Great Climbers...Born or made?

[Mark Bolam]

I think Rich's idea about ape index has more relevance, though.

 

Sit down on the floor, stretch out your legs straight. Now stretch out your fingertips and see if you have a positive (fingertips further out than toes) or negative (fingertips further in than toes) ape index.

 

Thats just a flexibility test!! Not an ape factor. I can touch my toes easy, but years ago I could wrap my hand round my feet and lie down on my legs and have a little sleep! Nothing to do with length of arms, just good flexibility gained from serious hard work at stretching over many years.

 

I am only slightly longer in the armspan than I am in height so I have a +1 ape factor

 

My mistake Rupe. Duff information from a mate who is never wrong. Yeah right. You get the idea though.

 

None of this gives you the mental skills required to be a great climber, so its a moot point really.

 

I still reckon it's a bit of both.

 

Mind you....

 

What's the name of that crazy American freestyle rock climber (I think he's dead?) who literally sprinted hundreds of feet up a sheer face? No way you could make that kind of talent/cojones!

[Tommy_B]

Dan Osman. For all of his natural ability, He still carked it jumping off of a cliff!!!

[Giles Hill]

Can any of you do this?

 

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[Mark Bolam]

I could with a bit of training.

 

Not.

 

Dan Osman. Unreal.