Chris Sharma Rock Climber Extraordinaire - Essay Example

of the of the Submitted Chris Sharma-Rock Climber Extraordinaire Introduction There is much truth in the saying that ‘the best things in life are free’. Being out in the open and one with nature is what exhilarates some of us beyond measure. For others, taking it to the limit and practicing extreme sports like rock climbing without the luxury of any safety apparatus is both a challenge they cannot resist and an adrenaline booster at the same time. Though some would call them adrenaline junkies, this disparaging comment does not take away from them the awe and artistry we feel when we see them doing unbelievable feats such as rock climbing with their bare hands and nothing to fall back upon. Regarded as one of the best rock climbers in the world, as of 2007 Chris Sharma had devoted the last nine years of his life to seeking the most challenging rock climb ever. Discussion Chris Sharma hails from Santacruz, California but spends less than a month there every year. You would most likely see this unassuming character poring over maps finding out about exotic locations in the most beautiful or remote parts of the world, where an almost impossible and near vertical rock surface awaits his assault. He is especially enthralled by rock formations overlooking the sea or even emerging out of them. Life is an unending journey of spontaneity where Chris feels at home in any part of the world, and the only thing that he lives for is the next best climb. Chris looks like he practices yoga and other eastern beliefs like transcendental meditation-because climbing begins from the inside, from the belief that you can do it. It takes a lot of training, practice and dedication. It is winning the battle from within and refusing to give up. As Chris Sharma says, sometimes a really challenging surface can take years to conquer. It took Chris the better part of four years to develop and hone his skills and techniques before he realized that he could climb most surfaces with skill. Chris loves both bouldering- which is defined as climbing a short but difficult rock surface without ropes, and deep water soloing-which is defined as climbing a longer surface between 60 and 100 feet that has no safety net but water to cushion the fall. Chris maintains that climbing is an artistic pursuit that demands a lot of training and perfection. It helps you to be one with nature. Sport climbing on the other hand can be done in the safety of an indoor studio, with all the protection you need. Chris labels his challenges as projects. He looks carefully at the kind of surface he plans to climb, from the nature of the rock to the formation, grips available and so forth (King Lines trailer, 2007, 1). The sport of rock climbing requires fitness and perfection of techniques, focus and tenacity, and total concentration and tunnel vision that makes you focus on the moment and the challenge in front of you. It is living in the here and now. With grunts that enable him to concentrate and expend his energy to reach up to the next grip time and again, Chris slowly but surely scales one difficult climb after another. It requires the best hand and eye coordination, with the entire body following in unison as the climber makes every move count. The grunts expended by Chris remind me of a principle learned in Karate- they are inclined towards giving the character added mental and moral strength while aimed at scaring the opponent at the very same time. I guess that Chris must be using the very same principles but in a slightly different way against an immovable object such as the rock surface. Watching him scale some of the most difficult natural rock formations in the world, one cannot help be enthralled and entranced by the skill of this well known rock climber. Chris is not there for the money or the fame that can be made in the commercial variety of this sport- rather his goal is just to be the best natural rock climber in the world. I guess his experience and his variety of grips and holds include a wide repertoire that is not even seen in sport climbing. He is aided just by the chalk on his hands that he puts to aid his grip and prevent sweat on his hands making his climb difficult. It is also clear that Chris is not one to give up easily and looking at his climb on Mount Squamish in British Columbia Canada we see Chris commenting that the vertical surface at the base took him about four climbs to master and then once he had done that he was faced with a ledge that seemed almost too difficult to conquer. Four attempts here too and he had conquered the most difficult part of the first ascent. We watch with joy and enthrallment as he finally manages to reach the top of this almost too difficult terrain. I think that Chris is clearly at the top of his sport as he has done something that not even the reigning boulder champions can aspire to. We are not only impressed by his tenacity and determination, but marvel in his ability to find grips where most would see none, and his athleticism in scaling some of the most difficult and challenging rock surfaces in the world (Dreamcatcher, 2007, 1). While it is clear that this is a labor of love for Chris, and that he is not doing it for money or fame, we often wonder what motivates him. He just wants to be one with nature and enjoys the challenge of a really good and difficult climb. He has travelled all around the world and indulging in this sport makes him feel one with the beauty and splendor of nature. Conclusion Life is full of challenges, and nothing exemplifies true grit and spirit like Chris Sharma climbing a rock surface. Whether it is bouldering or deep water soloing, Chris is bringing new interest to this challenging endeavor. While I don’t think that rock climbing is for everybody, we can certainly learn a lot from the way Chris tackles a project. It takes a lot of internal fortitude to conquer the most difficult rock surfaces in the world, and to come back to them with a renewed vigor till they have been climbed is akin to dealing with life’s most difficult problems and meeting them with all we’ve got. Works Cited Big up Productions (2007). Dreamcatcher. Online Aug 2007. Youtube video accessed on 04 December 2011 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlcQ3mxlNfs&feature=relmfu Big up Productions. Online Oct 2007. KING LINES trailer. Youtube video accessed on 04 December 2011 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vEJS2AwGA8 Read More