Downhill

Post by **Andrew** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:55 pm

My dad is 61 and started climbing at 54, and climbs 5.12. I do realize that he is a genetic freak, that can still out run me any day of the week, but I think you can climb well into your 60's as long as you are decently lean. My dad is still getting stronger and still trains like mad. He is my hero.

Post by **pigsteak** » Tue May 20, 2008 9:43 pm

so maybe part of the equation is how long you've been climbing....those who start later have an advantage of not having accumulated injuries.

Post by **moonbeam** » Tue May 20, 2008 10:15 pm

I don't know about climbing, but that seems to hold true for running.

Post by **charlie** » Wed May 21, 2008 12:10 am

kneebar wrote:.......From a general health standpoint I felt about the same physically until I hit 43-44, just a slight slide from there each year. ......

The increase in pitcherz and lost sleep will sometimes do that to you.

Post by **Don McGlone** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:50 am

charlie wrote:
kneebar wrote:.......From a general health standpoint I felt about the same physically until I hit 43-44, just a slight slide from there each year. ......
The increase in pitcherz and lost sleep will sometimes do that to you.

We warned him up front about hanging out with the underachievers:

"Stick with us, man. We'll have you climbing 5.10 and fucking fat chicks in no time."

Post by **anticlmber** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:10 pm

man if i coulsd just climb 5.10 i'd be in the club.

SCIN, first off we still need to have a beer(or twelve) together and i ponder how much the training to go harder wears you out faster. i would guess you do all the research before taking on something but i know many folks who campused like mad and now have no elbows.

my shoulder hurts and as i drove hole from LCC last night i thought about all this bull. if i couldn't climb what would i do??? i've always said that i would still belay/spot anyday because it means i'm outside and alive. and THAT is why i climb.

i must still be alive because you can't be this sore if you're dead.

Post by **Shamis** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:09 pm

I think it all depends on your conditioning. If you're not in good shape at age 25, then you can obviously climb harder at age 40 if you happen to be in better shape.

But since SCIN is already skinny and strong, I can't imagine he'll be able to improve much past 40.

Post by **bazoqop** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:06 pm

Shamis wrote:I think it all depends on your conditioning. If you're not in good shape at age 25, then you can obviously climb harder at age 40 if you happen to be in better shape.

But since SCIN is already skinny and strong, I can't imagine he'll be able to improve much past 40.

Nah...If climbing was only about strength and conditioning that would be true..but there is also that grey muscle between your ears..

Anyone can get better after forty..unless they're crippled up with some heinous injury.

Post by **512OW** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:47 pm

Shamis wrote:I think it all depends on your conditioning. If you're not in good shape at age 25, then you can obviously climb harder at age 40 if you happen to be in better shape.

But since SCIN is already skinny and strong, I can't imagine he'll be able to improve much past 40.

My technique is still improving, and I flat out guarantee that I have better technique than 90% of the people who climb.

Climbing hard is more about technique, smart tactics, and efficient movement than it is conditioning.

Post by **caribe** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:05 am

Shamis I think that improvements past 40 yrs aged are possible for anybody. Sharma is already talking about having peaked in strength. I am not him so I guess he would know, but we will all see how that plays out since he is such a public figure.