+1 for the video from me too. Really inspirational and nicely filmed.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
> Regarding the comment above though, isn't there a bit of a contradiction here? If, as Dave said in the video (and I agree totally), most people can achieve something getting on for a world class level, then surely if they're operating at their limit, then they'll be at that world class level. The only way of knowing whether you are at that limit is through keeping an eye on grade. I think there's a bit of a tendency for people to "hippytise" these statements to appear friendly and all inclusive, but ultimately you have to either say that just 'getting out' is what it's about, or that pushing yourself to the limit and therefore the grade is what is important. I don't see how one can be so involved with the limit of one's bodies and so detached from grades, which mirrors the way Dave talks about the 'font 8b+' in the video. I think that's the right attitude like, just that we should be a bit more consistent in the way we talk about it.
It is possible though to both keep an eye on grades and always be eyeing up that next line that is harder AND just enjoy going out climbing easier stuff sometimes too. E.g. There was a video a while back where he and Emmett were at Pembroke on a smeggy day and after sacking off the E9, they went and did some E5s, if Dave was as single minded as only being interested in the next grade I'm guessing he would have gone and trained on a boulder or something instead of enjoying the opportunity to tick some (for him) easy classics.
The sport and boulder climbers I know are more single minded but definitely the trad crowd are as wont to get on something at their limit as they are to do some easier routes in a nice place.