E.O.F.T. Magazine 18/19

NO. 06

THE FRENCHY 82 YEARS AND NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN

NEW ROUTE TO THE TOP HOW ADAM ONDRA CLIMBED THE WORLD'S FIRST 9C

2 EUR | 2 GBP | 2.50 CHF

NORTH OF NIGHTFALL MOUNTAIN BIKING ON AXEL HEIBERG ISLAND

8000+ PARAGLIDING EXPEDITION A FRENCHMAN FLIES OVER BROAD PEAK

BACK TO THE EIGHTIES A TO B ROLLERSKI: FROM THE ARCTIC TO MEXICO

A PRODUCTION BY

CONTENTS

E.O.F.T. 18/19 WELCOME Welcome to the European Outdoor Film Tour 18/19! We look forward to introducing you to our brand new two-hour program at one of our more than 350 shows. Travel with us back to the eighties, to the dizzying heights of the Karakoram, and to Axel Heiberg Island beyond the Arctic Circle!

In this edition, you'll find information about the program's films and our partners. We hope you enjoy the read! Your E.O.F.T. Team

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THE A.O. Adam Ondra grants us exclusive insight into the mindset of a 'rock' star

MBUZI DUME STRONG GOAT Tom Belz climbs Mount Kilimanjaro on one leg

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8000+ Paraglider Antoine Girard explores the Karakoram alone and from lofty heights

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THE FRENCHY Age is not an excuse: Jacques Houot is still going strong at 82

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A TO B ROLLERSKI Back to the 80s: Raimonds Dombrovskis rollerskis across North America

VIACRUXIS The classic expedition documentary in six minutes —as stop-motion animation

WHAT IS THE E.O.F.T.?

Cover: © Dieter Deventer

The European Outdoor Film Tour (E.O.F.T.) is the largest film festival for outdoor sports and adventure films and has been touring Europe for 18 years. The kick-off takes place every year in October. With over 350 events in 15 European countries, the E.O.F.T. is the largest film event in the European outdoor community. Under the motto 'This is real', the two-hour program shows real adventures— no script, no actors, no special effects.

WWW.EOFT.EU

I M P R I N T The European Outdoor Film Tour is a production of Moving Adventures Medien GmbH in cooperation with the MAMMUT Sports Group and W.L. Gore & Associates | Editors: Paula Flach, Daniela Schmitt, Mardee Saxton | Art Director: Birthe Steinbeck | Graphics: Sebastian Vogel | V.i.S.d.P. Daniela Schmitt | © 2018 | Moving Adventures Medien GmbH, 80337 Munich, Germany

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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THE A.O.

INSIDE THE MIND OF ADAM ONDRA He has been climbing for as long as he can remember. He strives for complete physical control over every individual muscle while maintaining a mental big-picture perspective. His climbing successes are based on a sophisticated training system that encompasses both the body and the mind. Welcome to the world of Adam Ondra.

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All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

THE A.O.

The exceptional Czech talent Adam Ondra (25) has established a new level of difficulty in climbing.

For five years, he worked on 'Project Hard' in a cave in Flatanger, Norway.

On 3 September 2017, he completed the entire route and gave it the name ‘Silence’. It is the first route in the world to be rated 9c. Silence has yet to be repeated.

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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THE A.O.

It was the afternoon of 3 September 2017 when climbing history was written in a cave near Flatanger in Norway. A quiet 'click', then a restrained cry of relief.

He did it. Did he really? Yes, finally. Adam Ondra lets go, the full weight of his body absorbed by the rope.

He can hardly believe it. Did he really just climb the first 9c, the most difficult route in the world? For a long time, he believed it could be possible, and he worked long and hard to make it possible. Yet this extraordinary achievement suddenly seems so surreal…

The memory of this moment is still very much alive in Adam Ondra—most prominently, the decisive moves right before the last bolt. 'It was a very difficult moment for me to get my head around—another kneebar, rest again, time to think again… in these two minutes it was very difficult for me to keep a cool head. Somehow, I was able to calm down and finish the route.'

Time to Think Again It's disconcerting when your own thoughts become your biggest enemy. It's not the burning calves, not the tortured fingertips. No, it’s the quiet voice in your head that cheers you on, slows you down, and keeps silent—all at the same time and just at the time when you're hanging upside down like a bat on a sheer rock face and about to climb the route of your life.

ADAM ONDRA 'Climbing requires a wide When other kids range of skills,' says Ondra. were learning to walk, Adam 'And what's going on in your was already trying to climb. head plays a very important At the age of eight, he role.' He is less interested in onsighted routes graded 7b+; at sixteen, he won his getting into the much-laufirst climbing World Cup ded 'winning mentality' than and collected three gold in using all facets of his medals at the World Championships. In 2016, he repeated mind perfectly for climthe legendary Dawn bing—his intellect to find Wall in a record time creative solutions for the of eight days. nearly impossible movement sequences and his intuition to implement these movements as effectively as possible. With this combination, the mind is invincible—and not just when climbing.

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Conscious vs. Subconscious

'If you want to be on top of your game you have to train, not just physically but mentally as well.'

Adam Ondra

We do not consciously perceive most of what we experience.

According to neuroscientists, we are conscious of only about five percent of our cognitive activity, which means that most of our decisions, emotions, and actions depend on the 95 percent of brain activity that goes beyond our conscious awareness. This is an incredibly large amount of sensory input that slips past our waking mind into the brain, and we don't even notice.

It's actually a good thing that our brain works like this. If not, we’d have no chance of mastering our daily lives. Or climbing a 9c.

'Rational decisions simply take too long.' Ondra recognized this while working through the route on Silence and drew his conclusions from that experience: 'I think everyone can understand that. The more experience you have in doing certain things, the more automated they are and the more unconscious they become. I've been climbing all my life. I have accumulated so much experience that I can simply switch off my brain and trust that my intuition will make the movements for me and also make the right decisions. It's a bit like watching myself climb, and it's only in this state of mind that I climb to my true limit.'

But trusting his instincts is only one aspect of Ondra's formula for success. Before he can surrender to intuition, full concentration and countless repetitions are required. 'Hard routes consist of many tiny details, and any of those details can be the reason you fail. I climb so close to my limit that I really have to pay attention to every single detail, because there is no margin for error. Especially not in a 9c.' It were these details that forced him to look at his training on the route from a different angle.

