20 minute read
MINUTES, DIRECTOR DAVID ARNAUD
The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) is a charity organisation working in partnership with brands and companies from the outdoor industry. Together, it funds and supports a growing number of much-needed conservation, protection, and regeneration projects around the world.
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PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED
Establishing walking and biking routes to enhance the protection of landscapes by keeping people off fragile habitats.
Cleaning plastic pollution from wild environments with paddle boarders, kayakers, hikers, bikers, surfers, divers, and skiers from beaches, mountains, canals, and rivers.
EUROPEAN OUTDOOR CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
Restoring, replanting, and protecting forests, peatland, moorland, meadowland, mangroves, mountains, and wetlands, conserving the habitats of many different wild species across the world.
EOCA is funded by membership and other fundraising activities, with 100% of membership fees going directly to supporting conservation projects. Projects mitigate against climate change and tackle the loss of biodiversity. In addition, they must have a link to the outdoor enthusiast, leave a positive legacy, and be beneficial to local communities within these landscapes. The projects EOCA has funded are varied in location and conservation focus. One of EOCA’s most recently funded projects is in partnership with Rewilding Apennines and its ‘Improving the Circle of Life in the Central SINCE 2006 Apennines’ project. The high EOCA has raised nearly €5 milli- alpine mountains, grasslands, on and invested in 167 projects and valleys of the Sirente Vein 65 countries. Last year, lino Regional Park are home EOCA’s funded projects had a direct impact on 470,000 hecta- to one of the largest griffon res of landscape. vulture populations in Italy, in addition to other important bird species. The vultures in particular play a crucial role in the health of the park’s ecosystem but are under threat from collisions with ski lifts, power lines, and wind turbines, disturbance by climbers when nesting, and indiscriminate poisoning.
The team at Rewilding Apennines will increase the population of griffon vultures to 70 breeding pairs by investigating and addressing the main threats for this species, in particular poisoning, as well as restoring populations of other birds. Tours will be organised to help educate people and allow them to safely visit and learn about the area, including its birds and other wildlife.
In spring and autumn, EOCA holds a public vote to give people the chance to get involved in conservation and help choose the next projects to receive funding. If you are interested in supporting the work of EOCA, take a look at its website eocaconservation.org.
A CONCRETE
“Since the Century Crack, we had been looking for the next big crack climb. We thought we'd find it in Yosemite or the desert. We never thought we’d find it in the UK—under a motorway bridge!” Tom Randall & Pete Whittaker
At 763 meters, the Exminster viaduct is about the length of El Cap in Yosemite National Park, only here the climbing challenge is horizontal instead of vertical.
DREAM
Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker have a particular penchant for difficult crack climbing. Under a motorway bridge in Devon, they find their biggest challenge yet. We talked to the two Brits about their outlandish climbing project.
WIDE/BRIDGE BOYS
It’s been almost ten years since you climbed Century Crack in the Utah desert. Now you climbed another roof crack—under a motorway bridge. Which one was more difficult?
Tom: The bridge crack was a lot harder than Century
Crack. The suffering was pretty bad, actually. It was one of the very hardest things that Pete and I have done in our careers. We couldn't have done this ten years ago! We have needed a decade of subsequent experience and training and becoming slightly better climbers overall to be able to do that project. But it is mainly hard because of things like the total length, the consistency, the setting, and the pressure. Would you have been interested in doing it ten years ago?
Tom: No! But I'm always up for new experiences. I think something was always going to happen or come from that COVID experience in some manner.
I don't regret it in any way. It was just the thing that happened.
Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker demonstrated their talent for crack climbing for the first time on the big screen in “Wide Boyz” (EOFT 12/13). They not only repeated a series of notorious off-width routes in a very short time, they also achieved the first ascent of the legendary Century Crack in Utah, USA. The secret to their success was Tom and Pete's extraordinary training methods on an artificial offwidth crack in Tom's basement. What was the most irritating part of the whole experience?
Pete: The moving nature of the bridge! When big vehicles were going over the top, the crack was expanding and contracting. It's a very odd sensation.
When you're jamming and it gets tighter, it feels quite good. And then it gets looser again, and it gets really bad. I've never experienced this before. But even when the bridge was moving, the cams never came out!
