In reply to UKC Articles:
Reading this made me consider my other chosen sport, sailing. At a grass roots level, the folk (adult and kids) I see racing each other every week, I see most of the positives highlighted in this article about competitive climbing. I think it may be the similar nature of mother nature as the opponent, although sailing does have a little more of the direct competition element.
I'd like to add a word of caution regarding the 5 ring circus. I don't see those elements of the sport so clearly at the elite end of the sport and I don't put this down to the competitors. The sport is put under pressure to conform to the requirements of the olympics, appealing to TV audiances etc. Sailing actually has a different rule book at the elite events supposedly to add a more athletic element and make it more appealing to the TV, but for me fundamentally change the sport.
I'm just hoping this sytle of sport doesn't move to the grass roots and if climbing is selected to the 5 ring circus the governing bodies fight to preserve the attributes highlighted in this article.
Gareth