A New Approach 'At first, I tried it the conservative way. I'd been practicing the climbing moves over and over again, hoping that my body would get used to the movement and that at some point it would be easier for me. But I got to a point where I couldn't go on.' The time he spent in Norway was simply not enough. Ondra had to find a solution to continue training at home. That's why he rebuilt the route in his climbing hall.

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

THE A.O.

Photos: © Pavel Blažek

For Adam Ondra, the 'Silence' route is the most important achievement of his climbing career to date.

But even that wasn’t enough. Fortunately, he had another wildcard to play: 'Klaus Isele is a physiotherapist who helped me more than anyone else to climb this route. I thought that I would only go to a physiotherapist if I was in pain. Klaus analysed my strengths and weaknesses and suggested exercises that would help me with Silence. It started with stabilizing my shoulder and ended with my calves. They were the key element in the kneebars.' Ondra knew that he would only be able to climb the route completely if he had the opportunity to rest in between, but, in the beginning, the resting positions were not ideal. Then, Klaus showed him exercises that enabled him to train his calf muscles so effectively that he was able to accomplish the kneebar manoeuvre, flexing his calves and completely relaxing the rest of his body.

It was also Klaus Isele who suggested to him, in addition to climbing training, to visualize each and every movement and to do 'dry runs' lying on the

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

ground. With this type of mental training, it is important to perform every movement with focused intention and to specifically target each required muscle group, even though you’re not really climbing. 'I tried to be as precise as possible,' recalls Ondra. 'And that actually helped me to be fast and precise on the route at the same time.'

Balancing speed and precision in climbing is an art.

The faster you climb, the more difficult it is to perform the movements cleanly. Over the years, Ondra has found his own way. 'I climb very quickly and I don't think my feet are exactly precise, but they're precise enough.

Other people may climb slower and more carefully.

My climbing style is sometimes pretty powerful and brutal, but I believe that for me and for my own body, this is the most efficient way. I always try to be efficient and make as few mistakes as possible, and that's how I enjoy climbing the most.'

European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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Reliable, compact and equipped with a range of accessories for individual setups, it’s the perfect companion for every adventure.

Because the surprises should all happen in front of the lens, not behind it.

www.arri.com/alexamini

Photos: Michael Trammer

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GET OUT THERE !

E.O.F.T. ADVENTURE CAMP SLOVENIA 2108

Vertical challenges: Helmuts and Liva are aiming to finish the via ferrata, but there are still a few vertical meters between them and their goal.

A weekend with the WIDE BOYZ: Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker.

We know them as offwidth climbers.

In Slovenia, along with our winners, they also experienced other adventure sports like caving and canyoning.

Outdoor adventure for everyone: In the dreamlike and varied landscape of Slovenia, outdoor adventure seekers get their money's worth—whether in the water, on the mountain, or underground.

Next Stop: Caving!

Helmuts and Giulio are enjoying the daylight, but it will soon be dark, narrow, and wet. This cave tour is not for the faint-hearted.

Francesco is determined to plunge into the cold water of the Soča. The crystal-clear, turquoise river is a paradise for watersport enthusiasts of all types.

Photos: E.O.F.T.

Climbing, Canyoning, Caving — Our first E.O.F.T. Adventure Camp was a weekend of outdoor fun and discovery. Teaming up with Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker, the four winners of last year's Instagram photo contest explored the rocks, gorges, and caves of Slovenia's Triglav National Park and found it an ideal location for outdoor adventures.

You can find the adventure camp clip at www.eoft.eu/adventurecamp All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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8000+

ANTOINE GIRARD HAS A LOFTY GOAL

The French paraglider Antoine Girard wants to get high.

Over 8000 metres to be exact. Whether his dream of flying is in the realm of human possibility, nobody knows.

But if he manages to fly over Broad Peak (8051m) in the Karakoram, he will definitely set a world record.

An adventure in extremely thin air.

8000+

Exclusive bird's-eye view: Antoine Girard gets a unique perspective from the top of the world. Below him, the Baltoro Glacier runs through the Karakoram.

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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8000+

8157 m 8051 m 7750 m

4715 m

Numbers do, however, play a very important role in Girard's professional life; the 39-year-old is a computer science professor at the University of Grenoble.

He works only part-time so he can pursue his dreams— and flying is at the top of his list. After several failed attempts to climb Broad Peak on foot, Girard wants a rematch—this time, by air.

To be on top of the world, to get a birds-eye view of the world from over 8000 metres, and to fly over the highest peaks in the world—that is his goal. That's why he makes it a point to train by paragliding in adverse weather conditions. Only those who have enough experience, who have mastered the equipment and are total experts, can venture to the icy heights of the Karakoram. It took him over a year to plan the expedition, but Girard likes to plan. 'I'm actually very organized. I plan everything.'

But before the expedition even starts, it seems to be running off course.

NEW RECORD Antoine Girard Broad Peak

PREVIOUS RECORD Brad Sander

START OF THE RECORDBREAKING FLIGHT near Payu Peak

K2 Broad Peak

PAKISTAN

Gasherbrum II

Nanga Parbat

Payu

Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak)

RECORD FLIGHT IN THE KARAKORAM With his paraglider and tent, Antoine Girard explores the Karakoram in a self-sufficient bivouac. In addition to the K2 (8611m), the second highest mountain in the world, there are six other eight-thousand-metre peaks in the region. On his four-week expedition, Girard took 35 kilos of gear with him. During that time, he lost seven kilos, the same amount that his paraglider weighs.

'Numbers are just numbers,' responds Antoine Girard when asked about his world record. In his paraglider, the Frenchman soared over Broad Peak (8157m), higher than anyone ever before. But to Girard, the numbers are not important. 'Breaking records is not my objective. I do these projects primarily to get to know myself.'

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Perhaps the most important number in this adventure is not Girard's altitude record but the number one. When he sets off for Pakistan—equipped with his camera, his paraglider, and his big dream—half of the team is missing. His expedition partner cancelled just five days before the planned start. And just like that—two becomes one. This is no longer a team expedition, but a solo adventure on the edge of the impossible.

'It was a difficult start.' Girard recalls, 'My biggest worry was loneliness. I wasn't afraid for my life, but I knew that I was on my own, without a partner to provide encouragement and make decisions with me.

The camera helped me cope with the loneliness.'

