Great Climbers...Born or made?

[Mike Hill]

I feel that the truly gifted climbers owe some of their ability to genetics.The guts to push themselves further,the intelligence to pull off certain actions,the self belief that makes them go and consistently achieve high production.

 

Further,I feel that its difficult to be a great climber whilst staying in one Country.What makes a top climber in the UK may not cut the mustard in the States.Also in order to leave their comfort zone and travel to a job in another land requires huge self belief.If you don't pass the trial,you go home because you weren't good enough.

 

I feel this type of personality isn't restricted to Arbwork.People like that join the Forces,specifically more specialist or gutsy units.The Para's and Royal Marines spring to mind.

 

There have always been those people who take any job to the top level.I think Arb work,or more to the point technical dismantles attract people who are willing to "go a little further".

 

The above is not directed at just any climber,although a little is aplicable to eveyone you puts on a harness.

[Stephen Blair]

i used to dream of doing sequoias every day of the week or try my hand at crane dismantles, but since i have nothing to prove to anyone anymore i am more than happy to spend all day with a silky and combats trimming bushes in a garden with an ipod on lol.if i worked for someone else i would be bored out my head doing this, but as a business owner it makes so much sense, i can do my calls as i am lopping a bush ot brushing up. i bewlieve natural ability comes into it big time, going around the world makes no diference unless the trees and situations are diferent, a 100 ft pine is always a 100ft pine. if you give 100% all the time then it doesnt matter if you have someone else to beat on a site, but working for loads of diferent guys you get to see so many diferent ways of doing the same task, but i know huck hasnt left lancashire and i bet there arent many that can keep up with him lol

[hazzygawa]

i have definitly thought about it and come to the conclusion, i was born like it.

[Rupe]

I've been climbing everything since the age of about 8, and rock from 12 onwards and ice for a little while too but it was too scary!!! So I was a born climber no doubt about that, its all I wanted to do but I thought it would always be just a hobby.

 

Trees were a very hard transition, so I'm not sure if any previous climbing experience helped or not. Of course it helped to know knots and stuff, but tree technique is nothing like rock, and tree gear then was primitive by comparison. Karabiners??

 

I did some stuff in Alaska that I was very proud of, and my need to prove myself has diminished since then but still existed when I started tree work. Nothing I've done in tree work comes close to making first ascents on new mountains in winter!

 

I would have like to have worked abroad more though, I think your right, the challenge is to fit in and make the grade, thats two tricks in one!

[Mark Bolam]

Bit of both IMO.

[skyhuck]

I totally agree Mike!!!

 

I know of guys who have very little or no natural ability who became good climbers, but to be a great climber takes more that the stuff you can be taught.

 

I came to tree work a little late (24) and married very young (20) so missed out on the traveling thing, its probably my biggest regret in life.

 

I really wish I had gone over seas and climbed BIG trees.

 

I still hope one day to leave these shores and climb a real monster!!

 

Unlike Stevie, I still love doing big trees and alway price the bigger ones too cheap, cause I still get a buzz out of doing them.

[Stephen Blair]

 

 

Unlike Stevie, I still love doing big trees and alway price the bigger ones too cheap, cause I still get a buzz out of doing them.

 

if its some one elses job i love doing big trees, crash crash crashitty crash, it its my job i cant be bothered with organising kit and bodies and dividing up the wonga, its the moving the stuff once its down is the pain, as i said, if i worked for someone else doing the wee jobs i do i would be bored.

[ad15]

agree with what you say entirely rupe, I started rock at 7 years old, did winter too from 17-24ish,, then had a little break,,

 

reckon the rock hindered me a little with the transition to trees..

[Matt Butler]

its the moving the stuff once its down is the pain

 

too true

[Tom D]

Its bound to be true, there will be an element of genetics in the level of apititude in any profession. This was recently proved in city traders and though it will be harder to prove I am sure it will be the case in loads of other professions.

 

Why not try the finger test?

Its what they used in the city traders example and also in atheletes. You measure the length of your index finger and then your third finger on the right hand (measure from the crease closest to the palm ) Then divide the length of the index finger by the middle finger, the lower the number the "sportier" you are.

 

I get 78 and 85mm so thats about 0.92:001_smile:

 

I'm off to look up the national average now if I can, post yours up, it will be interesting to see if us tree surgeons are above (below) average.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Tom D