Millimeters of hot forged metal cling onto millimeters of metal and plastic. Teeth grit and veins constrict in search for an edge to cling steel onto. It's almost inhuman and yet very human that modern climbing and the athleticism that comes with the sport has evolved past its origins. Before this athleticism truly lied on indomitable human spirit and endurance, it still does but with new technology and climbing becoming a more coveted passtime more people are able to surpass the efforts of old. As rally racers, competition skiers, and alike push themselves to the limit, a climber does so as well in the solitude of their tools, their partner, and the route.
Besides goopy speak, it's interesting. Competition climbing was never my interest but I took a chance to try it out. Comp climbing is interesting because usually the routes are spectacular and force the climbers to try out unfamiliar moves. This competition was at Turner's climbing gym near downtown Milwaukee which held a warm and quaint gym that had descent routes and the ability to train on an plastic artificial ice wall. It was their third year hosting this drytooling event and I would gladly encourage anybody to try it out. I did better than I expected for being the 2nd time I've been dry tooling and understood the medium a bit more. I'd love to try a mixed route someday. We'll see