The Other Sports Thread

[John Arne]

We don't seem to have a thread for other sports, not worthy of their own thread.

The Sumo Spring tournament is currently underway, and the daily NHK 30 minute wrap-ups are great viewing.

Day 9

[Giggles]

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[-james-]

https://www.youtube.com/live/B_FQ3g-d0Ag


First climbing world cup event of the season is live on YouTube (with a us vpn) and maybe Eurosport. I think it's a pretty neat spectator sport even as an outsider. This is the lead discipline where the aim is to climb as high as you can (on a previously unseen route).

GB's Toby Roberts goes in the men's. He is a proper phenom and medal hope for Paris. At the moment he's only outshone by Japanese child Sorato Anraku, they should be top two.

In the women's, Slovenian Janja Garnbret is a cut above the competition and frankly a ridiculous athlete.

[Lewis]

Is climbing one of those things, like downhill mountain biking, where the main attribute - other than early exposure to it - is having the head for it (being a mental case)? Because presumably you can train the physical side of it to anyone with a reasonably favourable build.

[-james-]

Is climbing one of those things, like downhill mountain biking, where the main attribute - other than early exposure to it - is having the head for it (being a mental case)? Because presumably you can train the physical side of it to anyone with a reasonably favourable build.

The two biggest disciplines, sport climbing and bouldering, are more or less safe so head game is a non issue for the elite. It takes people varying levels of time to convince their brain that it's actually okay to lob off a piece of rock, but most intermediate and above hobbyists that go climbing outdoors once a week are probably not limited by fear.

"Trad climbing", which involves placing the (often dodgy) protection in the rock yourself, is more about maintaining composure in the face of a maiming (or worse) if you fall off rather than strict difficulty of the climb. Your brain definitely has to be wired different for that.

The cream of the crop are generally genetic freaks (in terms of finger strength and/or muscular metabolism) that have been doing it since they were toddlers. But it's also a skill sport, Adam Ondra is clearly the best to ever do it and there are plenty who have better raw strength numbers than him.