Does rock climbing need to get "big"

[rustyvasectomy]

http://www.joekindkid.com/ICF_program_lowres.pdf
[quote] While Joe overtly shows his enthusiasm at the crag, he also proves to be a pretty thoughtful fellow. He understands the big picture of climbing and the importance of encouraging others regardless of their experience level. And perhaps, more importantly, his
positive energy is contagious. He is a strong believer that “the more people experience the intricacy of rock climbing, the more climbing will be understood and respected.â€

[ahab]

it doesn't, but is. we don't, but are. yes, yes and yes.


i'm guessing that's an article from a climbing magazine. mainstream = subscriptions

[rdo'c]

$$$$$$$$ Baby. Sponsored athlete's aren't so much ambasadors of the sport as they are pitch men for there sponsors. The more average dick and janes that see climbing as accesible the more hanesses and shoes's get bought. Tony Hawk struggled to make a living as a professional skateboarder for a long time. Then the X-Games came along and his video game and suddenly skateboarding was in everyone's living rooms. Now he's loaded and there are skateboard shops in the mall!
Obviously the X-Games didn't have the affect on climbing that they have had on skate boarding and thankfully climbing doesn't translate well into a vidoe game. So, I don't think climbing will ever blow up like that.

The advent of municiple and collegiate climbing gyms has given climbing the biggest boost. More and more universities seem to be getting walls. It doesn't look like the crowds at crags with a concentrations of moderates are gonna thin out any time soon. I see climbing going the way of surfing where people get very territorial over the best spots and develop secret spots that they don't tell anyone about. Maybe they already have and I just don't know about it.

[Crankmas]

its like obama it sounds good on the outside but sucks balls in reality- politics are about telling people what they they wanna hear then butt fuckin em when the fools elect said butt fuck'ee- the 18 thru 29 demographic is typically the least informed and the last presidential election bears the truth in spades (a spade?) by the way Kinder falls into that demographic himself- look at his sponsors and you can see why those statements are a no brainer on his part- climbing isn't just a lunatic fringe thing anymore by long shot but for better or worse has growth potential-you can play church softball and never walk into Fenway Park

[krampus]

don't worry ahab, we will always have the beene routs

[ynot]

I'm pretty disalusioned with the way climbing iis headed. The upside is it's moving toward private land. Sooner or later the national forests are going to say "no more"

[512OW]

Rusty, you contradict yourself. We'd be "dumbing down" the sport, yet 7 year olds would be climbing 5.15? Wouldn't that be progress?

rdo'c... there have been secret crags as long as climbing has existed. Its called human nature.

Climbing could only be helped if it became more popular. Hell, it already has been. Look what its done for Miguel. For the owners of Waterstone at the New. For guidebook authors. For the thousands of people who work in outdoor stores, gyms, factories, and guiding services. For all the small business owners who cater to the climbing community around Rifle, Lander, Moab, Yosemite, Fayetteville, Slade, and every other small climbing town. Look at the PMRP. Think that would've happened without popularity? No way. Look at the number of people whose lives have been improved by climbing... and the kids they'll influence... and the kids they'll influence. How can it be a bad thing to have more people who CARE about nature?

Don't be so short sighted.

[bjdm151]

I just want it to be popular enough to have climb time back. It was so nice to be able to get off work and stop by the gym for a bit.

[ynot]

damn hippies

[pigsteak]

since when does climbing popularity have ANYTHING to do with caring about nature? that's a new one.