[Monolith]

Shark, be under no illusion that five seconds of motion film of John would be enough to detonate the brains of myself (and doubtless many others).

Thanking you again in advance for this!

[rossydoodle61]

I don't know about anyone else, but...

a good picture of the man, his methods and motivations.

...is just about all I could ever want from an interview.

[Neil F]

The thing I'm curious to learn is whether John is aware of the levels of online fanboy adulation generated in his direction and, if he is, whether he finds it humbling, gratifying, disconcerting, or just plain weird?

After all, we all know he is talented and clearly strong, so confirmation of that is hardly going to be a revelation.

(I'm secretly hoping that the internet is considered incompatible with John's religious beliefs, and that until Shark knocked at his door, John had never actually heard of UKB).

Incidentally, the section in Peak Rock describing John's attempts on Brandenburg Gate is the most interesting bit I have read so far (probably because I already knew so many of the stories from the eras I've dipped into, but I didn't know the details of that siege, and in particular, just how close John got).

Were any UKB'ers climbing regularly at the Tor at that time, and can avail us of their memories of John on BG?

Neil

[slackline]

The thing I'm curious to learn is whether John is aware of the levels of online fanboy adulation generated in his direction and, if he is, whether he finds it humbling, gratifying, disconcerting, or just plain weird?

That was one of the first questions proposed when this thread came up (and repeated several times).

Guess we'll wait and see.

Looking forward to the video, and thanks to Simon for putting the effort in to arrange and conduct the interview and Guy for helping/doing the editing.

[GCW]

I want to know what he thinks of Hesitation Marks.  I quite like it.

[shark]

Were any UKB'ers climbing regularly at the Tor at that time, and can avail us of their memories of John on BG?

He's not a UKBer but Paul Reeve saw John get close on redpoint

[Jaspersharpe]

From what I've read on here one person saw him looking very strong on BG, a few people saw him not really getting anywhere on it and that's about it. Not very helpful but unsurprising as most say they were just arriving at the crag as John was finishing his sessions.

Also, nobody ever saw him warm up on Hubble (or indeed repeat it) and John never claimed to have either. This was plainly total hearsay and nonsense.

I guess you asked him about this anyway shark.

[Johnny Brown]

Pritch has been known to mention that he saw him.

[shark]

Also, nobody ever saw him warm up on Hubble (or indeed repeat it) and John never claimed to have either. This was plainly total hearsay and nonsense.

Sorry what are you saying? that he never claimed to have done Hubble ?

[SA Chris]

Here's the wrong end of the stick....

I think he's saying JG never used to warm up on hubble for sessions on BG, or repeat (as in do it again himself after his ascent) not that he didn't do it.

Semantics semantics.

[shark]

I think he's saying JG never used to warm up on hubble for sessions on BG, or repeat (as in do it again himself after his ascent) not that he didn't do it.

I've never heard anyone say that he used Hubble as a warmup and/or redpointed it again

[SA Chris]

Well Jasper clearly has, and he thinks it's wrong??

Do you actually read things more than once before posting?

[Jaspersharpe]

What Chris said.

Fuck's sake shark try searching your own forum!    I was just repeating what others have said on here.

E.g. http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,11645.msg203486.html#msg203486 

I heard the "warming up on Hubble" rumour numerous times from different sources and it was interesting to see where it had actually come from.

[Jaspersharpe]

From what I've read on here one person saw him looking very strong on BG

Pritch has been known to mention that he saw him.

[shark]

I heard the "warming up on Hubble" rumour numerous times from different sources and it was interesting to see where it had actually come from.

It was a new one on me but rumours often start with ambiguous comments

He did say that the moves on Brandenberg were at a different level. The Peak Rock commentary is worth reading as to how much harder.

[Nibile]

Sorry, where's the "Brandenburg's Gate" project? I've heard about it but never knew anything.
EDIT: The Tor, where else!?

 

[Neil F]

It is an old aid route between Hubble and Make it Funky.  The upper section of the initial wall was freed by Andy Pollitt on his route The Whore of Babylon, which started up Hubble before Hubble existed.  But Andy did use aid on that start.

Brandenburg Gate in its entirety is one last great Raven Tor problem.  Freeing the original line of The Whore of Babylon is another (though strangely ignored).

All IIRC...

Neil

[Nibile]

Cheers Neil! 

[r-man]

If anyone's got pictures or footage of him that we can use and cut in that would be great.

Any chance you can use some of the unseen footage he has never done anything with?

Unfortunately its not in his possession. I wouldn't hold your breath but hopefully will see the light of day at some stage.

Who has it, and can we not ask them nicely?

[SA Chris]

Or even offer an incentive? (Carrot rather than stick)

[Wood FT]

As Shark said it's good to go and really long, there's no point cutting anything out IMO as it's all interesting.

Some pictures would be nice though as some of it is podcast styleee, if not then so be it, I guess people could just look at this while listening...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=john+gaskins&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3UGXUtTwKMnA7AbQv4CAAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=800&bih=678

Nice one Shark, next stop Scotty Mc

[abarro81]

Brandenburg Gate in its entirety is one last great Raven Tor problem.

'Great' might be pushing it 

[Kingy]

Were any UKB'ers climbing regularly at the Tor at that time, and can avail us of their memories of John on BG?

I witnessed John trying the Brandenburg Gate project in 2002. He was there with his partner or girlfriend. I saw him pull on but he didn't appear to be making much headway. I probably caught him on an early session or something and I guess its so frikkin hard just pulling on is probs the living end. I can't remember whether I spoke to him or not but I recall he had driven down from the Lakes very early that morning.

[Andy Harris]

I saw John trying BG on a number of occasions. Looked outrageously strenuous where just like Hubble you don't really pull up just hold a series of hideous positions, thought the veins in head were going to burst and drown us all. He did a number of the moves but never saw him redpointing. Lovely guy, very personable, always giggling.

[mindfull]

ETA?