Cat Fight on the Manitou

[JChitwood]

Having fun on the incline. An even more impressive record was broken last week and the existing record holder did all he could to escort the challenger to the top and safely back down.

https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colo ... er-climber

[madbuck]

I thought this was going to be about mountain lions!
Here's a longer and more detailed article describing how the drama seems to cut across genders:
Restraining orders, claims of cheating, jealousy, cults: What is going on at the Manitou Incline?

I tried reading and couldn't keep all the characters straight, but I find the psychology/sociology of it all to be both fascinating and sad.

[andreasansone]

It’s been interesting to witness all this going on- for the past 8 months or so. The his side, her side, and the truth. It’s unfortunate actually. I know quite a few people who now (including myself) want nothing to do with the incline and manitou springs because of this embarrassing drama, between adults and a set of stairs.

This is all over records and breaking records. (And people apparently cheating records)
No record “belongs” to any one person. They are set and then reset. That’s it. It’s part of the athletic world. If you don’t like it and want to be nasty, then don’t be part of it. Goes for everyone..

I feel like this is something we can all learn from - the 14ers community is better than that. (For the most part) we are a positive group of people who support and encourage one another- I’m happy to be part of it and hope we can all be a group of people that continue to thrive off each other

[JROSKA]

It is interesting that this happens just as Chris Fisher broke Andrew Hamilton’s Winter 14er FKT record. Andrew set about the best possible example of sportsmanship possible towards the person attempting to break his record. In terms of welcoming the competition, encouraging his competitor to do the best of his ability and even helping him close the deal.

This seems to highlight the opposite end of that spectrum and what can happen when we hold records as too near & dear to our heart or too important for our identity. This is a disappointing read but it is an important illustration about where we can end up when we start placing more value on these types of accomplishments than they deserve.

[hellmanm]

It’s been interesting to witness all this going on- for the past 8 months or so. The his side, her side, and the truth. It’s unfortunate actually. I know quite a few people who now (including myself) want nothing to do with the incline and manitou springs because of this embarrassing drama, between adults and a set of stairs.

Yep, this is part of what turned me off the incline despite its perfect setup as a local training ground (along with their weird parking and reservation rules). The insular culture of the incline isn't exactly serving the town well (since Manitou gets a huge chunk of business from outsiders), but I get the sense that a lot of the hardcore incliners just want to feel special in their slices of life. It's literally a set of stairs, and tbh a lot of these records are more about persistence than skill anyway; any real pro athletes with too much time on their hands could shatter the records set by these middle-aged kooks whenever they felt like it.

Then again, it's not the first time Manitou has been in recent news for shady behavior: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/03/t ... ild-abuse/.

[LetsGoMets]

Side note, could probably drop the derogatory and sexist thread name.

[cottonmountaineering]

everything else aside, the footage of the person running away from being served was pretty hilarious

[Been_Jammin]

"Middle Aged Kooks" is an accurate description for everyone named in these articles. How embarrassing.

[SkaredShtles]

Ahh... Teller County resident. Say no more.

[12ersRule]

Side note, could probably drop the derogatory and sexist thread name.

Seriously, sounds like one woman being bullied by another. Not really not even a fight.

[blazintoes]

FKTers can dope to win. Strava local legends can use e-bikes to achieve high status. Inflaming some imaginary problem with a competitor is another example of instead of working on things that affect us, we work on things that offend us so we can get attention. Victimhood is a way to get attention but nothing draws a crowd like a fight and a cat fight as derogatory as it may be, gets more attention.

When you complain you make yourself the victim. Leave the situation, change it or accept it. De-mucking (thanks Darrin) oneself from the sewer system of attention seeking requires a respectful withdrawal from feeding this energy. Respect is the ultimate currency and Hamilton passing the baton is respect at its finest.

Go read a book and stop fanning the flames.

[justiner]

everything else aside, the footage of the person running away from being served was pretty hilarious

MS.! MS.! HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR!