The one "act of impressiveness" I would add to that is where someone does something out of nowhere. As in, they've been trying something, don't look close at all or like it should be well beyond them and then suddenly pull it out of the bag.
For me, the climbing that impresses me most and that I love to watch falls under into a few categories: a fight where the climber is digging very deep and leaving nothing in reserve; or a display of exceptional boldness or commitment; or a demonstration of mastery - making the climbing seem effortless.
'93 the reebok comp at Birmingham. Fresh off the Hubble this Gaskins guy had been invited. Back stage antics on the warm up wall turned into a full on competition, people doing one armers on slopers etc, Malc and Gaskins both did this problem using one of those textured cowpats placed upside down so it was a sloper with a thumb sprag. I remember trying to hold it and just being confused about what had gone on. Despite having witnessed it close up there seemed no way it could be possible.
Quote from: cowboyhat on January 15, 2021, 03:48:57 pm'93 the reebok comp at Birmingham. Fresh off the Hubble this Gaskins guy had been invited. Back stage antics on the warm up wall turned into a full on competition, people doing one armers on slopers etc, Malc and Gaskins both did this problem using one of those textured cowpats placed upside down so it was a sloper with a thumb sprag. I remember trying to hold it and just being confused about what had gone on. Despite having witnessed it close up there seemed no way it could be possible. GASKINS IN ‘KEEPING UP WITH MALC’ SHOCKER.
Stu Littlefair has always been good at that. I remember doing Cross Therapy with him. I did Tusk, the exit problem pretty quick and then started to try and link from the start. Stu couldn't do Tusk, gave up, worked the start moves of Cross Therapy, then pulled on and did it, doing Tusk for the first time on the link.
Quote from: Doylo on January 15, 2021, 08:27:55 pmQuote from: cowboyhat on January 15, 2021, 03:48:57 pm'93 the reebok comp at Birmingham. Fresh off the Hubble this Gaskins guy had been invited. Back stage antics on the warm up wall turned into a full on competition, people doing one armers on slopers etc, Malc and Gaskins both did this problem using one of those textured cowpats placed upside down so it was a sloper with a thumb sprag. I remember trying to hold it and just being confused about what had gone on. Despite having witnessed it close up there seemed no way it could be possible. GASKINS IN ‘KEEPING UP WITH MALC’ SHOCKER.Can someone check on Dan, make sure he's okay.
I don’t have to try hard when I put the poncho on
Possibly the most impressive climbing I've seen was on the Rostrum in 2007, this kid soloed up beside me while I was at the base of the offwidth pitch; we had a chat, as though we were in a cafe or something, and he asked politely if he could carry on, and continued to steadily mosey on upwards, looking as in control as one would walking down a flat pavement. It was Alex Honnold, at no point did he mention that it was the first time he'd soloed it, or that he'd already soloed astroman that morning, cycled over to the Rostrum and breezed up that too.