Chris Lindner... Age 4, leading 5.10 trad

Post by **kirker** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:42 am

There is definitly a fine line between forcing a youngster to do somthing they don't want to do, and being persistant with them when they want to do it, but give up.

Post by JR » Thu May 08, 2008 10:58 am

pigsteak wrote:yeah, tiger woods hated it at three as well......

I was thinking along these lines...

Chris's only real resentment wasn't that he got pressured at a young age it was that he was pressured into the wrong sport. Obviously he is super talented with a talented bloodline. I am pretty sure he is good at about everything. But as pigsteak was eluding to, he could have been a great golfer or something that would have made him rich. That was the big resentment.

They(parents) either hold you tight or not tight enough. Boo hoo.

Chris seemed pretty cool in his Spray Video.

Post by **schwagpad** » Thu May 08, 2008 11:33 am

The few times I've met chris he seemed like a cool guy. The few times I met his dad... not so much. I can see why Chris spent some time resenting him. I saw them in Red Rocks when Chris was 9 or so and his dad would not let him chill and enjoy himself. Something like:
"Chris you said you were going to do 15 routes today"
"I don't really feel like it"
"Just do that 12 a few more times"
"But.."
"Chris!"

At least that's my memory. He was a drill sergeant. Hopefully he's chilled out with age.

Post by JR » Thu May 08, 2008 12:33 pm

That is true schwagpad. He(Chris) should been allowed the space to swim in mediocracy like the rest of us.

I am sure playing the role of coach and father is a difficult one. If you insert "coach" in your memory about Chris it doesn't seem so harsh.

Post by **TankAzz** » Thu May 08, 2008 4:07 pm

yeah, i bet he's a rare exception in four year-olds..i bet not too many have the knowhow not to kill themselves by placing bad gear

Post by **Christy** » Thu May 08, 2008 4:30 pm

I suppose if Kaya absolutely begged me to lead at that age I would support her in the safest way possible. Although, you can bet your sweet ass she'd be wearing a helmet! Something tells me that this kid didn't come up with this idea on his own, he was strongly encouraged or pushed even by his parents and that can totally suck the fun out of it all. At the same time, part of me wished my parents had me climbing instead of racing horses. Although, I don't ride horses anymore either!

Post by **Myke Dronez** » Thu May 08, 2008 6:07 pm

Thats funny, my father was a jockey and my mother a trainer. I was riding horses before I was born and shortly thereafter, but now I can't really remember the last time I've been on one. Don't mind em'- just not my cup of tea. And to think the RRG was just sittin' down there the whole time...

Post by **schwagpad** » Thu May 08, 2008 9:45 pm

JR, maybe it's one of those you-had-to-be-there type things. There are good coaches and there are obnoxious coaches, and I thought this was a prime example of the latter.

Post by **512OW** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:59 pm

schwagpad wrote:JR, maybe it's one of those you-had-to-be-there type things. There are good coaches and there are obnoxious coaches, and I thought this was a prime example of the latter.

I think its impossible for an outsider to tell whether or not a coach is being obnoxious. If after the student decides he doesn't want to do something, he spends the next hour (when you aren't around anymore) bitching about it, then its the coaches job to make him do it next time.

That said, Chris did resent his father, but they've patched it up and he's dedicated to climbing again.

Post by **MSMITH** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:28 am

Wow, I feel weak as shit.