After the first flight, at about 4400 metres below Nanga Parbat (8126m), when Girard was held captive by rainy weather and stuck in his tent for days, he thought about giving up. Doubts began gnawing at the edges of his mind. Maybe this plan isn't possible at all. Maybe you can't do something like this on your own. Maybe there isn't enough time to accomplish this dream. Maybe this damn rain will never stop. Waiting for better weather wore him down. Only in retrospect can Antoine Girard reflect positively on his days in the tent: 'This time was very important for me because it allowed me to take a step back, to think about and more deeply understand why the project is so important to me. It gave me confidence. After that, I got totally into it and believed I could do it.'

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

Photos: © Antoine Girard

Two Becomes One

8000+

Facts on the ground: Antoine Girard (39) on the ascent from the Hunza Valley with all his gear for four weeks of bivouac flying.

Sun + Rock + Air = Buoyancy Finally, the storm breaks and the clouds part to reveal a spectacular mountain panorama. Some of the world's highest peaks appear in front of Antoine Girard— a canvas of stone, ice, and sky. The sun provides him with a mental boost, and more importantly, its rays heat the rock to quickly generate the thermal uplift needed for his paraglider to soar. The paraglider, including the 35 kilos of gear, is carried upwards by the warm rising air. The air around Girard becomes thinner, and with altitude, the air resistance also de-creases, allowing him to fly even faster.

In order to make optimum use of the thermals, it's not just sun that's needed but also relative calm, a rare commodity amid 'I gave myself gigantic glaciers and winarithmetic problems dy eight-thousand-metre to test my mental peaks. Girard has chosen faculties at altitude.' a sport in which he is Antoine Girard exposed to the most extreme forces of nature,

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

but that's exactly what makes paragliding so appealing to him. 'That's what makes paragliding so exciting— there are so many obstacles, and I'm always curious about how I will react in unplanned situations.'

Base Camp for One When Girard lands his paraglider, it's usually in places where no one has yet to set foot. He perches his tent in precarious positions on rugged mountainsides, lonely and peaceful at the same time—as opposed to the overcrowded, littered basecamps at the foot of the surrounding eight-thousand-metre peaks. 'What really drives me is the feeling of freedom. It is one of life's great privileges to find myself in such places, looking at the stars and the landscape around me. It's at these moments when I'm the happiest person in the world.'

But even the happiest person in the world has to eat.

On long flight days and involuntary break days, Girard loses a lot of weight. Seven kilos in a fortnight. Food rations are tight; if he does not fly, he only consumes 100-150 grams of food a day, much too little. 'I used to dream at night about eating,' Girard recalls.

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8000+

problem. First, he flies to 'Up there, I had to a secondary summit, then concentrate so hard on at 3:00 pm local time, he surviving that I could finally floats over Broad hardly allow myself to Peak (8051m). have any emotion.'

At 8157 metres, a good 100 metres above the Antoine Girard summit, a shout echoes through the icy air.

'Up there, I had to concentrate so hard on surviving that I could only allow myself a brief cry of joy,' Girard recalls.

What Girard learned during his record-breaking flight, he immediately incorporated into future plans.

'Because my oxygen device didn't work on Broad Peak, I now know that I can do it without it. I can save this weight on my next expedition.' While this may be evidence that Girard is actually somewhat con-cerned with numbers (i.e., the weight of his gear) in the end, it is about getting to know himself and, on his own, finding the confidence and courage within to reach new heights.

Timeline Production © 2014 adidas AG. Michal Sabovcký - Lomnický štít

The altitude is also becoming more and more difficult for the Frenchman. His fingertips are cracked, a result of the cold, dry, and thin air. His respirator isn't working properly anymore. Concentration is also becoming more challenging. In order to monitor his mental fitness and to calm down in tricky manoeuvres, the computer science professor gives himself mathematical tasks. 'For example, 50 x 32.

When it took me more than ten seconds to calculate the answer, I knew I had to land. If I solved it in less than that time, I could keep flying.'

When dawn breaks on the morning of 23 July 2016, nothing suggests that it would be Antoine Girard's big day. The weather is mediocre at best, but the sun fights its way through the clouds and Girard fights his way into the sky. If you look at the GPS track of his flight on that day, it just meanders through the air.

He 'leaps' from summit to summit in order maintain altitude. After five hours of uninterrupted flight time and a distance of almost 200 kilometres, he finally begins to ascend Broad Peak. Although his oxygen is giving out, he flies on and keeps working those math

DISCOVER THE WORLD OF 30° MAGAZINE www.30degres.swiss

LIFESTYLE I SPORT ADVENTURE I TRAVEL

LA RÉUNION ISLAND

LA RÉUNION The multi-faceted paradise in the Indian Ocean – An electrifying island experience for all the senses

Intense experiences surrounded by shoals of fish

© IRT/ frog974

Photos: © IRT / Laurent Beche, frog974

Amazing impressions at Piton de la Fournaise volcano

en.reunion.fr

WelcOme to outdoor paradise

From the adrenaline rush of action-packed outdoor activities underwater or high in the air, to hours of relaxation on one of our glorious beaches – La Réunion offers a wealth of stunning natural beauty in its compact area, with everything adventurers long for in a vacation.

The active volcano Piton de la Fournaise has erupted twice in 2018, captivating spectators with the drama of this breathtaking natural spectacle. Nature-loving hikers will find the finest views from Piton des Neiges, an extinct volcano 3,071 metres in height which aptly bears the name of 'Roof of the Indian Ocean'.

And adventure-loving explorers of this volcanic island can even test their mettle underground in a unique cave hike through a lava tunnel.

In addition to the UNESCO-listed mountain ranges, travellers can plunge into the underwater world of the island, teeming with ocean life, and go snorkelling in the coral reefs, take whale and dolphin watching expeditions, or even try an underwater sketching course.

La Réunion guarantees unforgettable natural experiences and spine-tingling moments.

A TO B ROLLERSKI

In winter, one of the keys to success in cross-country skiing is choosing the right wax; for training in summer, it's the right wheels. The wheels Raimonds Dombrovskis used weren't on the market for long, but they made it possible to complete the trip that consisted of mostly unpaved roads.

Unlike in 1988, off-road rollerskis now have brakes. This would have made many some descents 30 years ago much more relaxed.

A

'My girlfriend said, "If you go, take the dog with you!" And it was okay. He was my buddy.

I could talk to him. He always agreed with me.'

Raimonds Dombrovskis

For most of us, rollerskiing would not be the most obvious choice of sport equipment for crossing the North American continent from north to south.

