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Do rock climbers consider rock climbing an "extreme sport"? Climber's Forum
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SuperTopo Guidebooks Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 1, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
EDIT: REPORT IS DONE. THANKS FOR THE HELP, EVERYONE looks easy from here climber Ben Lomond, CA
Full disclosure: I’m posting this topic for a research paper for an anthropology class. I’ve seen these sorts of threads generally go down in flames, but I’m hoping the fact that this isn’t my first post here, and that I’ve been (I like to think) productive member here will engender me at least a modicum of goodwill. Post #2 is a survey and I will be grateful for anyone who’s willing to share their answers, and post #3 is (are?) my answers and some thoughts, because I don’t ask anyone to share anything I am unwilling to share. Here's a link to an offsite version of the survey: That being said, I do honestly find this an interesting question, and would love to hear any discussion about it, regardless of completion of the survey.
So, do rock climbers think that rock climbing is an “extreme sport”?
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
1. How old are you? Are you male or female? How long have you been rock climbing? looks easy from here climber Ben Lomond, CA
2. What percentage of your time climbing do you spend participating in the following types of climbing: -top-roping -free climbing, sport -free climbing, trad -aid climbing -free soloing 3. What type of climbing that you participate in do you enjoy most? 4. Which of these factors to you enjoy most about climbing: physical challenge, mental challenge (e.g. problem solving), psychological challenge (e.g. overcoming fear), excitement, internal reflection. 5. Which of the factors listed above do you experience most while climbing? 6. Who do you most enjoy climbing with: solo, with just a partner, in a group/social setting? 7. Do you most enjoy climbing below, at, or above your physical limit? 8. What is your approach to the potential risk inherent in rock climbing: to mitigate it, accept it, or embrace it? 9. What is the longest fall you’ve taken while climbing? 10. Have you ever been injured while climbing? How severely? How many times? 11. Do you think rock climbing an extreme sport, in general, and the way you most do it? 12. What are some activities that are extreme sports in your opinion? Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 12:55pm PT
1. How long have you been rock climbing? looks easy from here climber Ben Lomond, CA
33 year old male, climbing for 3 years. 2. What percentage of your time climbing do you spend participating in the following types of climbing: -top-roping 35% -free climbing, sport 40% -free climbing, trad 25% -aid climbing 0% -free soloing 0%
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3. What type of climbing that you participate in do you enjoy most? trad 4. Which of these factors to you enjoy most about climbing: physical challenge, mental challenge (e.g. problem solving), psychological challenge (e.g. overcoming fear), excitement, internal reflection. Internal reflection 5. Which of the factors listed above do you experience most while climbing? Psychological challenge 6. Who do you most enjoy climbing with: solo, with just a partner, in a group/social setting? partner. 7. Do you most enjoy climbing below, at, or above your physical limit? Below. 8. What is your approach to the potential risk inherent in rock climbing: to mitigate it, accept it, or embrace it? Mitigate it. 9. What is the longest fall you’ve taken while climbing? 10' 10. Have you ever been injured while climbing? How severely? How many times? No. 11. Do you think rock climbing an extreme sport, in general, and the way you most do it? No, and no. 12. What are some activities that are extreme sports in your opinion? Free soloing, BASE jumping, big wave surfing, Class V kayaking, deep free diving. I’ve been rock climbing for about three years and when I tell someone who is not a rock climber that it is something I do the two most common reactions are “Isn’t that dangerous?” and “Aren’t you scared” to which my answers are “Not the way I do it” and “Sometimes, which is why I do it in a way that isn’t dangerous.” The public perception of rock climbing is of it as an extreme, high-risk activity but anecdotally my experiences suggest otherwise. I go to great care to mitigate potential risks inherent in rock climbing. As my experience level has grown I do things that appear riskier to people who don’t climb, but because of my knowledge and skill I know that I am not in any more danger than when I was taking fewer apparent risks, but was less skilled and knowledgeable. This is a pattern that I have observed in many other rock climbers that I know. Dec 1, 2014 - 01:08pm PT
Dingus Milktoast Gym climber Maestro, Ecosystem Ministry, Fatcrackistan
dude answering that looks hard from here. If you do a surveymponkey I'll answer it. Not gonna spray that stuff on this board though and certainly not going to sort out your form. DMT
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 01:16pm PT
Copy. I'll find someplace to host it. My interwebs kept crashing with surveymonkey, but I'll find an alternative. looks easy from here
My accounts open for pm's, too, for anyone who doesn't want to share publicly before I'm able to put together an offsite survey.
climber Ben Lomond, CA
Dec 1, 2014 - 01:16pm PT
Yep, what DMT said. apogee climber Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Dec 1, 2014 - 01:20pm PT
Ksolem Trad climber Monrovia, California
I don't generally see cragging as an extreme sport. There have been a few exceptions along the way, but they were not in the original plan. I always approach climbing like it's a job. My profession. Even though it's not. Use a private survey form for anything else.
