Editors
Editors

Free as can be: 63-year-old climbing pioneer fulfills his lifelong dream

climbing

As free as it gets, 63-year-old Mark Hudon tries to climb the Big Wall route Freerider on El Capitan. A life goal, for the realization of which the 25-year-old Jordan Cannon dedicates a whole year of his time. Free as can be documents the great undertaking and the even greater friendship behind it.

40 years after the then 23-year-old Mark Hudon and his 21-year-old rope partner Max Jones one of the best early free climbing attempts on the Salathé Wall had undertaken, Hudon returns to the El Capitan return to the Big Wall route Freerider to finally free. Samuel Crossley award-winning film Free as can be accompanies the 63-year-old in realizing his lifelong dream. The 25-year-old supports him as a rope partner Jordan Canon, the freerider also wants to climb, but in one day. An inspiring documentary about an even more inspiring climbing friendship.

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Credits: Cover picture Samuel Crossley

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Jakob Schubert repeats “DNA” – the first confirmed 9c in climbing history

Editors -
Hundreds of spectators watched as the Tyrolean climber clipped the anchor of Seb Bouin's "DNA" in the Verdon Gorge. With his live ascent, Schubert created a climbing moment that will go down in history – as the first repeat of a 9c route, currently the highest grade in sport climbing.
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Editors -
2027 will be an important year for competition – with qualification for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a World Championship in the Czech Republic and a full World Cup calendar in bouldering, lead, speed and para climbing.
Read more

Hard Sends: Sébastien Bouin on the first ascent of “Le Chant des Muses” (9b)

Editors -
In April 2026, Bouin successfully completed his project "Le Chant des Muses" on the Romeyer Wall in the Drôme region. A film by Black Diamond shows the exceptional French climber behind the scenes and his journey to the successful ascent.
Read more