For biathlete Raimonds Dombrovskis, it was the perfect thing to do in the summer of 1988, and it was the longest training run of his career.

Every day, Raimonds updated the number of kilometres he covered on the side door of his VW Bulli.

He wasn't out to set a speed record, and there were no coaches or sponsors who expected a certain level of performance from him.

In fact, he and his team were self-sufficient and rather short of cash throughout the entire trip.

They kept their heads above water by selling sponsored sunglasses and T-shirts.

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All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

A TO B ROLLERSKI Although a 6759-kilometre journey is more a matter of endurance than speed, incredibly high speeds were inevitable on Raimonds' long downhill runs. On the 1988 trip, after his wheels had been comfortably broken-in, he was able to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h! In 2014, his top speed was just 70 km/h— and even that felt dangerous!

When people asked him why he was going on this journey, Raimonds would always say, 'When I left, I had no reason.

But now I have 100.' In addition to discovering the captivating landscape of the American West, he became aware of new sides of himself. For the documentary, he repeated the journey again in 2014. 'Why' is an actual place, by the way; it's located on Arizona State Highway 85, not far from the Mexican border.

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

B

Today, it's (almost) unimaginable, but there was a time when it was possible to find your way to your destination without GPS and Google Maps. Before the Internet and smartphones, route planning was, for the most part, still based on map reading. And thank God, there weren't too many junctions on the North American highways.

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A TO B ROLLERSKI

90 DAYS Whether on snow or on the road, the skating movement is the same.

However, you have much more grip on paved roads than on winter snow, which is why Raimonds preferred to train on gravel. In his opinion, this was better preparation for the winter.

But an adventure like this in snow on cross-country skis would never have occurred to him.

Raimonds estimates that his dog, Bucis, ran about 70 percent of the trip with him. At the end of the journey, when Raimonds returned to his studies at the university in Anchorage, he was unable to take Bucis with him. Fortunately, his girlfriend's sister, already a devoted dog owner, took Bucis in.

Inuvik 14 August 1988 Starting Point

Skagway (Alaska) 4 September 1988 Florian's departure CANADA

THE ROUTE At first Raimonds thought he would need to cover 60 kilometres per day but discovered along the way that he had miscalculated. In order to complete the route within his given timeframe, he would have to do 80 kilometres per day—a distance you would never attempt in normal training.

6759 KM For the first leg of the trip, Raimonds was accompanied by Florian HĂźttner, whom he had met two years earlier at a biathlon competition. Along with Martins Grants, who drove the support vehicle and later became the cameraman, and Bucis, it was unfortunately rather tight in the VW T2. In 2014, a much bigger documentary crew was on board (but no dog!), which is why the vehicle also needed to be one size bigger.

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Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics

5 October 1988 Raimonds crosses the U.S. border

Grand Canyon 4 November 1988 This is where Raimonds had to walk Baja California 12 November 1988 Journey's End

MEXICO

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

A TO B ROLLERSKI

One highlight of Raimonds' biathlon career could have been the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary.

However, an appendectomy put a spoke in his wheel shortly before.

While he was fit enough to accompany his team to the games (and shake hands with Ronald Reagan), he did not actively take part in the competitions.

His rollerski journey was, therefore, a reaction to this disappointment.

Raimonds wanted to be perfectly prepared for the next season.

'On one downhill, I passed a car.

That's how we knew it was over 60 miles per hour.'

Raimonds Dombrovskis USA

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

Raimonds Dombrovskis was born in 1962 in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. Problems with the KGB prompted his family to move to the United States in 1979. He had already competed in biathlons at a professional level in his home country, and after only two years in America, he was also very successful as part of the U.S. team. He received a sports scholarship and became a seven-time U.S. champion.

Although there was also the possibility of going directly along the coast to Mexico, Raimonds chose the more difficult route through the interior. The ups and downs of the mountain routes simply had greater training effect. He also liked the mountains more than the sea. Today, however, he prefers to spend his adventure holidays on rivers, e.g., on a boat trip on the Yukon River.

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A TO B ROLLERSKI

When his girlfriend's father bought a video camera in 1988 and suggested that Raimonds document his crazy adventure, nobody knew that the material would be on the shelf for almost 30 years before it would actually be made into a film.

After two directors had already dropped the project, Arnis Aspers (lower picture, middle), who had known Raimonds since childhood, finally took the matter into his own hands and put his friend's story on the big screen.

In 1996, Raimonds Dombrovskis returned to his homeland. As early as 1988, he had been convinced that the Soviet Union would not last long. Then in 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, and in 1991, Latvia became independent. Although he had always dreamed of competing for Latvia at the 1992 Olympics, the decision was harder for him than he expected. After all, the U.S. had supported him for many years.

In the end, he did not participate in the games for either team.

FIRST TRIP: 1988 ON THE ROAD AGAIN: 2014 Photos 1988: Š Martins Grants, Photos 2014: Š Janis Spurdzins

Even after his biathlon career ended, Raimonds remained committed to winter sports.

He has been running a ski resort in Latvia since 2002. He also organizes the logistics for the Latvian bobsleigh team and managed the U.S. team at the Olympic Games in Sochi.

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All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

KÄRCHER

KÄRCHER GETS EVERYTHING CLEAN AFTER CAMPING, HIKING, SURFING, ETC. Finally, holiday time! So, it's time to pack your hiking boots or bike and head off to the countryside. That equipment gets dirty is just one of those things. To get rid of dust and mud in next to no time, Kärcher has a practical aid and some useful tips for almost every holiday situation: the mobile, OC 3 low-pressure cleaner.

Thanks to its compact dimensions, the new Kärcher low-pressure cleaner is ideal for cleaning when you're on the road..

With various accessories in practical boxes, the Mobile Outdoor Cleaner can be used in a variety of ways.

Hiking shoes When looked after well, hiking boots last a long time, and cleaning them is very easy: 1. Start by removing the worst dirt with the OC 3 water jet and, where necessary, use a brush. For a thorough clean, also remove the shoelaces and insoles.

2. Wash the inside of the shoe with water and detergent and then rinse it with clear water.

3. For drying, stuff the shoes with newspaper and never place them directly in the sun or under a heater, as this could damage the material.

