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| The Southern California climbing community gathering for the premiere of Reel Rock 10 in the Gear Co-Op parking lot. |
Upon the start of the film, people indulged in craft beers and food truck delicacies- two essential components of a climber's diet. People meandered through rows of easy-ups hoping to score free gear from top-of-the line brands like the North Face, Hydroflask, Black Diamond, Petzel and GoPro. As the movie previews started and the lights dimmed, the crowd grabbed one last beer and packed tightly together- some sat on camping chairs, some lied on boulder pads and some sat flat on the asphalt. For climbers, seating didn't matter. They were there to see the new Reel Rock- the most anticipated climbing film every year featuring compelling looks at the most incredible climbs and expeditions of 2015.
The first movie of the night followed a point-of-view style film featuring Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell on an expedition across the Fitz Roy Mountain Range in Patagonia, Chile. This was the first treacherous traverse across the dangerously high skyline, yet there was more laughter in the crowd than "ooh's" and "ah's." Honnold, the world renouned free-solist made sarcastic comments consistently throughout the film and made everyone chuckle- especially the moment he was filming Caldwell as he ate old soggy pasta with a pair of broken sunglasses and deemed the shot as "artistic."
Robert Michael, an avid Southern Californian climber attended the event with his girlfriend. "I really enjoyed the Fitz Roy film," Michael said, "At one point, my palms would be sweating because some of the climbs they [Honnold and Caldwell] did were so nerve racking and then I'd be cracking up at Alex's remarks...I never expected him to be so funny."
The second film raised hairs, consisting of high-ball boulder problems filmed in Bishop, California. This film had a compelling storyline as it followed select climbers and highlighted specific projects they worked on all year. John Norian, an employee at the climbing shoe company La Sportiva said he was in Bishop during the big climbs in this film. "It was amazing to see these guys climbing again on the big screen," Norian said, "And, it is especially great to see how vibrant the climbing community has gotten in So Cal over the last few years."
A short intermission was given to the crowd after a tribute to Dean Potter- the Yosemite dwelling free-soloist and experienced wing suit flyer. Gear Co-Op employee Jan Myers sat at the front and teared up during the tribute. Myers happened to meet Potter once in Yosemite and like many other acquaintances of Potter, she said she had been inspired by his uncanny pursuit of following his passions. "I was really touched when everyone gave Potter a standing ovation," Potter said, "It's heartwarming to be apart of such a close community."
The night ended with the climb that sparked international attention- Yosemite's Dawn Wall Project. Just six days after Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgenson set out to achieve on of climbing's most difficult challenges, President Obama acknowledged their ascent. After nineteen days spent working on the climb, the two reached to summit of the 3,000-foot rock known as El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite climbing legend Tommy Thompson who is most well-known for his 3,000-foot climb with a paraplegic man said he came to the premiere to view this film. "I was climbing in Yosemite during Tommy and Kevin's Dawn Wall ascent," Thompson said, "I would stop and talk to them about the climb and how funny it was that the whole world was tracking their progress. Kevin said it made him more nervous, the more he saw the news stories...And with good reason! I wouldn't want to fail in front of America either, haha."
"Thank you to everyone who turned out for our biggest Reel Rock event yet!" Gear Co-Op wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the the gathering, "All proceeds are going to our conservation friends of Joshua
Tree."
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