So I have to say I love watching the Olympics. Seeing people who are truly the best of the best, to see their dedication, commitment, and passion is awesome. There is only one thing that makes me sad whenever I watch the Olympics and it probably makes you sad as well, right?
Why isn’t rock climbing an Olympic sport?
I guess that is the million dollar question. There is a ton of stuff that has to be done and in place with the IFSC and USA Climbing. However, we are making some great strides forward with hosting an awesome World Cup and Teva Mountain Games in Vail earlier this year.
Could you imagine seeing the best climbers from all over the world competing for their countries? That would be awesome instead of seeing ping pong (which damn those guys are good) or badminton we would see the likes of Sharma, Graham, Dani Andrada, etc. battling it out for the gold.
I mean if the teva mountain games and the Mammut bouldering comp were that sick this year could you imagine how sick it would be in the Olympics.
What do you think? Does climbing deserve to be an Olympic Sport? Do you think we have a shot of ever being in the Olympics, why or why not?
Please share your thoughts as it stands right now I feel we are not ready yet.
Deadpoint Mag is a new climbing magazine that will be launched its first issue in October.
I’ll be honest when I first read about this magazine coming out I thought to myself ‘we don’t need another frickin’ climbing magazine’. I mean there are already 4 here in the states the Alpinist, Climbing, Urban Climber and Rock and Ice.
So what are these guys thinking? At first I thought they were crazy, but now I am really interested to see how this whole thing plays out.
You see DeadPoint Mag is different from the other climbing magazines in several ways, but the main one is that it is FREE. Yes free and I don’t know a climber who doesn’t like that word.
Supposedly this magazine is planning on getting a large readership by allowing gyms and such to carry the magazine for free for any climber just to pick up and read. You will also be able to read each issue online at http://www.deadpointmag.com. This is a very interesting concept to me. Deadpoint Mag is going after the younger climber market and surviving off the revenues from advertising, which could be significant if they can generate a large base of loyal readership.
What I like about this magazine is there plans to be much different and more edgy so to speak then the other climbing magazines. They say they are planning on taking many more risks in their articles and features, which will be nice to see. Not too mention the fact that they are giving bounties out for sending routes. Like the prize they had up for you to get $1000 for Jumbo Glass 14c. You can read the details here http://deadpointmag.com/news/routebounty.php
So they are definitely going to be different and sounds like a fun magazine that I will want to read, but the big question is can they survive in this competitive and small market?
Only time can tell but here are some of my thoughts. Since the magazine will be free I am certain that they will be able to generate a large amount of readership both online and in magazine format. The issue lies in the fact that there only revenue is coming from advertising.
Not to say that is a bad thing, just look at Google. It is too say though that I see it being hard to pull off in the climbing market. We will have to see whether or not the advertisers are willing to pay and if they are will they be profiting from the advertising in this free magazine.
How will this advertising compare to the paid magazines, where we know the market is and is willing to spend more money on climbing?
This will be very interesting as it plays out. What are your thoughts on their website www.deadpointmag.com , do you think this will make it?
If you are a rock climbing enthusiast, and especially if you have followed the movements and accomplishments of Chris Sharma closely, then King Lines is a must see climbing DVD. This movie is more of a documentary on Sharma himself and the various aspects of the great sport of climbing. The scenes, videography, and editing in this film is hard to beat, and it is a true experience for any lovers of the sport.
What’s so Special?
The movie follows the notorious Sharma to various locations across the globe, as he attempts climbs that have never been completed by another climber anywhere in the world. From a Venezuelan jungle to the turbulent Mediterranean Sea, you get to follow along in the footsteps of the world’s best rock climber as he searches for his next King Line exemplifying exactly what a pro rock climber should be.
Unlike other climbing based videos that generally follow the sport and climbs in general, King Lines is so much more, as it becomes a true documentary of Chris Sharma’s life and career. One of the most exiting parts of the video focuses on the recently completed “Jumbo Love” line, which Sharma became the first to complete in September of 2008. (unfortunately the send isn’t on the video but will most likely be on a future film by Big Up) The video is seemingly perfect except for some small occurrences, but they are no big deal.
Learning More
In addition to the larger main climbing segments, you get rare and brief glimpses into the life and childhood of Sharma. Several people are interviewed who knew him when he was climbing as a child, and although they don’t tell you who some of the individuals are, most climbers no them.
As in his previous videos, Josh Lowell adds in an element of unfinished business as he focuses on a project that is left unfinished by the movie’s end. In this case it is staggering Mt. Clark project “Jumbo Love”. Throughout the film Sharma is shown trying to complete the route unsuccessfully. This harder level of climbing that is set forth by the enormous project gives you the feeling that there is most certainly more to come.
In Conclusion
Overall, the King Lines video is an outstanding representation of the life and goals of Chris Sharma and the life of an elite pro climber in general. Few other films have managed to get this personal with the thoughts and feelings that a climber undergoes when trying to complete the immense lines such as the ones in this film.
King Lines video is an extraordinary value that can entertain even those who are slightly less than enthusiastic about the sport of rock climbing. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a climb into the insightful world and Sharma as you enjoy the thrilling lines set forth in this amazingly detailed documentary.
This climbing movie is definitely guaranteed to get your psyche up to send.
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