4. Afterwards, apply the appropriate shoe care wax.

rinse off everything with your OC 3. Depending on how much there is to clean, the 4 litres of water from the tank will be enough, or you can use the suction hose from the Adventure-Box. It can suck water out of a large canister or bucket. If the battery is running low at the end of your holiday, simply use the car adapter and work with the car battery's power.

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The new Mobile Outdoor Cleaner from Kärcher recommended retail price: EUR 159.99

Further information: www.kaercher.com

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

Photos: © Kärcher

Camping gear Before going home or continuing to your next destination, your camping dishes, folding chairs or other utensils need to be cleaned. So quickly

Practical aid when out and about Thanks to having its own water tank, the Kärcher battery-operated lowpressure OC 3 cleaner can be used anywhere, and is no bigger than a bicycle basket. The nozzle has been specially engineered for low-pressure applications and it ensures a high degree of cleaning performance.

KÄRCHER TO GO. Anytime. Anyplace. The Mobile Outdoor Cleaner.

Cleaning a bike can feel like scaling a mountain, but with the Mobile Outdoor Cleaner with Bike Box it’s downhill all the way.

The spray gun safely washes dirt from sensitive parts, while a multipurpose brush attachment removes tougher grime – leaving your spokes, frame and treads looking great. The box comes complete with an integrated lithium ion battery, detachable 4-litre water tank, detergent and microfibre cloth. www.kaercher.com

ZEISS

WAITING FOR JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT He’s an outdoorsman, an entrepreneur, and an extreme mountain climber.

Stefan Glowacz, Brand Ambassador for ZEISS, talks about how he prepares for long journeys in the wilderness, the importance of his ZEISS Terra ED binoculars, and about the fall that saved his life.

How did you get into climbing?

My parents were devoted mountain climbers.

They took me with them back before I could even walk properly. Through them, I discovered my passion for the mountains. My parents even moved to southern Germany from northern Germany in order to pursue mountain climbing, and they always supported my own passion for this sport 100%.

Was there ever a particularly close call when you were out climbing?

Yes, there was an accident when I was training in southern Bavaria in 1990. I was holding onto

a piton with both hands, thoroughly convinced that I was doing everything properly. And although I didn’t notice anything when I hammered it into the rock, there must have been a slight crack because suddenly the spike came loose and I fell ten meters. But luck was on my side—instead of falling onto a jagged boulder, I fell onto the forest floor, which was a blessing in disguise despite the fact that my knee, heel, and wrist were shattered.

It took two years for the injuries to fully heal. But looking back I can say that the accident happened at exactly the right time, otherwise I’m certain I would have died. The fall brought me back to reality. I had been arrogant, but after the accident I no longer felt that I was invincible. Since then, I only climb with a rope team; the time when I would climb by myself is over.

How do you remain focused over a long period of time when climbing?

The interaction between body and mind is crucial.

One of the most important factors is the ability to summon absolute concentration at will and maintain it for a longer period of time. This is a skill any ambitious climber should practice every day. I’ve also tried out yoga a few times and have borrowed a few techniques when I warm up and cool down.

Which role do compact and lightweight high-performance binoculars play when you’re out climbing, such as the ZEISS TERRA ED or VICTORY Pocket?

Sometimes we sit for hours—even days—under a cliff we want to climb and observe it using our binoculars. We set goals for ourselves and try to determine the exact route we’ll take. For this detailed planning, an outstanding pair of binoculars is an absolute must. This approach to climbing has saved us many times from unpleasant surprises.

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Photo: Klaus Fengler

With its high magnification, light weight, and even smaller packing dimensions, the ZEISS Victory Pocket is the ideal companion for Stefan Glowacz on his COAST TO COAST expedition.

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ZEISS

How do you choose your climbing excursions and According to Stefan Glowacz, how do you prepare? to reach a hard to access area The preparations can last as with one's own strength and power from the last point of long as two or three years civilization, score a first ascent for a complex expedition, and return by means of your own such as to the Arctic or to strength, totally self-sufficient.

Baffin Island up in northern Canada in the winter. The important thing is to answer as many questions as you can in advance and mentally work through possible solutions to problems you might face when climbing. Each piece of the puzzle must fit before we leave, otherwise it would simply be too risky to go climbing in these inhospitable environments. Sometimes we also need to learn new types of sports, such as snowkiting or whitewater rafting.

By planning everything down to the last detail, we try to ensure that we are never in a situation where we couldn’t react.

BY FAIR MEANS:

What advice would you give a first-time climber?

Beginners should only go climbing under expert supervision, either with a climbing instructor at a rock-climbing gym or with a guide when climbing in the mountains.

And of course you should go climbing and practice as much as possible because this sport requires a lot of experience. That’s the only way to do it safely.

What have you planned for your next big adventure?

In the past our approach has been 'by fair means'. The new expedition COAST TO COAST— from Starnberg to Greenland—takes it a step further and combines the different aspects of adventure: sailing - big wall climbing - crossing inland ice. Our new endeavor will start at the end of July and will last for about 100 days.

We plan to return at the end of October.

'It all depends on one's creativity. A big adventure can start right in front of your doorstep.'

Stefan Glowacz

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European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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MBUZI DUME - STRONG GOAT

Tom Belz is determined to prove that even an amputee can climb a 5895-metre-high mountain.

ON ONE LEG

Photos: Š Nils Heck

One leg, two crutches. Tom Belz has been making his way in the world like this for 23 years. He contracted bone cancer as a child, and amputating his left leg was the only way to save his life. It's obvious that Tom is missing one leg; it's also easy to see that he does not let that hinder him in any way, as proven by his Kilimanjaro ascent in the summer of 2018 and his Swahili nickname— 'Mbzui Dume', which means 'strong goat'.

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MBUZI DUME - STRONG GOAT

'At home, people always want to label me and put me in a box where I don’t belong. Here, they just have no idea where to put me.'

Tom Belz

Have you been treated differently in Africa because of your disability, as opposed to how you're treated at home?

Yes. From the moment I walked onto African soil, everyone was staring at me. But not the tourists—it was the African people who thought it was totally crazy. They just didn't know how to deal with me. I only have one leg, but otherwise I'm perfectly normal.

I actually work with mentally and physically handicapped people. First, I had to prove to the African people that they didn't have to help me so much.

One of the boys holds a record for climbing and descending Kilimanjaro. He and I were running up and over hills, and he turned around two or three times and thought, 'Tom's actually pretty fast!'

