Desert Friction DVD

By Fresh Air Crew

Spitzkop is a mountain rising out of the desolate landscapes of the Namibian Desert. On its South-West face a brown water streak runs almost vertically from top to bottom. The route is quite featureless, it is a perfect slab and there are practically no hand or footholds. Only one group has successfully repeated the climb since it’s bold opening party, despite numerous attempts.

The climb has got a serious reputation and it’s called INXS. It is a 500 meter granite slab leaning only 65 degrees, an angle that is deceptively comforting from the bottom but dauntingly exposed once you’re off the ground and there is NOTHING to hang on to.

Jeremy Samson is a leading all round rock climber and mountaineer. He has climbed extreme routes all around the world and his forte is climbing long, complicated and adventurous routes. Ever since the route INXS was opened it has been a dream of his to travel to the Namibian Desert and repeat the route. But he needs the perfect partner.

Justin Hawkins is a highly competitive sport climber. He has won numerous national and international competitions and is world class in the gymnastic “bouldering” forum too. His passion is for the pure movement of climbing. The controlled nature of sport climbing and bouldering provides him the environment in which to push his climbing grades to the limit. Justin is an incredibly powerful climber.

The route up Spitzkop poses a unique problem to both climbers… they must rely on miniscule crystals as hand and foot holds and the pure friction of their climbing shoes and the skin of their hands.

After following the climbers in their preparation for the attempt, Fresh Air Crew journeyed to Namibia to see and record the climb …

Running time: 23 minutes

FRESH AIR CREW

Fresh Air Crew has been creating reality adventure documentaries for more than a decade. Their exploits have taken them from the tropics to the glaciers, from cities to wastelands, from great depths to even greater heights. Having travelled through 54 countries, they have a colourful collection of award-winning extreme sports productions.

NIC GOOD - Director / Producer