FINGER STRENGTH GIVEAWAY!
Winner - Idaliza Sosa
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Win a Tension Climbing Block, a digital Crane Scale, and a customized 4-week finger strength training plan from physical trainer Collin McGee, CSCS, FRCms
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Featured Photographer: Michael Blowers
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This month our Featured Photographer is climber and photographer Michael Blowers.
Michael lives in Tasmania and loves to capture the unique settings of the local crags. In his interview he fills us in on how he ended up in Tasmania, what he thinks about the climbing there, and where he would take us if we went to visit there for the first time. Check out the interview along with some awesome photos that fill up the page! |
Michael Bortoluzzi (IG: @michaelbortoluzzi) on "Slap Dancer" (27 /5.12c) at the Organ Pipes, Tasmania. Photo Credit: Michael Blowers
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Editorial
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Hey! Put a spring in your step this month with Common Climber - win something, take advantage of a sale, and read some funny stories!
We are all about having fun while climbing and finding the light-hearted side of this sport. This edition epitomizes that philosophy with this month's stories - from a Dirtbag Trucker who doesn't hesitate taking his big rig down narrow dirt roads to get to some climbing to a climber who Likes Fake Cracks (And He Cannot Lie). We also get some laughs from some animal encounters while climbing - Things With Wings to be exact - and a several entertaining falls in Falling Far Enough. We also have two awesome new YouTube videos - one from physical trainer Collin McGee on Finger Strength and the other that answers the question, "Do the number of falls listed on rope specs really matter when buying a new rope? Not really! Find out why" - Rope Specs Part 2: Falls & Factor 2 Falls. Let's embrace the light hearted side of this sport together! -- Stef |
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Stories
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Dirtbag Trucker
(by Joe Martin) "It had been a long, 14-hour day at the tail end of a week-long run and I was finally close to my end-of-trip destination. This time I was on a Covid haul of toilet paper from Danvill, Kentucky to Worcester, Massachusetts. Prior to 2020, I would never have imagined that toilet paper would be the major survival commodity of an almost-apocalyptic panic from a virus. I would have guessed maybe medical supplies, freeze dried food, or survival gear. But nope - just a helluva lot of toilet paper..." Trucker Joe Martin takes every opportunity when he's on the road to find places to climb. Sometimes he ends up on narrow and rutted dirt roads where there's no way to turn a big-rig around. Follow along in Joe's lively, southern story-telling about a trucking-climber's life. |
Animal Acts Part 1: Things With Wings
(by Keith Bell) Keith Bell has a way with words and some rich climbing tales. In part one of a two-part series Keith shares four laugh-out-loud tales of climbing encounters with "Things With Wings." |
I Like Fake Cracks (And I Cannot Lie)
(by Jeff Smoot) "It seems like there’s always some weirdo at the climbing gym who, despite the efforts of some poor route setter who’s labored for hours to set the holds just so to create not just a climbing problem but a work of art, insists on climbing the cracks. That weirdo is usually me." Author Jeff Smoot likes fake cracks and in this story he shares one or two that actually got him driving across the country to send. |
Falling Far Enough
(by James Crump) First ascentionist and long-time Texas climber James Crump knows a few things about falling. Check out this lively collection of three "falling" short stories to illustrate a few "rules" for falling. |
New YouTube Videos
We have TWO NEW VIDEOS for you this month! (see below) + we are doing a Finger Strength Training GIVEAWAY with Tension Climbing and Collin McGee!
WIN THIS PACKAGE:
HOW TO WIN: (Must be in the U.S. - We will do a giveaway for the Aussie side of CC soon!)
WIN THIS PACKAGE:
- A Tension Climbing Block
- A digital Crane Scale
- A customized 4-week finger strength training plan
HOW TO WIN: (Must be in the U.S. - We will do a giveaway for the Aussie side of CC soon!)
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow @commonclimber, @liftsmcgee, and @tensionclimbing on Instagram between May 1-7, 2021 (we will announce the winner by May 9)
- After you've done above, get additional entries by tagging some friends in the Common Climber giveaway post on Instagram
Finger Strength TrainingWhat's a quick easy way to improve your finger strength for climbing and to measure progress? Physical trainer and climber Collin McGee shares his professional tips, including an affordable set up!
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Rope Specs Part 2: Falls & Factor 2 FallsDo the number of falls listed on rope specs really matter when buying a rope? Not really! Find out why.
Learn about UIAA rope standards, factor 2 falls, and how to determine when to retire a rope. This is Part 2 of a 3-part video series on Rope Specs and how to use them when buying a new rope.
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