Nuance
as one gets into the higher echelon of climbing difficulties, one finds that there is so much more subtlety to the placement (hand/fingers or foot), balance, body tension and position. i am by no means close to those higher levels, but i believe i am just starting to get a taste for what is to come in my climbing future.
finding subtlety in how to hold holds is something we rarely get to experience in the gym; every hold aligns your fingers very easily. this doesn't really translate very well for climbing outside where the rock is irregular. often times one will find their fingers in offset and awkward positions. even if it is a jug outside, you quickly find its intermittences. trying to find the very best way to stay on to finicky and procarious holds takes a lot of understanding of its nuances. not only is the understanding of the holds important, but also how to keep your body in certain positions in order to make the next move. although working a problem may become difficult and frustrating at times, especially after numerous and arduous attempts, it is very satisfying to have it all finally come together.
you find that when you finally send, it is easier than every attempt you made on it. on that send, everything just. makes. sense. what an amazing feeling it is to finally understand the problem; the subtlety of every hold and the nuance of every move! it is just beautiful to know that you were a part of that problem for that moment when every single thing just came so perfectly together. understanding all the little things is what made it work in the end.
finding subtlety in how to hold holds is something we rarely get to experience in the gym; every hold aligns your fingers very easily. this doesn't really translate very well for climbing outside where the rock is irregular. often times one will find their fingers in offset and awkward positions. even if it is a jug outside, you quickly find its intermittences. trying to find the very best way to stay on to finicky and procarious holds takes a lot of understanding of its nuances. not only is the understanding of the holds important, but also how to keep your body in certain positions in order to make the next move. although working a problem may become difficult and frustrating at times, especially after numerous and arduous attempts, it is very satisfying to have it all finally come together.
you find that when you finally send, it is easier than every attempt you made on it. on that send, everything just. makes. sense. what an amazing feeling it is to finally understand the problem; the subtlety of every hold and the nuance of every move! it is just beautiful to know that you were a part of that problem for that moment when every single thing just came so perfectly together. understanding all the little things is what made it work in the end.