Weekend Whipper: Friends Don’t Let Friends Take Backslappers
Stick your foot behind the rope, they said. It will be fine, they said.
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Remember, kids, don’t give in to peer pressure. Todd Stephan, after successfully putting up Primus (5.11a) in North Bend, Washington, was coerced by his “friends” into cleaning it too. Pumped out at the crux, Stephan acted on pure instinct, trying to save the send. Unfortunately, his instinct was slightly off and told him to stick his leg behind the rope— never a good idea. What resulted was a tremendously awkward, equally painful looking backslapper. You can tell his “friends” were really concerned about his well-being just by listening to the “whoa” (or was that a yawn?) one of them lets out. Luckily, Stephan walked away with nothing but a few bruises.
Happy Friday and climb safe this weekend!
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