What technically defines “old school”

[Jonny]

 

[oceans]

My opinion is Old School and New School are particular mind sets that go hand in hand with respective techniques. You can go to extremes in either direction.

In regard to the tree, if the mindset is such that a tree doesn’t mind a 3 strand rope burning a trench into its cambium, then that technique is fine. Maybe that can be defined as “old school”.

In regard to your gear, if the mindset is your rig rope doesn’t mind burning a trench through a tree’s cambium, then that technique is fine.

Further, tools have evolved to make new techniques possible. These tools and techniques might make the work easier. At trade shows and trainings, when this topic comes up with a staunch “old schooler”, I’ve usually ask if they commute by horse or a model T. Their answer is usually some “new school” truck.

All that said, most new schoolers would be much, MUCH better off if they knew even half of the old school way.

 

[RyanCafferky]

I get a good chuckle with the young kids I work with calling me old school because I mostly climb DDRT. Mind you I am always using a Lockjack or Zigzag and climbing on carbon fiber spurs. I wish they could have seen me early in my career. Leather Buckingham saddle, leather pads on the spurs, and self rigging everything with my climbing line as I went up on my steel core lanyard with no second tie in. I love the look on their faces when they walk into the backyard and I have a branch hanging from my tail ready for them to grab it. It is like they can’t compute what just occurred. Amazing what becomes “old school” and how much knowledge is lost.

 

[oceans]

I get a good chuckle with the young kids I work with calling me old school because I mostly climb DDRT. Mind you I am always using a Lockjack or Zigzag and climbing on carbon fiber spurs. I wish they could have seen me early in my career. Leather Buckingham saddle, leather pads on the spurs, and self rigging everything with my climbing line as I went up on my steel core lanyard with no second tie in. I love the look on their faces when they walk into the backyard and I have a branch hanging from my tail ready for them to grab it. It is like they can’t compute what just occurred. Amazing what becomes “old school” and how much knowledge is lost.

The hard lines that can be drawn from new ideas can make things confusing. If one considers it a “no-no” to lower a 30 lb. branch on the fall of a climbing line, then I ask is it ok to haul up a 660 chainsaw on the fall of a climbing line? Always try to stand back and look at the big picture.

 

[evo]

The hard lines that can be drawn from new ideas can make things confusing. If one considers it a “no-no” to lower a 30 lb. branch on the fall of a climbing line, then I ask is it ok to haul up a 660 chainsaw on the fall of a climbing line? Always try to stand back and look at the big picture.

Dose and scale.. not much more to say about that.

 

[Buck]

Three on the tree is old school.
Four speeds with granny low first gear is old school.
A Karl Kummerling rope saddle is old school and the original MCRS design.
A tar pot on your saddle is old school.
A paintbrush holder on your polesaw head is old school.
Manilla is old school.
Goldline is old school.
Damn near any Buckingham leather saddle is old school even if it was made yesterday.
Concrete in trees is old school.

Correct, Buckingham provides a wide variety of saddles. Modern (top of spectrum) to fairly basic minimalistic ("old school" leather wide back fixed positioning options. If you would like to stay away from possible discomfort in longer suspension oriented jobs or do alot of srt/drt I believe the Agility saddle is best option currently available in market. You could also try a more cost friendly Edge II saddle that we developed with Sherrill. Master 5.0 and entire ergovation saddle line are also great options to stay away from "concrete".

 

[Birdyman88]

The most common definition of old school is that it refers to accepted or conservative practices. So, I guess anytime we do anything new or different, then what we were doing is now old school.

Now, Steely Dan, who was new school at one time, but is now old school, says old school is "Annadale", which is really Bard College in NY, but I don't that's what you're looking for.