That's how they finally realized what I'm capable of. During the ascent itself, I was, of course, super thankful that I had guides there to support me because I constantly broke through the ice on the summit plateau.

TOM BELZ As YouTuber 'Tom NATIVE', the 31-year-old has already published several travel videos. The first time he set his sights on ascending a mountain, it was Kilimanjaro.

Dr. Klaus Siegler, the surgeon who amputated Tom's left leg when he was just eight years old, took on the challenge with him.

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Dr. Klaus Siegler, the doctor who saved your life 23 years ago, also accompanied you on the ascent. How was that experience?

Very intense. Klaus saved my life back then, but that clinic held traumatic memories for me and I had to reorient myself.

At first, I didn't even want to go back to there, but with time, this feeling subsided a bit, and I had the opportunity to meet children there who had the same fate as I did and to whom I was

Tom Belz doesn't need mountaineering skills to climb Kilimanjaro, but he does need a lot of stamina and a large supply of crutch tips, the protective rubber caps that meet the ground. Tom wore out 10 pairs on his way to the summit.

introduced as a role model. I often saw Klaus there, and that was really nice. For me, the clinic became like a second home, a place where I started to live again. Klaus was a very important part of that, so climbing Kilimanjaro with him actually felt right.

What does Mount Kilimanjaro mean to you in your life now?

I wanted to prove to myself that I could make it to the summit. But in the end, everyone has his own baggage in life to carry; Kilimanjaro is a metaphor for that. Everyone has his own Kilimanjaro to climb. Your partner leaves you, one parent dies... these are terrible things, but they are also opportunities. Life isn't always as easy as you might think, but you have to decide for yourself whether you will succumb to life's challenges or find a way to transcend them.

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Photos: © Gore-Tex®

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adventure? How can we innovate maximum comfort for activities done in drier conditions? These questions inspired the new GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ product range, identified by their white diamond symbol and hangtag, which builds on the quality and performance of the original GORE-TEX products brand while introducing more versatile comfort.

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THE FRENCHY

NO

No Problem: This is Jacques Houot's motto.

He never uses his age as an excuse.

PROBLEM !

Mountain biker, ski racer, and life expert Jacques Houot is 41 years old—in each leg.

A total of 82 years of optimism, and an example by which everyone should live.

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THE FRENCHY

Photos: © Pete McBride

'All those close calls I had... it's very good. Because after that, I enjoy life every day.

Everything I do is a bonus.'

Jacques Houot

In his guide for unconventional thinkers Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite, the British advertising icon Paul Arden tells the following anecdote: 'A friend of mine was in trouble, so he asked his father for advice. He said, "Dad, I’m in trouble." The father asked, "Are they going to kill you?" He said, "Oh no, no."

His father said, "Son, you don’t have a problem."'

This clever insight comes from a person who probably didn’t escape the jaws of death anywhere near as often as Jacques 'Frenchy' Houot. And Houot would probably add, 'Even if they did want to kill you, you'd still have no problem.' He speaks from experience.

By his own account, he has survived life-threatening events '23, maybe 24' times. Was it merely luck or did he somehow play a part? The eighty-two-year-old Frenchman lives by this simple motto: No problem!

Adding parenthetically, What could go wrong?

Throughout his long life, Houot has kept a detailed account of all that's happened to him. Some incidents occurred decades ago. Shortly after his birth in 1935, little Jacques mastered his first challenge in this world. He was born a 'blue baby', named according to the infant's blue complexion caused by a lack of oxygen. Although the chances of survival in these cases were not good at the time, doctors were able to save him. From 1940–44, he was also fortunate; in contrast to many others of his generation, he survived the Second World War. And his first swimming attempt in 1945 could have ended badly; it was involuntary in nature and took place in winter, when the thin layer of ice covering the surface of a lake suddenly collapsed under him.

In the mid-1970s, Jacques Houot immigrated to America. He lived in Colorado and Florida and was involved in a variety of activities. He did not have a career plan in the traditional sense; he was instead always seeking after the next challenge, not necessarily

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JACQUES HOUOT was born in France in 1935. In the mid-1970s, he immigrated to the United States.

Today, he lives in the small town of Carbondale in Colorado, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to mountain biking, this active retiree also loves to ski.

because of the promise of financial gain but because of the possibility that it would offer adventure and exciting experiences. And although he spent many years working in the jewelry business, the accumulation of worldly possessions has remained foreign to him to this day. With his lifelong focus on the present, financial security has always been of little importance. Today, he lives on an extremely modest pension. During filming, he confided to director Michelle Smith, 'If I ADIEU CANCER STICKS were rich, I would already Jacques smoked a pack be dead. Money kills you!' of cigarettes a day—until he had a heart attack.

This may sound like Heeding the advice of his then a rather extreme asserboss, Jacques quit tion, but it is not surprissmoking in time to reclaim ing coming from Jacques his quality of life.

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THE FRENCHY

MICHELLE SMITH Filmmaker Michelle Smith met Jacques Houot at a mountain bike event.

When he told her some anecdotes from his adventurous life, she was immediately fired up about making a film about him.

Houot. There are situations in which money actually saves lives, but for him, quality of life greatly outweighs any material comforts or conveniences. Although it may only apply to a certain segment of his age group (and others), overweight and lethargy are widespread and inherent problems of prosperity. Jacques Houot prefers to stay active.

It is possible that in some situations Houot was simply luckier than others, however ambiguous that term may be.

Fortunately for Houot, KEEP ON SMILING no bullet left the barrel The real secret behind Jacques' of his opponent’s pistol joie de vivre is his interminable cheerfulness. after he pointed it at him According to his theory, and pulled the trigger. you can prolong your life by When he crashed his car, one full hour with every laugh. careening from a bridge We say: Why not try it!

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Photo: Michelle Smith

IT'S IN HIS KISS

into the water below, he This song was might have had more luck made famous in 1964, but for Jacques, the text than sense. He managed has lost none of its relevance. to wind down the trusty Whether it's love or not, old-style window crank man or woman, no just in time to get out of one is safe from his bisous. his car before he drowned inside it, but without the spontaneous resuscitation attempts of a courageous passerby, this story would have ultimately ended badly.

Nevertheless, there were moments when Jacques Houot did not rely on good fortune alone. In a situation where no one else could help him, he took his life into his own hands. He quit smoking after having barely survived his first heart attack (yet another incredible story...), and he decided to supplant his rather passive lifestyle with a much more active one. Since then, he has accumulated an extensive collection of medals in mountain biking and skiing.

