In reply to Phil Anderson:
> To me, climbing's about challenging yourself, getting out there, and having adventures.
Quite agree, and I feel exactly the same way about my running, cycling and skiing
> My worry is that if sports climbing becomes too mainstream, it will have an impact on trad climbing in terms of regulations etc and I'd hate to see that.
Has mountain biking changed since it's been in the olympics ? As yet no one has jumped out of the bushes to demand a urine sample, or tell me that my bike doesn't meet olympic standards.
People have been scaremongering about comps for years, claiming it's going to ruin the whole ethos of the sport. And yet to me the whole of ethos is that you can enjoy it in whichever way you want - bouldering to mountaineering, super safe sport to run-out trad, wilderness or indoor, and yes, purely for your own satisfaction or in a comp.