Tielma Productions: 2012

Jailbreak

Shawn Boye heel hooking on Jailbreak Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Jailbreak

Jonas Wigren working on a dynamic solution to Jailbreak during a winter afternoon session at Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Jailbreak

Shawn Boye working on Jailbreak at 0°C in sleet during a damp night session at Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

The Watchtower

Anders Tväråna setting his heal on The Watchtower, Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Jailbreak

Scott Mooney topping out Jailbreak on a misty fall day in Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Scott Mooney

Scott Mooney trying not to break his knee on Jailbreak, Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Hövding

Jonas Wigren lookling to put a feather in his cap on Hövding, Campusblocket, Uppsala, Sweden.

Jonas Wigren

Jonas Wigren, Campusblocket, Uppsala, Sweden.

Vänge

An excellent problem, just off the road, with well spaced holds, we ticked the FA of the sit. Benjamin Pettersson sighting in the crimp, Vänge, Uppsala, Sweden.

Benjamin Pettersson

Benjamin Pettersson looking to send, Vänge, Uppsala, Sweden.

Underdog

The pinch and the feet are actually quite good, just don't let go and only use your feet when you need to. Shawn Boye doing laps on Underdog, Jumkil, Uppsala, Sweden.

Shawn Boye

Shawn Boye in the role of the Underdog, Jumkil, Uppsala, Sweden.

Volt

An absolutely brilliant problem and after four sessions it's done! Shawn Boye sticking the sloper on Volt, Jumkil, Uppsala, Sweden.

Katharina Scholz

Katharina Scholz, Jumkil, Uppsala, Sweden.

Green Fingers

Katharina Scholz working on Gröna Fingrar, Jumkil, Uppsala, Sweden.

Iso Karhu

Erik Sköldstam close to the jug on Iso Karhu, Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Have burner, will climb

Jonas Wigren working Iso Karhu in sub optimal conditions, Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Pequeño Pablo

Maria Rubinchik sending Pequeño Pablo, Rodellar, Spain.

Egocentrismo

Oscar Krumlinde sending Egocentrismo, Rodellar, Spain.

Los cocoteros

Oscar Krumlinde entering the crux of Los cocoteros, Rodellar, Spain.

El Delfín

Oscar Krumlinde clipping on El Delfín, Rodellar, Spain.

Arcanum

Guntram Jörg on his Arcanum, Risebo, Sweden.

Awake the Unkind

Guntram Jörg on Awake the Unkind, Blankaholm, Västervik, Sweden.

Rumblefish

Guntram Jörg sending Rumblefish, Järnforsen, Sweden.

Hot Tuna

Jens Gadd cutting loose on Hot Tuna, Tunablocket, Västervik, Sweden.

Frost

Guntram Jörg sticking the sloper on Frost, Tunablocket, Västervik, Sweden.

Aktivitetshuset Uppsala

Sometimes we climb inside… we're thankful for finally having a real gym in Uppsala. Jonas Wigren training at Klättercentret Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.

Candyman

Kai Böttcher slapping away on the classic Canyman, Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Deliberation: Heel Hook

Niklas Felix heel hooking en route to sending Deliberation, Kjellberga, Uppsala, Sweden.

Deliberation: Dyno

Benjamin Pettersson cutting loose and sending Deliberation in style. I'm still deliberating years after brushing the line… but there'll be no heal hooking, Kjellberga, Uppsala, Sweden.

Deliberation

Katharina Scholz deliberating… Deliberation, Kjellberga, Uppsala, Sweden.

Trots

Carl-Ola Boström cutting loose on Trots, Kjugekull, Sweden.

Aerodynamiten

Carl-Ola Boström slapping away on Aerodynamiten, Kjugekull, Sweden.

Monolith

Erik Grandelius on the classic Monolith, Kjugekull, Sweden.

Caspersesns arete

Carl-Ola Boström filling in the missing piece of Caspersesns arete, Kjugekull, Sweden.

Erik Grandelius, Nordic Champion 2012

Erik Grandelius, Nordic Champion 2012, getting sky high on Alla vill till himmelen, Kjugekull, Sweden.
1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 400, 24 mm © 2012 Shawn Boye
1/200s, f/4.5, ISO 400, 16 mm © 2012 Shawn Boye

En fråga om balance

Katharina Scholz working on her balance on En fråga om balance, Focksta, Uppsala, Sweden.

Latino Lover

Katharina Scholz working her Latino Lover, Nåsten-Enköpingsvägen, Uppsala, Sweden.

Don't google it!

Emil Ragnarsson working on the wrong beta for Långt ner i halsen, Nåsten-Enköpingsvägen, Uppsala, Sweden.

Queen Kati

Katharina Scholz working on King Louie, now sent, Nåsten-Enköpingsvägen, Uppsala, Sweden.

King Louie

Emil Ragnarsson cruising King Louie, Nåsten-Enköpingsvägen, Uppsala, Sweden.