Dec 1, 2014 - 01:24pm PT
skcreidc Social climber SD, CA
This is not railing at the OP, btw. I have never have liked the term "extreme" in this usage. When they first started calling some surfing extreme, my response was WTF?? Makes it sound like it's all crazy people doing this stuff. No doubt there are some, but lets just ignore the fact that these people have trained diligently for this activity (unless they are idiots). We still appreciate those who can go out and hunt down a mammoth and come back alive. This is modern day mammoth hunting; we are hard wired for this stuff. edit, and the survey monkey or private survey is the way to go.
Dec 1, 2014 - 01:41pm PT
I'll also be oppositional and annoying. Tami Social climber Canada
What is a sport ? What is extreme? I think living in Palestine would be extreme. Not sport necessarily tho' it might be considered sporting. And extreme. I think a home birth without possibility of getting to a hospital is extreme. Also not sport. But extreme. I don't think rock-climbing is extreme but if the person doing it makes certain choices - being a dumb n00b, onsight free solo above your normal leading comfort zone , caving without a headlamp..............where does dumb stop and extreme begin ? Again, what is extreme? For me it's coloured in shades of grey. Reminds me of what Donini was yammering on about concerning the word "adventure". "Extreme" for one person is probably 'boring' for another. I think having choice in the matter is a big deal. Okay so you set out for a nice ramble in the hills and it turns lousy and you twist an ankle and now what was a nice ramble is a bloody epic. Easy became extreme ; yikes ! Sorry to be a brat but it's in my nature. :-) EDIT : PM sent. :-)
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 01:42pm PT
That went more smoothly than earlier: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/looks-easy/rock-climbing/ looks easy from here
Adding link to OP as well.
climber Ben Lomond, CA
Dec 1, 2014 - 01:46pm PT
Reilly
I'd say yer time would be better spent on a paper about rock clamberers and their self-perception as iconoclasts.
Mountain climber The Other MonroviaCA
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 01:47pm PT
I have never have liked the term "extreme" in this usage
looks easy from here climber Ben Lomond, CA
I don't think rock-climbing is extreme but if the person doing it makes certain choices - being a dumb n00b, onsight free solo above your normal leading comfort zone , caving without a headlamp..............where does dumb stop and extreme begin ? These echo my opinions. It was my teacher (who's not a rock climber) repeatedly referring to rock climbing as an "extreme sport" that got my wheels turning about comparing an insiders perspective with an outsiders perspective. And offering a constructive opinion, oppositional or no, is never annoying (at least in this context). Dec 1, 2014 - 01:52pm PT
I responded. Dingus Milktoast Gym climber Maestro, Ecosystem Ministry, Fatcrackistan
You need to add bouldering as a type of climbing. The most challenging and most enjoyment questions? The answers felt too limiting. There was one question I could not answer at all. Cheers! DMT Dec 1, 2014 - 01:53pm PT
The word 'extreme' is just a marketing phrase. Its about selling something. Dingus Milktoast Gym climber Maestro, Ecosystem Ministry, Fatcrackistan
That's it! DMT
Dec 1, 2014 - 02:01pm PT
Agreed Ding :-) Tami Social climber Canada
It helps young hard-ons buy more gear. :-D
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 02:02pm PT
The most challenging and most enjoyment questions? The answers felt too limiting. There was one question I could not answer at all.
looks easy from here climber Ben Lomond, CA
The survey's for an 8 page intro to anthro paper, so I'm just looking for information that can be fairly easily dissected, hence the specifically narrow options on some of the very complex concepts. I believe that the insider/outsider division of views on "extreme" is something that could be deeply studied, and if I were doing a masters thesis on the topic I would certainly be hassling everyone here a lot more doing pre-research for my research, so be thankful that this is just a brief snapshot of the topic. :p And thanks to you and everyone who's taking their time to help me with my homework. :D Dec 1, 2014 - 02:17pm PT
An extreme sport (or game?) Ksolem
Russian Roulette
Trad climber Monrovia, California
Dec 1, 2014 - 02:21pm PT
I wrote a college paper in the early 80s about extreme sports :) Dingus Milktoast Gym climber Maestro, Ecosystem Ministry, Fatcrackistan
I quoted an article from Outside Magazine circa 1980-ish about Sylvan Saudan, one of the early commercial faces on 'Extreme skiing." The French coined the term extreme skiing (ypically from 45 to 60+ degrees slopes) in the 70s. They were selling magazines, ski equipment and lifestyle ;) So we owe our rad lifestyles to cheese eating wine swilling cigarette choking effeminate frenchmen with big sunglasses and pine boards for skis. Viva la France! And off with their heads!!!!111111 DMT Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2014 - 02:35pm PT
Writing papers before the internet? You didn't actually have to talk to real people, did you? *shudder* looks easy from here
Fwiw, I am going to be printing copies of my survey out and harassing people face-to-face as well, so I'm not just relying on the lazy way out.
climber Ben Lomond, CA
Dec 1, 2014 - 02:58pm PT
I took your survey, which I found interesting, but difficult because of the lack of definitions. What constitutes "extreme?" What is a "sport?" JEleazarian Trad climber Fresno CA
I forgot about bullfighting and motor racing, as just two examples. I think a lot depends on the level of difficulty and the margin of safety. Still, I rather enjoyed the thought experiment (although it was sobering to realize that I do aid climbing perhaps ten percent of the time, but I actually enjoy it quite a bit). Best of luck! John
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