What motivates anyone to go deep water soloing? Mike Robertson takes an irreverent look at the extreme sport of DWS.
Motivation for deep water soloing
Question: Is deep water soloing (DWS) the ultimate form of climbing?
Answer: If you enjoy swimming, hate big, cumbersome racks and want to experience a sense of freedom, then YES!
Okay, we all have our own ideas about our preferred fix. But the above is certainly true. DWS provides an adrenaline rush with a reduced risk of broken limbs. It's lightweight, not gear-dependent and, because of the curious ensemble of both rock and water, it offers an activity that's a wacky combination of wet and dry.
Of course, you don't have to take my word for it - here's what a few well-known, highly-motivated devotees have to say ...
Ken Palmer - 'The commitment and solitude breathe new life into me each and every time I dance above the deep blue void'
Seb Grieve - 'Boring! You can climb as hard as you like but you just can't hurt yourself. Takes all the fun out of falling'
Klem Loskot - 'It's about as free as you can be'
Genghis Khan - 'Looks awesome. Wish I was still alive'
Tim Emmett - 'The ultimate form of climbing, pure freedom and movement, with some extra space thrown in.'