Tom: That element was never explained enough in the film. It definitely is something that you have to be careful with. Most climbers have never experienced this phenomenon. They can’t really relate to it, so they don't see how much of a problem it is. And when we came down from the bridge at the end, it just felt like everything was moving all the time. It's like a weird seasickness. It was also probably the first time you have had to deal with the police on one of your climbs.
Tom: On our first attempt, the police were called and we had to come down. At that moment, it seemed like it was going to be a massive legal issue, and we were going to get fined or in a lot of trouble with a criminal record or whatever.
“We could not have done this ten years ago.” Tom Randall
Pete: But in the end, we were able to have an open conversation with them about doing it. When they realized that we weren't trying to climb onto the road, then they were happy. Did you try to get permission beforehand?
Tom: We basically confused just enough authorities that no one quite knew who was doing what and who had given permission or provided the legal paperwork. It was a very difficult compromise, because if you ask too many questions, they will say no for sure. Everything on this project seems to be way out of the ordinary. Was this your intention from the beginning?
Tom: The project was always very, very weird right from the outset. And because it was born out of the
COVID years, there were a lot of bizarre things going on, so we thought, why does the approach have to be normal? We needed to do things [during this time] that would just make us laugh. We thought it would be hilarious to order pizza while hanging under a bridge. We totally could have done something else like taken some sandwiches, but it just seemed funnier. And we didn't really want to come back down to the ground. We wanted to feel like we were on an expedition. The bridge is not situated in the most iconic place in the world, but it has its challenges, right?
Pete: Yes. On the third and fourth day, it was a bit
more logistically difficult to bring in supplies because of the river. It is at the opening of where the sea is, so it's actually tidal and people can get to you only at a certain time of the day. I think it was the third night; it was really close—not being able to get to us with all the stuff because of the tides—but they did manage. Adventure can be found in the most unusual places. Any other learnings that you took from this experience?
Tom: The challenge is always in your mind. It's your own level of creativity. Be creative and then work with whatever conditions you've got.
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WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEXT 21ST CENTURY ADVENTURER?
THE NOMINEES
LOR SABOURIN
CLIMBER & COACH
At just 12 years old, Lor was drawn to the climbing gym in their hometown of Detroit, Michigan, but rock climbing is where Lor found their true passion. As the first-ever nonbinary climber, Lor has succeeded in ascending a trad climbing route at 10+ difficulty. As a climbing coach, Lor helps others overcome challenges— both athletic and mental.
JADE HAMEISTER
POLAR ADVENTURER
At a very young age, Australian Jade Hameister had already set several world records. She was 16 when she became the youngest person in history to achieve the ‘polar hat trick’, crossing Greenland and reaching both the North and South Poles on skis. Currently a university student, she is also a public speaker committed to inspiring young women in particular to venture outside their comfort zones.
JONAS DEICHMANN
ADVENTURER & EXTREME ATHLETE
From manager to adventurer. A few years ago, Jonas swapped his office chair for a bike saddle and rode across Europe and South America, among other places. Most recently, he set a new world record in the disciplines of swimming, cycling, and running. During his triathlon around the world, he covered the distance of 120 Ironmans.
With this award, we celebrate the most inspiring adventurers of our time, and you help decide which nominee wins!
In the saddle of a touring bike, clicked into backcountry skis, or sending a line up a rock face—the nominees of this year's award find their own way into adventure. They confront physical and mental challenges and experience unforgettable moments. Whether setting new records on a bike, on foot, or in the water, these adventurers of the 21st century are characterized by their curiosity, their courage, and their gift for sharing their unique journeys with us. These touching stories inspire us to seek and find our own adventures!
The 21st Century Adventurer Award is sponsored by Land Rover and comes with a prize of 10,000 euros, which can be used to fund the next expedition.
PASANG LHAMU SHERPA AKITA
ALPINIST AND MOUNTAIN GUIDE
As Nepal’s first woman mountaineering instructor, Pasang has set new standards in her home country. After successfully completing expeditions to various 8,000-meter peaks around the world—including K2 as part of the first all-female team—she continues to pursue her passion as an alpinist as well as a young mother, thus inspiring other young women in her home country and beyond.
