Splitter Choss» Contests

How Bad is Your Gri Gri Contest Winners!

BJ Sbarra — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:00:11 +0000

First off, a big thanks to Petzl for hooking it up with the Gri Gri and Reverso’s to send out. Without their support, I would have had to buy them myself and if I did that, I would just keep them because I need both a new Gri Gri and a new Reverso. Now where was I… Oh yes, the winners of the contest. We had two fantastically bad Gri Gri submissions, and then one humorous entry that we thought was too good to pass up. Here they are below, with commentary from Rick Vance, Petzl’s technical manager, on why they are in bad shape.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and keep an eye out in the spring for another chance to win some great gear from Petzl!

Submission #1 – Humor – 3rd Place Winner

From the submitter: Seriously, my Gri Gri IS NOT SAFE. No one want’s me belaying them with this. And just look at the wicked callus, I’ve obviously put this device to the test.

Here’s why I should win.

1 – I was not irresponsible by letting my gear go beyond the point of safe use.
2 – It’s clear I can’t afford proper equipment.
3 – Calluses negatively affect my Hand Modeling career.
4 – If I don’t win this contest, I’m entering your “How Bad are Your Nuts” contest…did you just picture it?

Pick me.

Submission #2 – 2nd Place Winner

Rick’s Take: This Grigri isn’t just worn out, it’s broken and needs to be retired.

It’s impossible to tell from the picture what exactly is wrong with the handle. Is it completely free spinning, or can it still disengage the cam when lowering a climber? There are mainly things that could be wrong, but here are just a couple of reasons why you wouldn’t want to use this Grigri.

The problem with a free spinning handle is that the belayer loses the fine control provided by the handle, and is likely to open the cam suddenly.

If the handle can still disengage the cam, the concern is that this handle can get caught on a loop of rope, your hand, a jacket, etc., and accidently open the cam.

Oh and there’s also a significant amount of wear to the attachment point, fixed side plate, and rope friction plate. FAIL!!!

Submission #3 – 1st Place Winner

From the submitter: My poor old reliable belay device “Bessie” is definitely in her final death throes. In fact, I was not suprised to see that she fits practically all of Petzl’s criteria for a FAIL. Most of the sheet metal edges have been sharpened to a “Ginsu-like” keenness. The cam surface has only a few more uses til daylight peeks through from the other side. The scariest thing about my old lovely Gri-gri is that she still works. Just Barely. Every time I belay or am belayed with this device feels like I am playing with house money. Ropes slip steadily through the locked device without a strong lockoff. Only seasoned veterans can negotiate ropes through the maze of her razor surfaces. I wanted to retire her long ago, but my poorness and the theft of her replacement several years ago have kept her on the frontlines. This contest is my last hope. Please help me send my Bessie to greener pastures. Please.

Rick’s Take: The submitter is right on when it comes to Bessie’s condition. When the friction bearing surfaces are worn to this point, it’s time to let the old girl go. I know times like this can be tough, but it’s best to be strong and do the right thing for your climbing partner.

Disclaimer: A complete inspection of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as a belay device cannot be performed without a thorough visual and functional inspection. As such, a thorough inspection cannot be completed based on these images alone. Opinions regarding the condition of this device are based solely on the images provide, and are offered as guidelines only. If there is any doubt about the condition of your device, return it to Petzl for a complete inspection.

Last Chance to Win a Gri Gri

BJ Sbarra — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:06:27 +0000

Submission deadline is today for the How Bad is Your Gri Gri contest. Send them in and we’ll be announcing the winners some time next week. Thanks to all who participated!

Contest Reminder – Win a Gri Gri

BJ Sbarra — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:40:19 +0000

Only one week left to submit your photos and win a Gri Gri and/or Reverso 3. In typical lazy-climber-wait-til-the-last minute-fashion, we’ve only had one entry so far, so it looks like your chances of winning are pretty good. Once again, all you have to do is send us some photos of your beat up old Gri Gri, and you can win a new one, 2nd and 3rd runners up get Reversos.

So send in your photos, or just send us a link to the photo you’ve posted elsewhere online, like Flickr, etc.

Good Luck!

Contest Reminder – Win a Free Gri Gri

BJ Sbarra — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:24:15 +0000

We’ll be posting reminders each week for our How Bad is Your Gri Gri Photo Contest until the submission deadline of December 1st. For those who aren’t familiar, simply submit a photo or two of your worn Gri Gri, and the one most in need of replacing gets a free Gri Gri, courtesy of the good folks at Petzl. There’s also a couple Reverso’s were giving away for 2nd and 3rd place. Full contest info and photos can be found here.

Also, there’s another contest going on over at the Climbing Narc, tis the season to win free stuff!

The How Bad is Your Gri Gri Photo Contest

BJ Sbarra — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:42:14 +0000

How worn is your Gri Gri? Many of us keep using our Gri Gri’s even though they begin to show major wear and tear. The most common signs are a big rope groove, and wearing of the cam. So we’ve partnered with Petzl to help promote safety and get those old Gri Gri’s off the street. Send us photos of your worn Gri Gri’s, and the most worn will win a new Gri Gri, thanks to Petzl. The second and third place winners will get Reverso’s, ’cause let’s face it, you need to retire those things!

Petzl has a good video on their website detailing what to look for when inspecting your Gri Gri. A little bland, but you get the idea. Also, an excellent picture of the most horrendously worn Gri Gri I’ve ever seen.

To enter, simply send us jpeg images, no bigger than 400 pixels wide, to contest@splitterchoss.com. Or you can send us a link to the image posted elsewhere on the web, like Flickr, etc. Here’s what we need in those images:

1) A photo like the one below, showing the cam and the rope entrance and exit holes.

2) A photo looking at the GRIGRI’s sliding side plate (the opposite side from the handle, where ‘GRIGRI’ is stamped).

We’ll post the images below with commentary from Petzl’s Technical Information Manager, Rick Vance, to get his take on how bad these things actually are. The deadline for submission is December 1st, when our illustrious judges at Petzl will then let us know who the lucky winners are. Only one submission per person please. Employees of splitterchoss.com and sponsored athletes are void from participating.

1st Place Prize

2nd & 3rd Place Prizes

Submission #1