Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
It takes the personal decision to enter old age without a pot to piss in.
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
Ever wondered what it takes to be a professional climber?
Nope.
|
|
Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
|
|
Looks like you have to wear a lot of different cute outfits.
|
|
steve shea
climber
|
|
In my town, JH, there are more 'sponsored athletes' than there are employees of some of the sponsoring companies. It is also the home to TGR, Storm? and other film companies. Also, it seems, every climbing and ski photographer on the planet. Watching the athletes fight over table scraps, the behind the scene machinations to get a 'shoot' and new highs in narcissistic behavior, the answer is no.
Self sponsorship is the way. Get a job then take time off and do your thing. If you need to be in the mountains all the time then become a guide. But that is high altitude, under paid construction work with a lot of pressure to keep your client alive. And JD is right about the lack of retirement programs and benefits etc. So you still end up working. Heh heh
|
|
speelyei
Trad climber
Mohave County Arizona
|
|
The mere existence of paid recreationalists in any capacity must represent a high water mark of stability and success for any culture. Good job, everybody!
Even though it's climbing, it still looks like work, probably more grueling than your average 9-5 gig, too. Bet she can't have a margarita whenever she wants. Hats off to productive behavior, whatever the endeavor.
|
|
crunch
Social climber
CO
|
|
"Ever wondered what it takes to be a professional climber?"
Always figured it meant that going climbing would no longer be something fun, but work: an obligation, a chore.
Not for me.
|
|
Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
|
|
I think it's probably more like 'professional hunter' than 'professional surfer.'
|
|
speelyei
Trad climber
Mohave County Arizona
|
|
Locker, good point.
Perhaps I should've said: as a professional climber, one could not have a margarita as often as I'd like, and still maintain the requisite physique for the occupation.
|
|
speelyei
Trad climber
Mohave County Arizona
|
|
Talking pure calories.
Sigh, the elaboration has killed what little humor might have been in my post.
|
|
speelyei
Trad climber
Mohave County Arizona
|
|
It's all in the delivery.
Print's just not my medium.
|
|
crunch
Social climber
CO
|
|
It takes the personal decision to enter old age without a pot to piss in.
donini FOR THE WIN!
Of course, most people enter old age without much of a pot to piss in.
At least the woman in the video (and others vying for the same) will enter old age knowing that once in their lives they followed their dreams; not just followed what was the easiest, safest, thing to do to make get by.
|
|
crunch
Social climber
CO
|
|
At which point they'll wonder why their on-line recovery fund has netted them all of $382: the cost of an ibuprofen.
OUCH! :-)
|
|
Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
|
|
I thought professional climber was an oxymoron.
|
|
pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
|
|
The professional climber that I can think of is yvon chouinard. Started a company making millions! That's professional.
|
|
fluffy
Trad climber
Colorado
|
|
It takes....
shitty music?
dynos??
|
|
Edge
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
|
|
TWO TRAMPS IN MUD TIME - Robert Frost
Out of the mud two strangers came
And caught me splitting wood in the yard,
And one of them put me off my aim
By hailing cheerily "Hit them hard!"
I knew pretty well why he had dropped behind
And let the other go on a way.
I knew pretty well what he had in mind:
He wanted to take my job for pay.
Good blocks of oak it was I split,
As large around as the chopping block;
And every piece I squarely hit
Fell splinterless as a cloven rock.
The blows that a life of self-control
Spares to strike for the common good,
That day, giving a loose my soul,
I spent on the unimportant wood.
The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.
A bluebird comes tenderly up to alight
And turns to the wind to unruffle a plume,
His song so pitched as not to excite
A single flower as yet to bloom.
It is snowing a flake; and he half knew
Winter was only playing possum.
Except in color he isn't blue,
But he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom.
The water for which we may have to look
In summertime with a witching wand,
In every wheelrut's now a brook,
In every print of a hoof a pond.
Be glad of water, but don't forget
The lurking frost in the earth beneath
That will steal forth after the sun is set
And show on the water its crystal teeth.
The time when most I loved my task
The two must make me love it more
By coming with what they came to ask.
You'd think I never had felt before
The weight of an ax-head poised aloft,
The grip of earth on outspread feet,
The life of muscles rocking soft
And smooth and moist in vernal heat.
Out of the wood two hulking tramps
(From sleeping God knows where last night,
But not long since in the lumber camps).
They thought all chopping was theirs of right.
Men of the woods and lumberjacks,
The judged me by their appropriate tool.
Except as a fellow handled an ax
They had no way of knowing a fool.
Nothing on either side was said.
They knew they had but to stay their stay
And all their logic would fill my head:
As that I had no right to play
With what was another man's work for gain.
My right might be love but theirs was need.
And where the two exist in twain
Theirs was the better right--agreed.
But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future's sakes.
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
What's the difference between a climbing guide and municipal bonds?
ans: Municipal bonds will eventually mature and make money.
|
|
WBraun
climber
|
|
Pro climbers are all lost and get their clients lost too .....
|
|
Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
Edge,
I'd never read that before. Thanks so much for sharing it. It strikes a cord. :)
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!