Houot is convinced that everyone has his destiny in his own hands, particularly when it comes to 'repairing his body' as he puts it. He declared war on his back problems and fought his cancer diagnosis with the same zealous fervor. No Problem! Thus far, this strategy has served him well.

Today, in his hometown of Carbondale, Colorado, almost everyone knows him. He cultivates a large circle of casual acquaintances but does not have particularly close friendships. He also never had a family. The freedom to do exactly what you want to do every day has a certain price; the question is whether you want to pay it or not.

'The Frenchy' is not only a portrait of an extraordinary and an exTHE MOUNTAINS traordinarily lucky man, ARE CALLING but also of a man who has After working as a sailing instructor in Florida, Jacques never been afraid to make returned to Colorado. the necessary choices for In the mountains surrounding the life he wanted to live.

Carbondale, he found the perfect Until today. terrain to get back in shape.

WE HAVE YOUR OUTDOOR-TICKET ...

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… TO THE LIMIT!

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... TO THE SUMMIT!

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VIACRUXIS

PURSUING THE ULTIMATE SUMMIT SELFIE

MEANS EVERYTHING TO THESE TWO MOUNTAINEERS

Both traditional and modern: With great attention to detail and infinite patience, filmmaker Ignasi Lรณpez has adapted the classic expedition documentary into a stop-motion animation, and he's not afraid to comment on the genre with a bit of irony.

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VIACRUXIS

The ambitious alpinists Marcel Lechèvre and Andrejz Kozajkowski scaled a mountain without ever leaving the studio.

We wondered what these two would say about their expedition if they could talk.

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European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

35

VIACRUXIS

First of all, congratulations to both of you on coming down from the mountain in one piece!

Things went a little differently than planned...

Marcel Lechèvre: That’s one way to put it!

It's certainly not easy to describe, but how did you experience the decisive moment in the last section of the ascent?

Andrejz Kozajkowski: In slow motion. When you watch your life's dream just implode like that… well, it’s frustrating, first and foremost.

Things actually seemed to go pretty well for the most part, but for a while, we completely lost sight of you. How long were you stuck in the whiteout?

AK: At least half a day. We apparently just walked around in circles. An incredible waste of time.

What's with the 'Climbing on ice and rumour about you snow scares me. I prefer meeting a Yeti out that my figurines climb there? the mountains for me.'

ML: I saw him!

Ignasi López AK: I was three meters behind you and I did not even see you!

ML: That's not my problem.

AK: You saw a Yeti and didn't take a picture of him?

You don't even believe that yourself.

ML: I did.

AK: Seriously, if you had seen him, there would be a photo. And it would have gotten 10,000 likes on Instagram by now!

ML: More like 100,000. But I couldn’t really get a good photo of him. All you can see is fog.

AK: Yeah, exactly—all you see is fog.

Is it possible that Instagram is a touchy subject between you two?

AK: Yes, for sure. You don't see it in the movie, but it was ridiculous how often we had to stop so he could take selfies!

ML: As if we would’ve gotten to the summit any faster.

AK: At lease we could have reached the summit!

ML: You're not seriously saying that I caused the ice cap to break off?

AK: If you hadn't taken the photo...

ML: Who was the one up there posing? Who wanted the picture so badly?

AK: It was my turn to finally have one picture taken of me, after you took 30 selfies!

Well, um, that must have been an unfortunate set of circumstances. Did you know that upper ice sheet would be so unstable?

ML: The higher up you are, the sketchier it gets.

One always hopes that a big chunk of ice doesn't decide to come down while you’re up there.

But it did and, fortunately, it missed us by a long way.

AK: The ice cap, yes. But when we traversed back down, it was pretty close in places. And you wanted to send me through there first...

ML: Wait, we'd already agreed who'd go first!

Combined Forces Marcel Lechèvre and Andrejz Kozajkowski brave the most difficult conditions together.

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European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

Thanks guys! Thank you very much for the interview!

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VIACRUXIS

IGNASI LÓPEZ FIGURINE MAKER AND STORYTELLER In this interview, the film's creator tells us more about the production process for 'Viacruxis' Can you briefly describe the How did you come up with the idea production process? of making an animated climbing film?

I started with a very simple idea and then graduThe mountains and animation are two things that inspire me equally. I am an active sports ally constructed the story. First, I wrote the script climber, but alpine climbing on ice and snow and determined what the two characters should scares me. I prefer that my figures climb the do in each scene. Next, I drew the storyboard and mountains for me! built the figures and the backgrounds. After that How long did you work on Viacruxis? followed the single frame photography and the The idea first came to me about 16 months editing and, as a last step, the sound design and before, and all that time, I the music. It's like a big puzzle didn't think I'd be able to finish where all pieces have to fit tothe project. But in the end, the gether. creative process is the most imWhat was the most complicated thing? portant thing, and what you It was quite complicated to make can learn. And this thought was the figures move vertically. They ultimately very reassuring. could only weigh very little and Did you make the movie were constructed on a delicate by yourself or did someone framework of wire and pins. help you?

The film is clearly not set I took care of almost everything in the present, yet you have myself in this short film. I only picked up on the current selfie had help with sewing the IGNASI LÓPEZ trend. Was that on purpose? costumes and recording the The thing with the selfies was my voices for the two figures. One Since he likes to climb himself, making a film about idea for portraying Marcel's vanity. voice is my wife! It was a pretty his favourite sport was an I also enjoyed combining the past tough project. Like a high obvious choice, even if and the present with a common mountain that I had to climb it meant spending his time inside the studio. storyline—photography. with great effort and stamina.

Photos: © Ignasi López

THE TECHNIQUE

Ignasi López spent months bringing his two figures to life in 'Viacruxis'. The process of stop-motion animation is simple but very time-consuming. The illusion of a fluid movement can only be achieved by using 25 frames per second. That means for every second of the finished film, the director had to touch his characters 10–15 times (each image was later doubled) and correctly position the limbs to create a realistic climbing movement.

Because they were wired together, head, arms, legs, and even the hair and beards of the two figures could be fixed in any position. This was the only way for López to keep control of his figures and the set and to capture the difficult movements, broken down into individual pictures. Every rope in the picture also had a wire core inside. Despite all these efforts, the movements in a stop-motion animation are never 100 percent fluid; it is all purely manual labor, which is exactly what gives a stop-motion movie its unique charm.

