Cool Vid - Dean Potter

[Ken P]

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=f ... 79d99f5883

[Murph]

cool stuff!

[Graham]

I imagine landing a base jump bare foot is probably the worst part of that whole thing.

[jeremy benjamin]

If you think landing a base jump bare foot is a crazy check out the wingsuit video under the dean potter one on the same page. Dude wants to land a wing suit flight from an airplane without a parachute. Crazy flowers yo.

[Graham]

Yeah, that guys a bit nuts. He was on in a movie at this years Banff Festival (The one about the girl basejumper, what's it called?) as well on the colbert report. Cheerful guy, just a few aces short of a deck.

[granite_grrl]

Huh, I didn't know that slacklining was considered a sport.

[chossmonkey]

If you think landing a base jump bare foot is a crazy check out the wingsuit video under the dean potter one on the same page. Dude wants to land a wing suit flight from an airplane without a parachute. Crazy poop yo.

Both seem a little crazy and contrived. But who are we to judge.

The wing suit thing seems especially so, since you need to have a special landing zone to do it. With a big enough air bag it could probably be done without the wing suit.

[Climbing4life]

all i can say , is i think he`s nuts . great vid.

[STeveA]

Slacklining is definatley a sport since it is now banned in several US parks including JTree.

[Climbing4life]

Slacklining is definatley a sport since it is now banned in several US parks including JTree.

you cant slackline in J tree? even if its just feet off the ground , i remember pics of you guys with one on your site a few year back. Or just no Highlining?

[PeterA]

Slacklining is definatley a sport since it is now banned in several US parks including JTree.

you cant slackline in J tree? even if its just feet off the ground , i remember pics of you guys with one on your site a few year back. Or just no Highlining?

nope, no slacklining period. We got lucky last year i guess, they didn't see it, but if they do see it, they'll make you take it down.

-PJ

[chossmonkey]

Slacklining is definatley a sport since it is now banned in several US parks including JTree.

you cant slackline in J tree? even if its just feet off the ground , i remember pics of you guys with one on your site a few year back. Or just no Highlining?

I think they got POed about all the lines being set up in the campgrounds and lines being left up for weeks and months at a time.


Once they start having slackline comps it will be a sport. Until then it is just a hobby.

[*Chris*]

Slacklining is definatley a sport since it is now banned in several US parks including JTree.

you cant slackline in J tree? even if its just feet off the ground , i remember pics of you guys with one on your site a few year back. Or just no Highlining?

I think they got POed about all the lines being set up in the campgrounds and lines being left up for weeks and months at a time.


Once they start having slackline comps it will be a sport. Until then it is just a hobby.

Depends I guess...
My take is that 'sports' have clear, measureable, and definative outcomes in terms of the winners and loosers. Things that have scores (like hockey, football, etc.) or times (like races, marathons, etc.) are sports. Things that dip into the realm of subjective grading and judging are not sports... they are activities. Climbing in the common and modern sense is an activity; and it probably always will be. Unless your racing across a slackline in that comp... your in pursuit of an activity. This is not to say that sports are better, harder, or more worthwhile than activities... they are just different!

[szymiec]

Huh, I didn't know that slacklining was considered a sport.

ill probably regret saying this, but I'd say it's about as much of a sport as bouldering.

sorta kinda, not really, kinda sporty but not really a sport, something to do when the wall is wet.

a famous man once said: "Sport climbing is neither!"

chris

[martha]

Huh, I didn't know that slacklining was considered a sport.

ill probably regret saying this, but I'd say it's about as much of a sport as bouldering.

sorta kinda, not really, kinda sporty but not really a sport, something to do when the wall is wet.

a famous man once said: "Sport climbing is neither!"

chris

SCIN! I tend to agree with you here. Something to do when the rock is wet, or during bug season and you can go coastal.

[Murph]

Depends I guess...
My take is that 'sports' have clear, measureable, and definative outcomes in terms of the winners and loosers. Things that have scores (like hockey, football, etc.) or times (like races, marathons, etc.) are sports. Things that dip into the realm of subjective grading and judging are not sports... they are activities. Climbing in the common and modern sense is an activity; and it probably always will be. Unless your racing across a slackline in that comp... your in pursuit of an activity. This is not to say that sports are better, harder, or more worthwhile than activities... they are just different!

I’ve often heard the argument that “if you can do it drunk, it’s not a sport” (i.e. golf)


Slackline + beer – balance = Difficult

[Fred]

yes but...

a drunk golfer is no Tiger Woods...

[Climbing4life]

yes but...

a drunk golfer is no Tiger Woods...

Genius!!

[Murph]

yes but...

a drunk golfer is no Tiger Woods...

a drunk driver is no Dale Earnhardt Jr. ....lol

[martha]

yes but...

a drunk golfer is no Tiger Woods...

And a drunk highliner/base jumper is likely dead!

[The Mitt]

So I guess Dean Potter is back in everyones good books now?

[STeveA]

It is kinda like the Jackass movies; he is still an ass, but it is hard not to watch his exploits.

[Climbing4life]

So I guess Dean Potter is back in everyones good books now?

i dont really know about him , but im guessing he`s a wreckless mofo?? anything perticular he did that was stupid/ really dangerous. I did however see the vid of him on the nose of el cap.
that is RETARDED

[szymiec]

deans not an ass at all. He is a totally cool guy that hates fame and loves climbing. sure he goes where he might not belong but whatever, he isnt hurting anyone.

[The Mitt]

deans not an ass at all. He is a totally cool guy that hates fame and loves climbing. sure he goes where he might not belong but whatever, he isnt hurting anyone.

I don't think I could disagree more. Anyone who would put everyones access in a National Park at risk by knowingly climbing on something that was restricted and then lying about the incident, makes him a huge ass. Positive comments about him just helps him maintain his idiot ways and puts a paycheck in his wallet. If he hated fame he would not put himself out to be sponsored.

[*Chris*]

So I guess Dean Potter is back in everyones good books now?

i dont really know about him , but im guessing he`s a wreckless mofo?? anything perticular he did that was stupid/ really dangerous. I did however see the vid of him on the nose of el cap.
that is RETARDED

In essence, many feel that his solos and stunts fly in the face of the efforts that climbing advocacy groups (like the Access Fund) have made to reach out to landowners; particularly in the US. It's hard to paint a picture of climbers being responsible users of the land when the Dean Potters of the world like to make videos of themselves getting high and soloing on areas which are closed (for legitimate reasons). Unfortunately, it usually only takes one person to blow it for a much larger group.

You can search "Delicate Arch" in Google and read the whole story if you wish. That is likely the incident referred to above.

[The Mitt]

Yes but in the beginning he tried to make it sound like this pure natural event between him and the rock. Then it came out that he used gear to set it up, and to rap down which in fact also caused damage to the rock. Some people don't know but it is a symbol for the state. Way to make all climbers look stupid.