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FINISH HOLD - #34 - THE CLIMBING SHOE
WORDS AND ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA GODOWSKI // FROM UCMAG #34 > November 2009
  EnlargeFor her ode to (and portrait of) a trusty climbing shoe, Melissa Godowski will receive the classic Moon Fingerboard (moonclimbing.com). Designed and tested by the best, it’s the perfect tool for those serious about strong fingers. Get the last word in UC and win free gear — send Finish Hold submissions (350 words max; pics and artwork welcome) to finishhold@urbanclimbermag.com.
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Behold, the climbing shoe: so rough and tattered from use; memories of blood, sweat, and tears fused deep into its worn rubber — rubber torn bit by bit by all those times it saved your ass … from a bad hand placement, or that time you tried to clip, pumped with fear. . . . The rubber was the lifeline. Sure, you can climb barefoot, and ropes and pads are important, too — but wouldn’t you rather skip the fall, and use rubber and friction to claim the send you deserve? So be proud of that shoe, its worn rubber, its memories. Because whether the shoe be old or new, it’s your secret weapon; one reason you can call yourself a proud climber.
