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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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pro climbers hang rock starts from quarter inch bolts,
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steve shea
climber
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In the good ole' USA guiding IS considered to be down there with gym instructor or jazzercise teacher. A curious way to make a living at best. Fishing guides get more respect. Not like Europe or other Alpine countries.
As said upthread, it is one way to climb and get paid. Professional.
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patrick compton
Trad climber
van
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sweet to read how how the 'climbers' on this site wish ill to someone who is trying to maximize their potential through dedication and hard work.
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steve shea
climber
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I don't see any ill will toward her. Only professionalism. The consumer, the audience is jaded.
Having worked for many years in the outdoor industry for a major ski company in better times than these, higher numbers of skier days, I can tell you the budgets are just not there. Some one has to pay. So many enter the arena every year with plans to pursue a dream and go pro but the reality is most firsts have been done. So what sets you apart is an integral part of the criteria, "why should we pay you?" Nothing different here. It is admirable that anyone works hard and tries to follow their chosen path. But until the stadium is filled to capacity on the level of oh say international soccer, and the seats are all paid for, climbing as a profession would not be my choice. That is kinda what the OP asked IMHO. Guiding actually makes more sense, perform a service, get paid.
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John M
climber
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sweet to read how how the 'climbers' on this site wish ill to someone who is trying to maximize their potential through dedication and hard work.
I don't see anyone wishing her ill will. I hope that she achieves everything she wants to achieve. What I do see are people who are jaded by the system and recognize some of the realities, which is that there isn't much money in the profession, at least in America.
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patrick compton
Trad climber
van
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good points Tami and Steve.
A buddy, who is a pro climber, has said the 'pay' and incentives for pro climbers is low because the industry cant support it and the climbers themselves don't demand it. In other words, so many of the pros are trustfunders and don't rely on their sponsor for money, so the companies resist giving a check to anyone.
I wonder about the future of of pro climbing with magazines in decline. I am not sure many care about another teeenager that did v14. They may get sponsored with some shoes and shwag, but they won't get a check.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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A buddy, who is a pro climber, has said the 'pay' and incentives for pro climbers is low because the industry cant support it and the climbers themselves don't demand it. In other words, so many of the pros are trustfunders and don't rely on their sponsor for money, so the companies resist giving a check to anyone.
Now that sounds like some probably false jealousy.
The damn trustfunders ruined my otherwise oh-so-lucrative pro-climbing career, wannhhhhhhh!
I remember years ago reading about Dave Graham complaining that he made less than female clothing models or something like that--I could sorta see his point, but in a more-or-less capitalist society, it's not that surprising that people who are very, very good at somewhat obscure hobbies don't necessarily get paid much if anything for it.
(Not to pick on Graham--guy's always got a big smile on his face at least when I see him in the main Boulder climbing gym.)
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patrick compton
Trad climber
van
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Graham is the trustfunder my buddy was referring to, but my buddy is also a trusfunder. I think he was commenting on the idea of a pro climber: if you don't make a living at it, it isnt your profession, you are sponsored.
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speelyei
Trad climber
Mohave County Arizona
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At the end of the day, what did you produce? What did you contribute?
Did you frame some houses? Wash some dishes? Close some sales?
So if you're a professional climber did you:
Teach some classes? Guide some clients? Or did you do something so incredible that your name alone will sell stuff like water bottles, shirts, and zippered sunglass cases?
Someone's got to cut the check, what did they get from you?
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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...so many of the pros are trustfunders and don't rely on their sponsor for money...
So, is the answer to the thread title question - "It takes a trust fund to be a pro climber."?
I listened to/watched a live stream on YouTube a few weeks ago of Alex Honnold and cedar Wright, and those two were suffering out there in the cold, and the stream kept cutting out to the point it was unwatchable(I kept the tab open and listened as I did other stuff).
What I did watch was two guys sticking to the commitment in a really horrible situation. Those two should have been provided with a warm place to do the show, and if outside the van was the "theme," then there should have been a damned Mister Heater set down for them to keep warm and hot beverages. At one point, the highlight of the stream really, Alex was so frigging cold he couldn't stand it and stood up and started doing exercises.
Whomever was "sponsoring" that event should be ashamed of themselves.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Because they didn't take care of their athletes.
They did nothing except put their name on the "product" by hawking on social media to log in to watch the interview. They didn't make sure the stream worked, didn't check in with them to see if the weather was too cold to be sitting outside for 90 minutes.
You may be coming from the point of "that's the deal the athlete signed," but if so, I'm not buying.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Go for it girl.
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Ham and Eggs
Mountain climber
Aoraki/Mt Cook Village
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I doubt that I have truly had an original thought.....ever
Everything has come to me in one-way or another, from others
I am certain however, that simply having a dream and the willpower is not enough in this world
You also need to be part of a community
Pros who post with borrowed swagger as a self-bestowed hardman or hardwoman
These folk are 'Individuals'
They are easily identified as the ones in competition with each other for the coin and fame
Though they share a common pursuit, each sees themselves as somewhat different from the rest
Such folk are different from those who don't so much see themselves as 'Individuals', but rather, as 'people' belonging to a community
'Individuals' come to believe themselves as different from others
'People' come to know themselves as part of a community
Hard climb, clean ethics - these are inspiring things
But without a sincere wish to be a 'person' within the community, I can't see an 'Individual' superstar influencing what I buy and how I climb
It matters to me when a bloke solos a big route and is praised
It matters even more when he insists to mention the broken trail he followed in
Solo half dome, repeat a route and remember who put it up
Go big in the Himalaya and remember to pose the question '"What would the locals achieve if they'd so much time and money for leisure?"
Conquering mountains was in the past well promoted for nationalistic prestige
These days, it has become all the more individualistic
Wonder how you would get fan-mass for trying not to be fan-mous? Those are the folk I want to see more of
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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Well you'd have to be a pretty good climber. Then you'd have to be willing to live out of a truck pretty much full time. You would be insulted if you had to pay retail for gear so you'd get it on pro form discount and then sell it off every year to break even
If you're really ambitious you'd have to peddle your ass around the country asking for donations to pay for your vacation to the 3rd world.
Most of your clothing would have a lot of stickers on it.
you would be admired by a lot of high school kids- and quite a few adults would envy you--sort of the same way we envy our dog or our cat.
Being a pro comes down to what you have to offer the world. Some pro's get paid to bounce a ball- maybe some get paid to climb.
It sound's appealing in a way--lot's of free time
To quote L. Reed
"Some people like to go out dancing
Other people they have to work"
get it while you can
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jgill
Boulder climber
Colorado
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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
There are a few older climbers out there who are giving this some second thoughts I would imagine.
Mina is spectacular. However, those long jumps/drops may come back to haunt her in old age. Oh well . . . you're only young once.
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WBraun
climber
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Pros generally lose the key to the door .....
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WBraun
climber
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Be careful to understand which is "THE DOOR"
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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However, those long jumps/drops may come back to haunt her in old age. Oh well . . . you're only young once.
No shitz John. I have aches and pains from decades of adventures, but I wouldn't give them back for that moment that I made it happen on "If Six Were Nine" like Kobe Feckin' Bryant. Neither would Kobe.
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Michelle
Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
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It seems like a tough way to make a living, but hey, follow your passion. Until you realize you can't do it forever and get some alternative income. Or grow old and be a bum, not working and living off other people like a parasite, abusing the system.
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jgill
Boulder climber
Colorado
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I have aches and pains from decades of adventures, but I wouldn't give them back for that moment that I made it happen
There are several precious moments I would gladly give back.
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