Strong and Sexy

rock climbing | dlacord | Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Is climbing sexy? Local climber and author Stewart Green asks that question recently on his site, climbing.about.com

Green points to a survey by Quirkology and fitness expert Sam Murphy, which found that 57 percent of women found climbers to be the most attractive, sexy sportsmen. The same survey found that only 41 percent of men found women climbers sexy.

Those men must not have watched “America’s Got Talent” recently. I know it’s not the go-to TV show for outdoor sports fanatics, but this season includes something surprising…and sexy – a climbing act called AscenDance.

Californian Isabel Von Rittberg and her partner, Ryan Gaunt, met while climbing in the eastern Sierras. They have created this strange, almost hypnotic show on a climbing wall, moving from hold to hold in slow motion to moody music. Is it art? Is it an act that could be glitzed up for the Vegas Strip (the grant prize for this competition)?

I’m not sure, but it is a stunning display of athleticism and strength. Check out an AscenDance performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LD46_YMgf4

– Deb Acord

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