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How about a what makes an excellent Climber thread?


raafbeard
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some of the best climbers I have seen look they were born in the canopy of a tree, they just look natural, balance is instinctive, theres just something there I can't put my finger on...myself, I find I have to work at it, it takes alot of effort, thought and concentration but I enjoy the work so don't get too hung up about what that special quality is....but whatever "it" is, is what makes a good climber...some people just have more of "it" than others.

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a subtle balance between experiance, youth, knolege,respuct,knowlege understanding, an ability to learn, to free think, to take orders, to give orders, to accept when they were wrong, and stand firm when they know with all that is mighty they are right, to listen to their peirs there equals and their subordinates, and not be afraid to speak back, to understand they are not automatically worth 2 grand a day, but what they can ern, to take responibilities for their action and treat a team as an equal, to take critisizum with honour and give it out with respect,phisical stength, ajility and stamina, the ability to use langwide with customers that does not envolve F SH or C as a noun and pro noun a balance between arrogance and humbleness....

 

and mix all of that together with a bit of natural ability, taught knowleg and gained experiance, add a pinch of wife, mortgage and kids

 

hay presto.

 

the down side is when you get that gal or guy they ether go for 50p an hour moor, go and set up fpr them selves or you promote them to a manager.........

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This comes around every now and again, and depending on the relationship between the said climber and the person giving an opinion it can be very different.

e.g. Yorkshireman speaks from an employers point of view which is valid, but remembering the boss is still the boss, has nothing to do with excellent climbing, but shed loads to do with employability.

All the obvious answers will no doubt be covered inc. strength, speed, safety, nerve etc, but I think from an arb perspective an excellent climber will have an instinctive empathy for the tree he or she is climbing. Phototropism within any species dictates the growth habit of any tree, this in turn dictates the climbing style necessary to make way through the canopy. Understanding this on a empathic level makes an excellent climber. Not just this but the desire to do any work sympathetically is very necessary. i fully understand that the spec for the work is often decided by someone other than the climber, and the climber may well disagree with the spec. But at least understanding why it's wrong for that tree even though one is prepared to do the work is key to good climbing.

Knowing instinctively how the current cut relates to any previous cuts and to the general shape of a tree without constantly looking is a clue to the climbers ability. This of course comes to many with experience.

Clearing up is a soulless job and everyone pitching in together to get the job finished is important for moral. `Diva' climbers tend to not get that much work eventually as their elitism is irritating at best.

Understanding ones place in any team and how to efficiently work within it is always desirable.

 

What Jason said. And a huge ladder.:001_cool:

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Counter to what i and it would seem many believe; if the climber has been frantically climbing abot some monster oak for dead wood and the 2 or more groundsmen have had time for coffee fags and alittle snooze, it doesn't then seem right that the climber should have to do anythink but have fag and cofee while watching others working.

So i guess the climber clearing up is only when all things are equal. i.e not on some jobs.

Reg's 17 cut take down for example was very ground orientated, while he spent much time waiting to rig out the next piece.

Swings and oh yes them roundabouts. They make my head all spinny.

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Great replies people...Thanks for taking the time... Still being fairly green to this its good to know that my thoughts on this match others.

 

And that the qualities I aspire too, and the critisms I make of myself and others are within reason.

 

That said it seems that everyone is different on an individual basis, and I sometimes need to have more confidence in my own way of doing things

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i think jasons point is valid. ive worked for companies before where the lads have just sat about watching me climb all day, as a result ive been more than happy to come down and sit and watch them clear up, fair is fair. there should never be anything more than raking up to do for the climber if everyone has worked together.

 

of course theres exceptions when everything is just bashed out quick for various reasons.

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If I could take the best qualities of each skilled climber I know, and roll them into one person, it would be the perfect climbing machine. Steve is one of them, I rarely get wound up when working alongside him, his prunes are pretty much spot on, his rigging judgement is sound, he knows how big a bit will fell out and can place it well. he thinks of the groundies, is vigilant and safe. He appreciates people who work hard, and tries to think of how to make the groundies job flow smoothly, cos he likes to come down to a (relatively) clear site.

Mines a guinness, Steve!:001_smile:

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