[shark]

Good news Great news Fucking awesome news..

Yes, it's on. I've exchanged a couple of emails with my new best friend (sorry Ben) John Gaskins and he's happy to meet up for an interview probably later in November.

Expect high quality talkage and low quality production values.

To coin a phrase I'm sure there are some other things you would like me to ask him...no guarantees he'll answer them

More on John in the UKBouldering John Gaskins Appreciation Thread

[Fiend]

 

Please get better sound for this one, I can't imagine he will be doing much shouting about his stuff.

Hmmm....questions questions....there must be some.

1. Could VNB be highballed?
2. Why hasn't his Thorn mega problem had much attention given it's the best natural grit line in Lancashire?
3. As well as brutal finger strength, how much has he relied on extreme body tension and extreme pain tolerance?
4. How much further could he have gone in pure difficulty if he'd stuck with bouldering? And how much further does he think mankind can go?
5. Any views on the styles and diversity of modern hard bouldering and hard boulderers?

[slackline]

What are John's thoughts on Doylo's homage.....

[fatneck]

Brilliant news!! Can't wait....

I always wanted to know what (if any) impact he feels his faith has had on his climbing?

[Wood FT]

 

good work Le Shark.

Was there a particular moment or series of events (i.e. BockGate) that lead to him to move away from climbing? climbing in the public eye at least

or if that's too heavy; is my head of hair holding me back?

[SA Chris]

Does he think his old skullet hairstyle was a source of strength, or was he stronger without it?

[highrepute]

impressive work Shark. I'm reminded of the Power of Climbing (book), incredibly motivating stuff. I've often thought it'd be great to recreate some of that magic and now you're doing it.

Qs...
1. what does he feel was his greatest achievement in climbing?
2. Is there some attribute he feels he had/has that contributed to him becoming so strong?
3. where did he draw his motivation from? is it still the same thing that drives him now in his current ventures?
4. Does he miss climbing and has he considered a return?

[GCW]

I've seen him out and about a couple of times last year.

I look forward to this interview.  Maybe plug the camera in this time?   

[Johnny Brown]

What's the deal with Shadowplay? Why do the current best think it is impossible? Has it broken, are they looking at the wrong problem, or is it the hardest thing ever climbed?

[blacky]

I heard he did Shadowplay on crystal meth...

[JackAus]

What was/is the smallest edge he could/can hang on??

[Moo]

If we all chip in and buy him a ticket will he please go to Hueco tanks

[Nibile]

I'd like to know how he used to train, and all his feats, like one armers and edges and stuff.
Also, I'd like to know if and how he prepared mentally for the hard hard stuff.

[Grubes]

Wow!!!!! Brilliant shark I can not wait!

Does he have any regrets from his climbing career? i.e. projects he did not finish, problems/routes he wished he could of tried/done or how he handled his critics?

[Fiend]

Also, I'd like to know if and how he prepared mentally for the hard hard stuff.

Top question 

[masonwoods101]

Does he think Brandenburg gate is possible?

[Luke Owens]

Nice one Shark! This is awesome!

I'd like to know how often he used to train as opposed to actual climbing?

[Jaspersharpe]

What's the deal with Shadowplay? Why do the current best think it is impossible? Has it broken, are they looking at the wrong problem, or is it the hardest thing ever climbed?

+1

[andy_e]

Does he think the reverence in which some members of the climbing community hold him (myself included) is blasphemous or just a bit of fun?

[Luke Owens]

Does he think the reverence in which some members of the climbing community hold him (myself included) is blasphemous or just a bit of fun?

+1 I was going to ask if he new how strong his following is within the climbing community.

[dave]

Did he ever find that his skullett would dab the floor when doing very low traverses?

How does he imagine things would have been different for his if he'd have lived somewhere with more of a climbing "scene", and more popular crags, less of a backwater, like say Sheffield or Llanberis? Could he have climbed harder, or would it have worked against him?

Could he have climbed font 9c had he used fivetens instead of boreals?

Pain aux raisin or chausson au pummes?

[Pantontino]

Excellent news!

Can you ask him if he thinks he'll ever come back to North Wales to finish off the sds to Nodder's problem, Repeat after Me at Caseg Fraith?

And tell him that just across the way, on the other side of the Ogwen Valley, the Isles of Wonder sitter is up for grabs too.

[tomtom]

Can you ask him if the Dab whistle is his?

(excellent news btw...)

[andyd]

Please could he bring/share electronic copies of all his climbing photos so we can decorate our desktops for motivation?

[Doylo]

Some questions from one of G's greatest fans, Danny Cattell:

Can you give a brief outline of your typical training session? What in your view is the best way to increase finger strength?do you think grade inflation exists,or are people really doing 8Cs in a few sessions?how hard is the brandenberg gate project?