Pure Rock Fury, .13b
>> Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thanks to my friends for making this happen.
Yesterday was quite a memorable day for me. I was finally able to do the first ascent of a route that I bolted 3 years ago.
At a suggested rating of .13b, it's certainly my hardest send to date. With a few 1-hang runs on it, and even more many-hangs runs on it over the past few years, success on the route always seemed questionable in my mind. But there is one major hurdle that I think I've overcome in my head that has seemed to help me this season – NO EXCUSES.
Climbers always joke about "having your excuses dialed in" so that should you not be successful, well then, you've got a reason, right? Well, other than injuries, height differences, hangovers, etc., there really are no reasons to lean on excuses, (especially trivial ones) – except to save face. And that's what it boils down to – too much pride.
We've got to learn to lighten up and say "Fuck it". Have fun, try hard, and should you send, then nourish that hard-earned redpoint beer. Because you never know – that last run you passed up because of some weak excuse could have been it.
Fighting through the mono-to-mono move on the first ascent run.
Anyway, there was certainly a highly positive vibe in the air at the Fins yesterday. There was a period of low gravity for a bit in the afternoon before we all succumbed to sore tips and tired muscles.
One thing I want to point out: Heather Lords is a badass. Yup. That girl has the strongest will I think I've ever witnessed on the sharp end. No way to explain it in words, you just have to see her go for it. Impressive, yes.
At a suggested rating of .13b, it's certainly my hardest send to date. With a few 1-hang runs on it, and even more many-hangs runs on it over the past few years, success on the route always seemed questionable in my mind. But there is one major hurdle that I think I've overcome in my head that has seemed to help me this season – NO EXCUSES.
Climbers always joke about "having your excuses dialed in" so that should you not be successful, well then, you've got a reason, right? Well, other than injuries, height differences, hangovers, etc., there really are no reasons to lean on excuses, (especially trivial ones) – except to save face. And that's what it boils down to – too much pride.
We've got to learn to lighten up and say "Fuck it". Have fun, try hard, and should you send, then nourish that hard-earned redpoint beer. Because you never know – that last run you passed up because of some weak excuse could have been it.
Fighting through the mono-to-mono move on the first ascent run.Anyway, there was certainly a highly positive vibe in the air at the Fins yesterday. There was a period of low gravity for a bit in the afternoon before we all succumbed to sore tips and tired muscles.
One thing I want to point out: Heather Lords is a badass. Yup. That girl has the strongest will I think I've ever witnessed on the sharp end. No way to explain it in words, you just have to see her go for it. Impressive, yes.
1 comments:
Yea Buddy!!! Way to go!!! It's such a good feeling, isn't it? Even though it doesn;t last forever and you begin thinking of the next project, the satisfaction of having accomplished a goal that, I'm sure at times. you wondered if it was even possible. Awesome, Matt. Good job! Now that you've finished your proj, you can travel and come try some of my new routes!
One question though, only 13b? Dean says it's the hardest route at the Fins???
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