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the shizzle => shootin' the shit => Topic started by: Buoux 8C on June 21, 2004, 11:54:27 pm

Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Buoux 8C on June 21, 2004, 11:54:27 pm: I have recently being seing loads of quotes from somehting called the power of climbing. is it a Book or magazine or something? and does anyone know where i can get a copy as it sounds really interesting.

thanks
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bubba on June 22, 2004, 06:47:20 am: Probably get one 2nd hand, but if not:

http://www.planetfear.com/shop/product.html?id=1804
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bonjoy on June 22, 2004, 08:15:58 am: It's a big glossy book written by photographer David Jones in the early nineties. It claimed to list and interview all the climbers in the UK who had climbed 8a+ and above, as well as a few other random people. It was very sport climbing orientated. Some of the black and white photograghy was class, the interview were a bit haphazard and the book had more than it's fair share of odd quotes and typo's.
I lost my copy ages ago.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Fiend on June 22, 2004, 08:46:33 am: Verrrrrrry strange book. Basically 1/4 well known players, 1/4 strange people on the sidelines, and 1/2 limestone sport climbers that no-one's heard from since. Less of a Who's Who of British climbing and more of just "Who?!".

The guy has some ridiculous ideas about trad and sport climbing which have been proved utterly wrong. He also seems to manage to get the interviewees to say some pretty stupid things.

There's some good interviews with the well known players though....dawes etc. Redhead's is the best IMHO.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: dave on June 22, 2004, 08:52:47 am: Quote from: "Fiend"
He also seems to manage to get the interviewees to say some pretty stupid things.

A bit like an Ali G for the early 90s?

sportclimin is wikkid, innit?
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bubba on June 22, 2004, 09:39:46 am: I'll second that there's some very good photography in the book.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: a dense loner on June 22, 2004, 09:53:07 am: the power of climbing, it's enormous, it dictates my entire existence :oops:
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bubba on June 22, 2004, 09:54:36 am: Like....that's deep man.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: SamT on June 22, 2004, 10:09:30 am: Was flicking through my copy recently (having extracted from a dusty box)

It was really just an exercise in black and white photography with a interviews thrown in.

Thinking about it though - quite relevant at the time i.e. sport climbing at the time was *the* thing to be and climbers featured were all known to me anyway - either legends or players and a few quiet folk who were busy climbing hard but just not in the spot light.
I do think it had quite an impact too - it basically helped propogate the whole brocolli youth movement by stating that there were no up and coming youth (jasper was the only one featured). I think the book came just before malc did Hubble and the whole youth movement of the time exploded with people like gresham, adam Wainwright, ian vickers Stuart Mcstronggit rachel farmer airlie etc etc all bursting onto the scene.

Ironic that Jasper gave up climbing completely whereas the rest hava all gone on to great things.

I have to admit I wanted a back like Sean M's after seeing that photo of him on Power band.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: dobbin on June 22, 2004, 10:39:47 am: I used to love that book. Wasn't legendary Foundry DJ and BPM counter afficionardo Ian 'skinny vinnie' Vincent featured as one of the 'hard men'?
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: SamT on June 22, 2004, 10:42:56 am: Yes indeed - on account of his awesome ability to flash any 8a stamina route in the world at the time.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bubba on June 22, 2004, 10:48:03 am: Quote from: "dobbin"
and BPM counter afficionardo

Oooh you bitch !!!
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: cofe on June 22, 2004, 11:21:20 am: bout 4 yrs ago when i was still at uni chris plantpot was down setting rauts at the wall. anyways he was giving up climbing and so flogging a load of gear n shit. so i bought said book and some RPs all for about a tenner (the RPs really had seen better days....)

best of all though the book is signed by pretty much everyone in it. BO! :8)

shazam.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bubba on June 22, 2004, 11:26:00 am: Has he given up? I see him out in the Peak occasionally but he's usually just milling about....
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: cofe on June 22, 2004, 11:44:53 am: no he started again bout 2yrs ago!?! gearless n'all, although he helped fit out the outside calver shop so probs got some cheap deals n ting i'd imagine.

yo.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: underground on June 22, 2004, 11:55:42 am: Some Walter Mitty fella told me at Christmas that 'The Power' was a very rare and sought-after tome which would attract upwards of one THOUSAND pounds if sold. I'd better ring Cash in the Attic and tell them I'll have to withdraw.... :cry:

Mind you, I was so mortal at the time i couldn't remember crawling from the car to the house, as was the bringer of glad tidings.... In fact I spewed in the bath while I was in it the next morning :alco:
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: a dense loner on June 22, 2004, 12:06:41 pm: that surprises no-one underground :D
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: SamT on June 22, 2004, 12:07:08 pm: I went to my first ever rave with vinnie in mansfield - along with patter - and probably where I met bubba - I remember vinnie dancing on the spot non stop all night - and no hint of any performance enhancers - he was a fit bloke our vinnie. Bet hedidnt feel as rough as me the following night.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: underground on June 22, 2004, 12:08:17 pm: Quote from: "a dense loner"
that surprises no-one underground :D

But can you guess who Walter Mitty was withhis head in the clouds????
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bubba on June 22, 2004, 12:16:55 pm: Quote from: "SamT"
and no hint of any performance enhancers

Well that soon changed didn't it :D

Yeah, he was very fit and as far as I know, the only person to have a custom angled campus board hooked up to a fork-lift.

Into his mountain biking instead now I think.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: SamT on June 22, 2004, 12:20:14 pm: Mountain biking - I bet he's into some horrenous uphill endurance battles then - 3 day trans siberia treks and the like.
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: a dense loner on June 22, 2004, 12:28:42 pm: Quote from: "underground"
Quote from: "a dense loner"
that surprises no-one underground :D

But can you guess who Walter Mitty was withhis head in the clouds????

i would hazard a good guess, until the Â£1000+ was mentioned, n i don't mean the new welsh gradin system :wink: is he into bikes n breedin?
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: dave on June 22, 2004, 12:30:23 pm: how the fuck do you breed bikes?
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: dobbin on June 22, 2004, 12:34:47 pm: Where Skinny Vinnie's concerned - anything was possible.

There were some fucking awful outfits in that book. Pollitt - what were you thinking? rainbow tights!?
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: underground on June 22, 2004, 12:35:47 pm: Quote from: "a dense loner"

i would hazard a good guess, until the Â£1000+ was mentioned, n i don't mean the new welsh gradin system :wink: is he into bikes n breedin?

He he he! You win first prize :lol:
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: cofe on June 22, 2004, 12:52:42 pm: Quote from: "dobbin"
There were some fucking awful outfits in that book. Pollitt - what were you thinking? rainbow tights!?

legend more like. legend. :worthy:
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: a dense loner on June 22, 2004, 03:16:03 pm: Quote from: "dave"
how the fuck do you breed bikes?

with great pain
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: fatboySlimfast on June 22, 2004, 05:17:11 pm: Some of the geezers in it like Dave Jones(the sandstone geez not the fat photo guy) were mutants. he was a demonic boulderer and strong as fuk. Blew his fingers out in the end. Is phil davidson in it? He was a mutant bak in the day.
Also featured joe Healey, which despite his best efforst during the 90's to piss his talent up the wall, was one of the best young climbers in the late 70's early 80's on the trad stuff
Fuk inst ed morgan in it???? Krist i remeber him and his shit mate who suddenly got good(Mr Birch)
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Johnny Brown on June 23, 2004, 10:17:59 am: You mean Mr Birch of Almscliffe fame? The only man ever to onsight West side story :shock:

I have several mates who can recite any photo caption in that book. I don't think its influence over the top climbers of today can be overestimated.
Lucky the sport grades for grit didn't catch on... Ulysses 7b+ :roll:
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Control freak on June 25, 2004, 02:37:39 pm: Maybe - but how many steps are there on the ladder at CragX eh?

(Dont tell me youve forgotten already)
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: dave on June 25, 2004, 02:39:47 pm: old ladder or new ladder? :roll:
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Control freak on June 30, 2004, 12:46:00 pm: The one which features in power of climbing
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: Bonjoy on June 30, 2004, 12:51:47 pm: Go and count tehm. I believe its living under an arete in rivelin quarry at the mo!
Title: Power of climbing
Post by: hongkongstuey on July 01, 2004, 02:06:27 am: Quote from: "Control freak"
Maybe - but how many steps are there on the ladder at CragX eh?

four