Introductions time!

[rydra_wong]

You know what? It's far too quiet around here. I see from the profile page that the comm has quite a few members and subscribers, so let's have an introductions post!

Comment and introduce yourself -- tell us what sort of climbing you're into, how you got into it, what you enjoy most, and/or anything else that springs to mind: dream routes? favourite shoes? sport or trad? slopers or crimps?

If you're lurking because you're not a climber (yet) -- tell us what's interesting you about climbing, what's holding you back, and what you're curious about.

To get the ball rolling: I started climbing a couple of years ago, having been lured in by posts from people on my f-list; before that, I would never have thought of it as possible for me.

I boulder -- indoors only so far, but I'm hoping to get onto some real rock before the end of the year. RL keeps messing with my travel plans, but one day, I'd like to make it to the Peak District or Font.

I fangirl Johnny Dawes and Alex Puccio. I like slabs, bridging, and nasty fingery balance-y problems, and I also like overhanging power problems -- when I can do them. Oh, and I'll talk endlessly about shoes if given the slightest excuse.

Comments

[wpadmirer]

Wow! I'm very excited to see all the posts here. I don't check DW that often, but if this group becomes active, I'll be here MORE!

I turn 57 in October. I started climbing in the summer of 2009 at 55 (turning 56 that fall). I have a friend, Kij Johnson, who inspired me to try. She started climbing at 45 and is amazing. She is also a wonderful science fiction/fantasy writer (http://www.kijjohnson.com), and I happily suggest people check out her web site where she also posts about climbing.

I have only climbed in the gym, because when I started I was older, overweight by 40 lbs., and terrified of heights. The first time I ever went up a slab wall (top roping) I was hooked. It was the most fun, exciting, thrilling, fantastic thing I'd ever done.

At 40 I ran my first marathon (NYC Marathon), but that had been a long 15 years before and I have had hip pain that keeps me from running at all any more.

Climbing not only doesn't bother my hip, I've gotten stronger, gained muscle, lost 26 lbs., and become more flexible than I've ever been in my life. I regularly climb 5.8s, and I work 5.9s and 5.10s, and extreme overhangs.

I suck at bouldering, but I can successfully do recreational level routes (V1s mostly).

I am desperately trying to get more women my age to try climbing because it's just fantastic, but I usually climb with people who are in their 20s as they are the ones in the gym. (grin)

I'm also on LJ, under the same name, should any fellow climbers over there want to friend me!

[rydra_wong]

I have a friend, Kij Johnson, who inspired me to try.

Oh! She's one of the people whose posts about climbing helped inspire me to start. *fangirls her*

Climbing not only doesn't bother my hip, I've gotten stronger, gained muscle, lost 26 lbs., and become more flexible than I've ever been in my life. I regularly climb 5.8s, and I work 5.9s and 5.10s, and extreme overhangs.

Would you fancy writing a post about starting climbing in your 50s? Like you, I keep trying to talk more people into it, and I know a lot of people think it's not possible for them because they're older or heavier or have a dodgy hip or knee or whatever.

People seem to feel that climbing's something you can only do if you're a young muscular guy, when the reality is so different.

[wpadmirer]

I would love to write a post about starting climbing in your 50s. I'll work on that. I'd be happy to post about that.

I have sent the link of your post about starting climbing to Kij and to my unofficially adopted daughter Kim - who works in a rock gym. I know they will both love to read it.

[rydra_wong]

*is belatedly catching up on comment replies*

*squeaks and cheers*