DANNY MACASKILL
STREET TRIALS & MOUNTAIN BIKE PRO
This Scotsman has an extraordinary aptitude for bike stunts. On a mountain or trials bike, Danny has showcased his unparalleled skills in films and videos that have amassed millions of clicks. From rooftops to scree fields, Danny continues to astound fans with new bike tricks on spectacular terrain.
Go to next.eoft.eu/ adventurer-award and vote.
Vote via our app and have the chance to win your own adventure with Land Rover: an unforgettable driving training in the Land Rover Experience Center. Find more information on our app and on landrover-experience.de
SHIFTING
GEARS
Mountain biking has become well-known as a sport in Zambia only in the last ten years. The scene is small but thriving.
Sometimes a single object can change an entire life. For Gift Puteho, it was a bicycle. When he rode his first few wobbly laps, he never imagined where it would take him.
GIFT PUTEHO
Gift Puteho from Livingstone, Zambia, taught himself to ride a bike; it was his father's and way too big for him. He now rides a real mountain bike for the Zambian National Team and dreams of owning his own bike store.
Challenge: You have the opportunity to participate in a mountain bike race, but your bike’s got a mechanical; it has no brakes. Would you still ride it? Most of us would probably decline; not Gift Puteho. He got on that broken bike, rode the race, and finished first—with a ten-minute lead!
Gift didn't give a second thought to what could have happened during this race. “I was convinced that I could do it. When going downhill, I didn't think about braking. I just wanted to race and see what happened.” If you can’t trust your equipment, you have to believe in yourself; this is a perspective that potentially applies to everyday life.
Because of his talent for mountain biking, Gift made it onto the Zambian National Team. For the past year and a half, he has been living in Solwezi, Zambia, a thousand kilometers from his hometown of Livingstone. In Solwezi, he can train every day as well as attend school. The sixteen-year-old will graduate in two years; what comes after that is yet to be determined. For now. it's all about the MTB.
The Zambian National Team is the only one in Zambia that supports its riders financially. For Gift Puteho, this is a huge opportunity to experience life as a professional mountain biker. The possibility of earning money in this sport has yet to arrive in Zambia. It is still largely unknown there. “Many people don't believe that you can be successful with a career in mountain biking,” says Gift. “They use bikes only as a means of transportation. If the sport was a little better known, people might be more likely to say you can make it as a mountain biker.”
Success, jobs, careers—none of that was on Gift's mind when he first got on a bike. It was his father's and way too big for him. He had to ride standing up and was constantly tipping over, but he was the only person around who was interested in it. This meant more pedal-practice time for him; he didn't care what others thought about his shaky training laps.
He eventually got the hang of it and hit the trails around his hometown. There aren't any big mountains in Livingstone, but there are a few rolling hills. These were enough for him to come to a realization that unites mountain bikers around the world—there's nothing better than riding downhill on a mountain bike—fast!
Gift dreams of one day opening his own mountain bike shop, and we’re rooting for him. For now, he is well-prepared for his upcoming races and has let go of anything that is not in his control. He has no regrets about his move to Solwezi and the other steps he has taken to get him to this point. “I just had to come here. I have a lot more opportunities here than at home.” “I was convinced that I could do it. When going downhill, I didn't think about braking. I just wanted to race and see what happened.” Gift Puteho IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GIFT PUTEHO AND HIS STORY, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
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Chamonix is anything but a secret spot in the freeride scene. Every year, countless winter sports enthusiasts cavort here on and off the ski hill. Not so in the 2020/2021 season. The resorts have been closed all winter and now entice skiers with an array of untracked slopes. Freerider Sam Favret from Chamonix starts to dream, visualizing descents that are impossible during a normal winter because there are simply too many people in the mountains.
The team faces five to seven hours of walking for two, maximum three, shots. But that does not deter them. During the ascent, Sam explains to his friends in detail which line he wants to ski. He can already see it in his mind. The only question is how best to get it into the frame.