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European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

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NORTH OF NIGHTFALL Darren Berrecloth carries his bike up the mountain — the ascent must come before the descent. And, while the ascents typically take a bit longer on Axel Heiberg Island, so do the descents! When Darren wanted to post one of his rides on Instagram, he found it wasn't possible.

The descent took longer than one minute, exceeding the maximum allowable length of an Instagram video.

NORTH OF NIGHTFALL On Axel Heiberg Island, a long-held dream comes true for four mountain bikers. But even in this uninhabited desert, they witness the impact of civilization.

Before shooting began, the team had to figure out whether the area, which looked so perfect in photos, was actually suitable for MTB. A scouting trip to the far north revealed that there were lots of possibilities for riding lines, but not so much for building camp. It was a year before Cam Zink (left image), Darren Berrecloth, Carson Storch, and Tom van Steenbergen could begin their Arctic adventure.

Tom van Steenbergen, Carson Storch, Cam Zink (from left to right), and Darren Berrecloth (next page) spent a month north of the Arctic Circle. All four rode a bit more carefully than usual—the nearest hospital was about twelve flight hours away.

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NORTH OF NIGHTFALL

AXEL HEIBERG ISLAND is, at 43,178 km², only slightly larger than Switzerland. About 11,700 km² of the island is covered by glaciers, and the area has been explored since the 1950s.

Axel Heiberg Island is uninhabited except for scientists from McGill station who conduct research there seasonally.

Axel Heiberg Island Arctic Ocean GREENLAND

Baffin Bay

Ar

24 hours of daylight seems ideal for both mountain bikers and filmmakers. Theoretically, you can cycle and film around the clock. However, the reality is that everyone involved got very little sleep. And nights weren't particularly relaxing. Director Jeremy Grant explains, 'If anyone started snoring, the night was over for everyone.'

cti

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CANADA

Every single run on Alex Heiberg Island must be carefully planned out. The barren landscape offers impressive views, but the long distances made it impossible to try too many variations while filming. But sometimes you get the perfect shot, like this one with Carson Storch.

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Photos: © Blake Jorgenson/Red Bull Content Pool

Hudson Bay

NORTH OF NIGHTFALL The effects of climate change are having even more impact in the Arctic than in the rest of the world.

Although Crusoe Glacier is still consistently advancing on Axel Heiberg Island, most glaciers worldwide are in retreat. If this trend continues, more and more ice sheets that reflect sunlight will disappear and global warming will progress even faster.

Premium dirt, as far as the eye can see, and not a trace of vegetation. Tom van Steenbergen had a clean shot; he just needed to keep an eye out for the possibility of a passing musk ox, caribou, or polar bear, some of the few permanent inhabitants of this Arctic desert, whose scree hills are only free of ice and snow for about two months in summer.

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INT. OCEAN FILM TOUR

THE FILM TOUR FOR ALL WHO LOVE THE SEA 6 YEARS OF THE INT. OCEAN FILM TOUR O MARE MIO: The deep-blue companion of the European Outdoor Film Tour is sailing into its sixth year, bringing you back to, on, and into the sea! Every year, the producers of the International OCEAN FILM TOUR portray our planet from a fresh perspective, with a program full of sea adventures and water sports action. The film tour offers unmitigated inspiration for all those who love the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT YEARS

ADVENTURE

THE OTHER SHORE VOLUME 3 From Cuba to Florida, 170 kilometres. Diana Nyad is the first person to swim this dangerous sea passage. Nonstop. She made her first attempt in 1978 at the age of 28. THE OTHER SHORE tells the story of how Nyad, now age 66, pursued her goal with interminable determination and passion.

ACTION

AT T R A C T I V E D I S T R A C T I O N S VOLUME 2 When the surf is up, there are no excuses. Surfers simply must go in the water. In ATTRACTIVE DISTRACTIONS, surfing legends Albee Layer, Matt Meola, John John Florence, Dege O'Connell, and Torrey Meister take us to the best surf spots in the world.

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IN THE NEW TOUR

COME ALONG , OCEAN LOVER S

OCEAN LIFE

VOLUME 6 Freediver and director Julie Gautier usually lives her life behind the camera, but the new International OCEAN FILM TOUR program presents a portrait of the life of this talented Frenchwoman, who has dedicated her life to the sea.

SHOREBREAK VOLUME 4 First he was a surfer, then he became a photographer. Clark Little has turned his passion for the perfect wave into his profession.

In Hawaii and literally in the centre of the surf, he pursues his favourite motifs—big waves. And because he has a sixth sense for knowing just when to press the shutter release, his images are pure art—masterpieces of captivating beauty.

ENVIRONMENT

VA M I Z I VOLUME 5 Off the coast of Mozambique lies one of the oldest coral reefs on earth, an unspoiled and vibrant wonderland of biodiversity.

However, coral reefs around the globe are dying, a warning sign of the imminent effects of global warming. VAMIZI presents an actionable plan to save our oceans—establishing 'Hope Spots'.

The new tour begins in March 2019. Information and tickets are currently available at www.oceanfilmtour.com.

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LAST PICTURE

In the age of remote-controlled drones, we have already become accustomed to images shot from soaring heights. Drone videos are also increasingly seen in documentaries because they are relatively inexpensive compared to helicopter shots, and, it's no secret, because it's fun for the cameramen to fly the drone and control it using a screen—safely from the ground! If the drone gets into turbulence, the pilot doesn't have to worry about his own safety.

It's a totally different story for Antoine Girard. As a paraglider, he is there live and in-person when taking photos and recording video, at an altitude of more than

8000 meters. In this photo, with Broad Peak (8051) behind him, Girard glides silently toward K2 (8611m), the highest mountain in the Karakoram range. Unfortunately, on this day, K2 was covered in thick clouds, but in the center of the photo, you can see how the Savoia Glacier (left) and the Godwin-Austen Glacier (right) flow into each other and become one at the base of the 6802-metre-high Angelus.

From up here, there is not a soul to be seen, even though most of these mountains are consistently bustling with expeditions. This exclusive view of the Karakoram is a privilege for people like Antoine who want to conquer the mountains their own way.

FLYING HIGH K2 8611 METRES

SAVOIA GLACIER

Photo: Š Antoine Girard

GODWINAUSTEN GLACIER

44

European Outdoor Film Tour 18 /19

All details at WWW.EOFT.EU

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