Build My Own FeedBD athlete Chris Webb Parsons reports from the boulders of Bishop, California
Black Diamond athlete Chris Webb Parsons is on the road to recovery after major shoulder surgery and by the sound of this recent email he sent us, things are going rather well—to say the least. Chris has posted a couple of videos from Bishop (where the Australian is currently bouldering) of The Mandala and The Mystery that are embedded below as well.
From: Chris Webb Parsons
Subject: Bishop Update
Date: January 16, 2010 12:20:24 PM MST
I'm finally climbing again. Its been a rough road but everything is on the up. Last year in February I dislocated my shoulder in Hueco USA. I was on a 9 month climbing trip around the world. I was only 3 weeks into my trip and I was racking up a nice tick list,
Esperanza V14
Slashface V13
Diabolique V13
Loaded Direct V12
Barefoot on Sacred Ground V12
Bleeding Brothers V12
Platonique V12
Shaken Not Stirred V12
Diaphonous Sea V11/12 (flash)
and many more classic boulders...
One day while out on a tour I decided to pull my shoes on for an attempt on Crown Of Aragon (V13), I got through the hard section and I was into the last V8 section when my shoulder completely came out of its socket. I landed on my BD Mondo crash mat and my shoulder popped back into the joint.
After many trips to different specialists, I decided the best option was to have surgery on my shoulder. After surgery I had a very painful 2 weeks in a sling. After the sling was removed, I was unable to lift anything over 2 kgs for 4 months. After which I was told that I could not lift anything over 5kgs for another 2 months.
I started climbing again 3 months ago now. I started by traversing a flat wall only using my bad arm for balance. After a month of traversing I started to be able to put some body weight back on my arm. I started off with small goals, like hanging on a chin up bar for 5 seconds then 10 then 20 and so on. After another month had past, I could do chin-ups. I was finally climbing on overhanging walls.
3 months have now past since I began to climb again. I'm now in Bishop, CA, USA. On my first day in Bishop I went straight to the classic problem, The Mandala (V12). I did not know if I was capable of climbing The Mandala so early on into my return to climbing, but within a few shots I found myself standing on top of this amazing problem. I'm very Happy to be climbing again. Although I have a long way to go before I am back to full strength I feel I'm going to come back stronger and better than ever before.
I have 2 months to climb here in Bishop and I'm using my time here to rehab my shoulder as much as possible. Although there are many hard problems here in Bishop that I cant wait to try and climb I have to be patient and make sure my shoulder stays in place.
— Chris Webb Parsons
United States / English 
