do something for a profession. But dont confuse pro with expert or master as they are not the same thing. An amateur can be more experienced and/ or knowledgeable than a pro depending on the comparison. |
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I just saw a video of a climber( not gonna mention his name) doing a multi day big wal solo. He has done this for years: go to the Valley and just get on routes, alone or with partners... for days and weeks on. The man was resembling Tom Hank's character in "the Lost" pretty much talking to himself, the rocks, pitons...etc. there is nothing wrong with it I suppose. The man is not hurting anybody. Although I could not help but find it very odd. |
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Sounds like Eric Ziesche on a boulder problem ;) |