Aegialis, the World's most beautiful sport route

Shawn Boye after slipping off on the crux of Aegialis, Grande Grotta, Kalymnos, Greece. Photo Linda Sandgren © 2012 Tielma Productions

Aegialis is said to be the most photographed sport climb on the planet and with good reason, it is the most beautiful line I have seen on limestone. Having been rejected on two previous trips to Kalymnos I was hoping for a charm the third time.

I recall the sudden overwhelming sense of failure after having let go after the technical crux, I had nothing more to give. It was the last day, my last chance, I had high pointed but there I was flailing through the air overwhelmed by my inability to reach the chains.

“Success is easy to handle, it is our failures that cause us to search within”

A year and a half later with the possibility to avenge myself I was experiencing that emotion all over again after pumping out, unable to clip when the belay jammed. Finally managing to pull rope, I pulled more than enough only to blow the clip, and flew for 15 meters giving me ample time to experience that sense of failure all over again.

Success is easy to handle, it is our failures that cause us to search within, that lead us to better understand who we are, where we are headed, and question why? Character is defined by our ability to cope with adversity.

Shawn Boye working on Aegialis, Grande Grotta, Kalymnos, Greece. Photo Linda Sandgren © 2012 Tielma Productions

With two days left on the trip I was still uncertain if I had enough to give to send Aegialis. There is nothing particularly hard about the route, but it requires either excellent stamina or the creative use of one’s knees. My approach involved significantly less stamina than I had hoped to have to finally finish off the beast. I ended up in Kalymnos six months earlier than I had planned, at the end of the ski touring season, without having trained pump in three months. A trip in the fall would have given me ample time to train the required endurance over the summer climbing season, but when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped. Now, my plan was to race from one poor rest to the next and hope to be able to recover enough to engage the next section.

Climbing quickly feeds confidence, there is no time to over grip or change beta. I suddenly found myself with power remaining in a knee bar just below the technical crux. Shaking out, I felt good, and after a couple of pinches managed to pull my right foot onto the tufa my left knee had been jammed against. I was caressing the rock, holding on gently, conserving for the upcoming steep moves but as I pushed my center of gravity into the rock my left foot slipped and I was off again, rejected, gazing out at the Aegean, knowing I had had my chance. I would return to the knee bar twice more that day only to grasp desperately for the pocket marking the end of the crux, too tired to control my execution. With only two days left I needed rest and time was running out.

Shawn Boye lining up the tuffas, Aegialis, Grande Grotta, Kalymnos, Greece. Photo Linda Sandgren © 2012 Tielma Productions

In search of a belay, I found a wonderful couple interested in spending some time on the underside of the grotto. I could feel the fatigue setting in pulling through the first steep section, the knee bar rest insufficient, I succumbed to my fate before even entering the crux, resulting in yet a different failed solution. I’d clean the slings and return home to plan another trip. Fortunately, one of my companions still wanted to give it a try, the slings would stay and we quickly agreed to leave them on for one last try the following day, my last. I worked the crux one final time and climbed through to the chains, pumped. I’d have all day to rest and sat looking out over the Mediterranean watching the cirrus clouds foretell of the 15mm of rain scheduled following day. Over dinner I borrowed a clip stick, I was certain I’d be rope soloing in a thunderstorm to get my slings back.

“Projecting is about mental strength manifest in desire and execution”

I awoke, surprised, to clear skies and a cool light breeze and quickly hurried to meet my companions for the walk up to the grotto. Sometimes a project can detract from experiencing an area, so I warmed up on a route I hadn’t previously attempted, relaxing though focusing on reading the moves. Then I sat, watching the Aegean, listening to Neil Young’s masterpiece “I am the Ocean” and thought of nothing. I knew I had but one chance to close the deal and it’s all about finish but you don’t get there by thinking about that.

The mythical after climb, Massouri, Kalymnos, Greece. © 2010 Shawn Boye

Projecting is about mental strength manifest in desire and execution coinciding with focus. You know its possible but the goal is elusive.

Reaching the knee bar before the crux, I shook out, pinched and made sure my feet would stick before pinching up the fin and gaining the pocket. The fight was on. Pulling into the steep section above I missed a sequence and was forced to match a sloper, there was no way I was letting go. Only once did a detracting thought enter my mind, tiring as I fought the rope drag to clip the chains, I recalled a Spaniard who, after borrowing my rope to replace the fifth hanger by hand that had fallen off during my attempt, too gassed to clip grabbed the chains. Willing the pinch to hold and avoid such a fate I reached up and it was over.

I cleaned the slings, headed to the pub for a glass of celebratory wine before a refreshing dip in the cold Aegean. It was over, I had sent on my terms. As I ran back to the beach through the crashing surf the sun disappeared. A couple of hours later the skies would open, like my send, slightly behind expectation but from my point of view, right on time.

Text and photos © 2012 Shawn Boye

Ivi

Linda Hammarström sending Ivi, Grande Grotta, Kalymnos, Greece.

Jarmo Annunen

Jarmo Annunen getting the most out of his DNA, Grande Grotta, Kalymnos, Greece.