American Steep puts climbers in focus

Rock climbing is an unusual sport, played by a unique group of people. It has its own language, its own heroes, its own energy, and its own peculiar sense of humour.

American Steep, presented by the Great Wall Climbing and Guiding Centre on Nov. 1, attempts to capture the sport, art and culture of modern rock climbing with a three-part multimedia presentation.

Pieced together by Corey Rich, a world-renowned climbing photographer, and videographer/producer Ron Ambrose, American Steep has been touring the continent to rave reviews.

An hour in length, their presentation includes photography, video clips, and climber interviews, backed by an original soundtrack.

The production is presented in three distinct segments:

Rock and Rail features a couple of broke friends who ride the rails from Salt Lake City, Utah to Tucson, Arizona and back, dodging railroad police, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the trains themselves in a bid to climb some desert rock.

Flatlanders features climbers in the state of Texas that have turned grain silos, phone poles and other features into rock crags with a little creativity and a lot of epoxy.

Why We Climb is a photographic journey through the top climbing locations in the U.S., with interviews from the climbers.

The feature will be followed by a question and answer session with Rich and Ambrose, and a prize draw.

Tickets are $10 to the event, which includes a 2-for-1 climbing day pass to the Great Wall Underground.

Tickets are $10, and available at Great Wall in the Sundial Hotel (formerly the Westbrook). All proceeds from the show will go towards upgrading the well-used and eroded trails in the Nordic climbing area.

For more information on American Steep and a preview of the show, visit www.americansteep.com.