The story so far… (08.09.09)
”Point & Shoot”…a classic Grampians project
located at the Kindergarten. A project I’ve often
fondled and wondered about (along with countless
others) until last month when Al Pryce claimed the
first ascent.
This problem took me five days…that’s five full
days, worked sessions, busting moves, having
shots, bleeding, swearing, the whole nine yards.
It took Alby approximately 5 minutes…
Does mean Al is a better climber than me?
Well….of course it does! I needed 5 days to learn
how to move in a way that Al realized in minutes.
And really, moving is what this bad boy is all
about. (er..the problem, not me. I move like crap)
Day 1 and I managed the crux move exactly once.
Day 5 and I fired the move 11 times in a row. As
a warm up. The power of movement and
momentum exemplified in one simple lateral
shift.
I find it interesting to come up against a problem
that renders all my hard earn skills and talents
completely superfluous. I’m fresh off a 2 month
finger strength cycle and feel previously unknown
levels of contact. On Point and Shoot it was
worth exactly zero. Instead a brilliant spotlight
cast down the light of truth on my true
weaknesses, forcing adaption in climbing style as
well as perceptions and analysis of my own
abilities and current limitations.
This is why I love climbing. 15 years on and still
learning.
Cheers
Mark
