tcc--afterthoughts

Babberney

Babberney

Location
Austin, TX
Every year, as I absorb the results of the TCC, I start to think of ways I went wrong. This year, I needed less than 10 points to win the TX contest, so it's not hard to come up with ways to beat myself up.

In AR, I got docked several points for tying my prussik to my side D-ring. I won't argue that the judges were wrong, but this was new to me. I've been tying it there for years, because it keeps the slack from getting tangled up with my floating D's. Since each D is rated to hold me, I don't see why it matters, but next time I guess I'll tie in to the middle.

In Work CLimb, I managed the best execution all day (IMHO) of a swing that most guys just managed to get through. Or so I thought. As soon as my feet touched, I was turning to walk out the branch and I slipped off the side and into the hole. Didn't lose much time, but I lost some execution points for the station. Then, I missed the landing target because my VT locked up moments before touchdown and I swung out of the zone. A lot of guys had this happen, and I think it was partly due to rope hockling, but I also think I would have been better off with a different rope as my VT. I was using Sta-Set dbl-braid because I wanted to show off the new splice I'd just learned, but the rope is stiffer than what I'm used to and I think it slowed me down all the way through the tree. It isn't as pretty, but I think good ol' 3-strand with plain eye splices works best for me, and I won't forget that next year.

Otherwise, all I could have done, I think, was somehow change the weather. It was a solid day with a solid field of competitors, and I'm not taking anything away from the winner. I just wish I had those two decisions back.

k
 
Keith, I truly understand your thinking here. AS you may know, I've been competing for 13 years now, and I've made plenty of wrong decisions. Sometimes I also felt that decisions were wrongly made by others.

At any rate, you are no doubt better in some way just for being a part of that day. When you sign up to compete, you agree to play by the rules of the competition and agree to abide by any decision made by any person authorized to do so. This may be a bit hard to swallow at times but it is part of the necessary process.

Do you feel regretful for competing? It doesn't sound like it to me. Competition is hard in all realms, tree climbing is no different. You have but one chance to show the judges what you're made of and sometimes you really need a second shot.

Keith, it sounds to me like you are aware of the fact that it was a very tough competition and you also know that you could have done better. We all feel that way- sometimes even after a win. Just try to realize what you've gained and also how you may have helped another person grow, that trying day in Waco.
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[ May 18, 2002: Message edited by: MARK CHISHOLM ]
 
Boy , do I know where your comming from Babberney. Decisions, decision and they all have to be made in a split secound. Like Mark said , you only have one chance, no take backs.Should I do this? or should I do that? just to shave off a secound or two may cost you or it may be victiory.The Western chapter is a very tough group and improving every year. If you flinch, sneeze or bobble, you might as well kiss that event goodbye.I've been in the top five and been at the very botom because of disqualifications.I've never regreted my loses, because they where always a learning experience.May have been a little
disgruntled and ticked off at the time, but oh well. Had to suck it up and take it like a man.Anyway , I've been where you where and I know its frustrating.However, I always go to have fun, encourage others and leave with a smile.
greg
 
Originally posted by MARK CHISHOLM:
[QB]

Do you feel regretful for competing?

No, Mark, I don't regret it at all. Even the year I dropped a scabbard and got DQ'd in Work Climb (try to make the finals after that!), I didn't regret it. Hate to admit it, but I was actually kind of glad to have teh afternoon to watch and relax.

Keith, it sounds to me like you are aware of the fact that it was a very tough competition and you also know that you could have done better. We all feel that way- sometimes even after a win. Just try to realize what you've gained and also how you may have helped another person grow, that trying day in Waco.
wink.gif

Definitely, this is what it's about. At first I just enjoyed the chance to learn from others and meet new friends. Somewhere along the way, though, I realized I had become a veteran competitor and could help other climbers the way my predecessors helped me. Now I learn something, I teach something, and I have fun each year. I still want to win one, though, and I believe I'll get there eventually (8th time's the charm?)

K
Click to expand...
 
That is a very admirable attitude to have. It is not the easiest to maintain, so after competing for "eight years" or so, and you still say that? Well, that makes even better!
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Keep at it for as long as you can- provided you still feel as possitive as you do right now. It is a great attitude to infect others with!
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Attitude is important, for sure. One thing I realized this year is that my best overall finish came my first year, when I'd never even seen a contest and didn't expect to do well. Since then I've put more and more pressure on myself to win, and the result has been more and more mistakes. This year, I kept myself fairly calm all day and focused on one event at a time, which helped a lot, but we'll never know now what would have happened if the final had not been rained out--maybe waiting for three other climbers would have iced me up good.

Still, I think the way to go at it is to think of it as a work day--how often do you feel nervous going into a pruning job? Next year I plan to try and keep that in mind. I know I can climb any tree they can set up if I just won't beat myself. Win or lose, I'll feel a lot better about the results if I feel I've put in a good effort without the foolish mistakes that can happen under pressure.

Incidentally, rumor has it that next year's TX contest will include a demo climb by the woman who's mayor of Dallas--she'll be up for reelection and should draw lots of attention to our event. Look for us on CNN!

k
 
Just curious, what was the judges reason for docking you for tying into your side D-ring?

My understanding has been that the saddles weren't desinged to take a single-point shock load to the side.

Thanks,

TMW
 
I know the hurt , I lost some nail biters to Bob Weber and Pete Thomas when I was competing , makes the next year seem far away . A throw ball toss here , a slip there , could be the differnce between 1 & 2 . Your gonna win keep the faith .
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tim Walsh:
Just curious, what was the judges reason for docking you for tying into your side D-ring?

My understanding has been that the saddles weren't desinged to take a single-point shock load to the side.

Thanks,

TMW<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tim,

I don't really know the answer. I got a chance to look at teh judges comment sheets, but all they had was a deduction with a note, "Side-D tie-in" or something like that. I just assumed it was because, if I fell, I would get wrenched sideways. I don't think that would be so terrible, since I can't imagine I'd ever fall more than a couple of feet (well, I can't really imagine I'd fall, but I'm not going to quit using tie-ins because of that), but I understand how crazy it would be to get reckless and have injuries at a contest that is supposed to be for fun.

I think it's just an example of safety at contests being overdone for insurance purposes, but I'd be happy to hear from anyone who has actually judged an AR, or who has definitive reasons for avoiding the side-D tiein.

k
 
Keith,

You haven't mentioned how you did in your first event in Waco. That has to be encouraging!

Whenever I've been a judge I look at scoring by an action by action situation. Having a big candy cane of slack in the rope in one position may have no consequences because there is only a tiny possibility of a fall&gt; in another place, any slack could lead to a screamer. I've OK'd a climber who asked while in the tree about clipping both ends of the flipline into one side. Clipping a climbing line into a side dee would be a tough call even if there is a small chance of a fall. The saddles are designed to keep a climber in alignment, not to hang off to the side. In chapter comps I've stopped a climber and had them change a setup without point deductions. The time would still run though.

The best thing to do is to clear anything that is even a little odd or unique to your climbing style with the judges before you climb. The judges at chapter comps might not all have the depth and breadth of experience that you do. When they see something odd, they might interpret that as unsafe and take points away. Bummer...

Send us up a little warm weather, its barely spring time here
smile.gif


Tom
 
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