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What the author doesn't seem to understand is that alpine ascents in general aren't done in the form of organized competitions, so the entire comparison to anti
by pavelrub 10y ago
What the author doesn't seem to understand is that alpine ascents in general aren't done in the form of organized competitions, so the entire comparison to anti-doping regulations in sports is quite absurd: you can't tell people what not to do when they do it independently, unless oxygen is somehow universally made illegal. Even WADA can't tell you what substances not to use when you are cycling/running/doing-whatever on your own free time. There is no "Paradox of Doping" in mountain climbing: it's the same as in any other activity that is done independently - you can use equipment that will make it easier for you, but then others might not feel as impressed.
- krisgee 10y ago>you can use equipment that will make it easier for you, but then others might not feel as impressed. Put another way if do something in a non-orthodox way (free ascent w/o oxygen) that might be MORE impressive than a traditional ascent with O2 assistance but that doesn't mean the traditional ascent isn't impressive on it's own.
- kazinator 10y agoI'm impressed by someone who carries a steel oxygen tank all the way up a very high mountain. According to http://peakfreaks.com/oxygen.htm http://peakfreaks.com/oxygen.htm a popular oxygen tank is the Russian-made POISK, which weighs 2.7 kg, not including the 350 g regulator. So you're lugging 3 extra kilos if you use that one.
- waterphone 10y agoAnd I'm even more impressed if they aren't an asshole and bring it back down with them instead of dumping it on top of the mountain.
- andrewflnr 10y agoAmong other incentives, they're probably still using it on the way down.
- aptwebapps 10y agoNot if they use more than one.
- subnaught 10y agoquote: "Even WADA can't tell you what substances not to use when you are cycling/running/doing-whatever on your own free time." This is incorrect. In both track-and-field and cycling there are extensive out-of-competition tests, the purpose of which is exactly that. This is because performance-enhancing drugs are often more beneficial in training than in competition. http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Mo-Pl/Out-of-Competition-Testing.html http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Mo-Pl/Out-of-Competition-...
- snowwrestler 10y agoHe is talking about YOU or ME, non-competitive athletes pursuing a sport in our spare time. While there are a few contests here and there, mountain climbing is essentially a personal hobby, even at the highest levels.
- cam_l 10y agoAnother way of looking at what you are saying is, there is no problem with doping in sport.. there is a problem with competition. Competition is the 'con' which makes most sport worth watching (and hence paying for / advertising in). Without the promise of competition between the local / state / country / world's best, who is watching an average person running a hundred metres? What if we measured not time but technique, or like mountain climbing, preparation? If the sport is about preparation rather than performance, what does it even matter if they are doping?
- wonder_er 10y ago> Without the promise of competition...who is watching an average person running a hundred metres? No one. This is why climbing making it into the 2020 Olympics is going to create a lot more trouble for the sport than good. Generally, climbing (be it alpine mountaineering or more approachable "rock climbing") is horrendously boring to watch, except for other climbers. Climbing, done well, looks almost effortless. No one wants to watch someone _not_ struggle. I don't know how it will be monetized. Probably just via gear endorsements, like all the other sports. :(
- Ressuder 10y agoPeople seem to enjoy watching Usain Bolt run, and he certainly doesn't seem to be struggling. Not to mention that he's much less fast compared to the average person compared with climbers.
- 5555624 10y agoI think part of that is the time involved. Watching Bolt takes 10 seconds -- the entire event can be shown on the evening news. Not as many people sit and watch the 10,000 meters and even less an entire marathon. The more time involved, the more likely it that you are a fan of the sport/activity.
- Thlom 10y agoI don't know. Sport climbing isn't that boring to watch, and they already have a world cup, national championships, world championships.