TIME TRAVEL
“We were all alone. It was strange yet beautiful.” Maxime Moulin
In December 2020, Sam, filmmaker Maxime Moulin, and drone pilot Hensli Sage decide to seize the moment, hoping to capture some extraordinary descents. Along with photographer Fabian Bodet, they set out for the mountains.
“We had never seen Chamonix like this before.” Maxime Moulin
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Drone pilot Hensli Sage probably had the most stressful assignment of all involved. He could not let the drone crash under any circumstances; it most likely would not have been possible to recover it because of the potential for an avalanche. Moreover, the shots had to be as steady as possible and without sudden changes in direction. This required meticulous planning and preparation.
It's every freerider's dream to have a ski resort all to oneself. Sam Favret has been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and in his hometown of Chamonix to boot. In the winter of 2020/21, he can finally realize the descents he has long envisaged.
On the very first day of shooting, it becomes abundantly clear that the danger of avalanche is extremely high. The disadvantage to the resort closure is that no one is carrying out precautionary safety measures, like avalanche control blasting. For Maxime, this means it’s impossible to find a secure location for him and his camera. That leaves only Hensli's drone.
WING
Carl Weiseth and Ian Rinefort. A speedflyer and a drone pilot provide maximum adrenaline on the big screen with minimal effort. We asked drone pilot Ian Rinefort a few questions about working together on this project.
How did your collaboration come about?
It all started when two people with very specific skills met. I had the drone and
Carl could fly. He was about to open a flight school but didn't have anything to show people what speedflying was all about. Even
I had never heard of this sport before. So, we went out and produced videos together. In the beginning it was tedious. I crashed a few drones. But for the last two years, we've been getting the hang of it.
For speedflyer Carl Weiseth, there is nothing better than to seemingly defy the laws of gravity, when up and down become relative terms.
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How do you work as a team?
I've flown the drone behind Carl so many times now that I know exactly what he's thinking. I know what movement he's about to make when his head turns a certain way.
I can't make that kind of prediction with other speedflyers. Where are you actually standing when you're controlling the drone?
That was the biggest challenge for us to figure out. It took us a year. The problem is the distance. With an FPV drone, I see what the drone sees in the display of my VR glasses. But for that to work, the goggles and drone need a constant line of sight. If I lose the line of sight, then no more images show in my
VR goggles and I lose the drone as well. So, it depends a lot on the terrain. It's most comfortable and safe for me to control the drone from the valley, but for some flights, that doesn't work, and then I'm standing on the edge of a cliff with my VR goggles as a 600-meter abyss opens up in front of me.
What’s your fascination with drone flying?
It's just fun to fly a drone. I don't play video games anymore, except for the drone simulator. With the drone, you can go anywhere you want and still have absolute control. You can play with the landscape in a way that you couldn't with your body. I've tried various extreme sports, including cliff jumping, and of course the risk of an accident was very high. As a drone pilot, I can experience the world in a much safer and even more exciting way.
MEN
GO WITH THE FLOW?
For Nouria Newman, there's nothing like exploring a river she's never paddled before, a river that challenges but doesn't overpower her. An adventure in which, in addition to the physical challenges, she can ideally also experience some type of connection with the local culture. It was because of these moments that she gave up her canoe slalom career, and she has not regretted it to this day. As a kayaker and simply as a human, you can't always allow yourself to be swept along by the current. There are moments when it's better to do just the opposite, to disregard other people's expectations and follow your own dreams and desires. It may not be the safest path, but it’s often the more interesting one.
Kayakers spend a lot of time studying the river they want to paddle, including Nouria Newman, shown here on the Baker River in Chile.
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IF NATURE COULD TALK, IT’D TELL US ALL TO GET OUT MORE. It’d say whoever you are, wherever you’re from, you belong out here. It’d say you’re all welcome so come adventure, destress, feel better. It’d ask us to please be kinder. To have its back like it has ours. It’d say protect me, be conscious and work together because we owe it all to the great outdoors. It’d say bring your friends, your community and bring your family, let’s all connect. Let’s come together and tell the world what we believe nature wants them to hear. Let’s go, unite and keep pushing what’s possible.
Let’s inspire every human being to find their own individual summits. Let’s enable all humans to live a more connected, conscious and adventurous life.
