Ethan Pringle’s 10 Tips for Sending Your Project
This article originally appeared on Climbing
Sending a project is about as good as it gets. Few feelings trump that glorious moment when, with an outstretched hand clutching a bite of rope, you clip the chains of a climb you have put serious effort and thought into. But that tingling feeling that envelops your whole being for the next few hours wouldn't be half as sweet without the struggle.
That's why projecting a climb is so intriguing and rewarding. One day you're having trouble even comprehending how to execute a sequence of moves, and then, after plowing through doubts and morphing physically, it happens ... and suddenly you're at the top of your project, experiencing that elusive wave of satisfaction.
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Though there is no easy way to climb to the top of your project, there are methods and tactics you can use that will help improve your success rate. If you've pushed your limits before, you've probably already experienced the setbacks and failures that are part of projecting. However, have you ever noticed how some climbers seem to send more than others?
Ethan Pringle is one of those climbers. Though he has been crushing hard sport-climbs since the age of 10, Pringle is constantly challenging himself with new projects. For example, in 2008, he decided to learn trad climbing. Applying his already-honed projecting tactics, Pringle quickly sent some of the world's hardest naturally protected routes, including the third ascent of the famed Cobra Crack (5.14) in Squamish, Canada.
Pringle reflected on his methods and provided his top 10 tactics for sending success:
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