Saw this video this morning and whilst I wasn't sufficiently interested to watch much of it, the bits I did see were enough to motivate me to post it here and complain about it.
Firstly, would like to point out I really respect Pete as a climber (and as a person from the handful of times I've met him) and this isn't meant as a personal criticism. More a general criticism and expression of concern on how increased participation and commercialisation of climbing have/are/will compromise the crags.
Anyway the things which made me wince in the video:
-the whole premise of charging around the plantation in a lame challenge context
-challenging other people/youtubers to do the same
-brushing vigorously (at damp rock for extra squirm factor) and filming it
-making the video on a wettish day, saying the rock's wet, doing it anyway
-etc.
I've nothing against people making money out of climbing (good on them) but I'd argue a line needs to be drawn where anything commercial involving outdoor climbing on real rock has to first off be about education and a (once well established?) culture of respect. Respect for the environment, rock, other climbers, other poeple there, etc. Pious and boring as that may be.
Also master's edge - just leave it the fuck alone now.
Firstly, would like to point out I really respect Pete as a climber (and as a person from the handful of times I've met him) and this isn't meant as a personal criticism. More a general criticism and expression of concern on how increased participation and commercialisation of climbing have/are/will compromise the crags.
Anyway the things which made me wince in the video:
-the whole premise of charging around the plantation in a lame challenge context
-challenging other people/youtubers to do the same
-brushing vigorously (at damp rock for extra squirm factor) and filming it
-making the video on a wettish day, saying the rock's wet, doing it anyway
-etc.
I've nothing against people making money out of climbing (good on them) but I'd argue a line needs to be drawn where anything commercial involving outdoor climbing on real rock has to first off be about education and a (once well established?) culture of respect. Respect for the environment, rock, other climbers, other poeple there, etc. Pious and boring as that may be.
Also master's edge - just leave it the fuck alone now.