Rockman Has Moved

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What if..

Rockman's son always asks "What If....". These scenarios usually involve a multitude bizarre circumstances about tornadoes, floods, flying bicycles, monsters or radio active alligators. These scenarios don't really have any application to the sport of climbing, however, when you stop and think of all the "what if's" in the sport of climbing it can make you head spin. Black Diamond does a great job of testing their equipment watch this video and see if you makes you wonder or answers your "what if's" about carabiners.

Black Diamond Carabiner Testing Video from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

The times are a changing

Rockman started climbing in 1990.  A lot has changed in the sport in the past 20 years.  Back in the day people wore spandex pants and you were something if you could climb 5.12.  Climbing gyms and manufactured climbing holds were just making their way into climbers hands and people were having ethical debates about "sport climbing".  These were good times.  One constant in these last twenty years, in Rockman's mind, was a employee own climbing gear company called Black Diamond.

Black Diamond was purchased from it's founder (and founderer?) and climbing pioneer Yvon Chouinard.   Chouinard (a blacksmith by trade) made and sold some of the best pitons in the country starting in 1957.  Always a being on the front of a trend, he revolutionized the sport by introducing "clean climbing", using removable protection from climbs instead crack-damaging pitons.  He did this in 1974 the same year he patented the Hexentrics. In 1989, after facing several lawsuits for manufacturing climbing that wasn't defective but lacked sufficient warnings about the dangers of climbing, Chouinard sold the company.   

Black Diamond Equipment has gone on to set the standard in climbing equipment.  They manufacture some of the best carabiners, climbing protection and harnesses.  Their Camalot (C4) is the camming protection of choice for most traditional climbers.  They have helped climbers around the world make bigger, bolder ascents, as well as, allowed regular joes, like Rockman to get some high quality climbing gear at a reasonable price.

On May 10th, Black Diamond announced they were purchased by Clarus Corporation.  This news rocked Rockman's world.  This great employee owned company is going to be merged with Gregory Mountain Products into some sort of conglomerate company.  What does this mean for us the end user?  Only time will tell.  Better products?  More innovation?  Quick emphasis on profits and a quick resale?  This is what Peter Metcalf, the Ceo of Bd, has to say about the change,

What is not changing? Our commitment to our mission vision and values, and our efforts to help write the stories of the sports and the communities which inspire us.  This shared passion is the universal Esperanto that connects us with fellow climbers & skiers no matter where we are. We view this new route in front of us as not only a method to growth, but as a collaborative effort through which we will strengthen and expand the way we do business and our community of fellow users.

The thing Rockman knows for a fact is the times they are a changing. Good luck Black Diamond we have our fingers crossed.

In The Spirit Of Adventure,

Rockman