Deep water soloing pioneer Dave Pickford explores his attraction to this climbing discipline that brings him closest to the edge, in the liminal space between land and sea.
Climbing is much more than just a sport. It's a kind of ritual, a spirit-quest, a journey into the heart of your life. It could even be an art form. Deep water soloing is a style of climbing that comes closest to all these things. Like an astronaut experiencing weightlessness for the first time, with the gift of water beneath their feet the soloist enters a new realm in which the conventional laws of physics no longer apply.
I really enjoyed this. its fully ignited an interest in DWS and really brought the whole experience to life. Ive only done a little bit, and I love the sea. Maybe this year we'll make an effort to hunt some routes out. Thanks
"In 2017, I found a small zawn whilst paddling on the Pembrokeshire coast, close to Raming Hole, that had no recorded routes at all. <snip> The lefthand one was particularly good, but I didn't record any of them; I felt they were somehow more special left that way."
Hmmmm, so if you couldn't be bothered to record your routes, what's to say that someone else hadn't before you either? 🤔
Fri Night Vid Finding Focus - Life Behind The Lens of a Climbing Photographer
This week's Friday Night Video is a portrait of a prolific climbing photographer from Wedge Climbing. Sam Pratt is well known in both the outdoor and competition scene but if you haven't heard of him, you've likely seen...