Jacopo Larcher

BD Athlete Babsi Zangerl and Ambassador Jacopo Larcher claimed the coveted second ascent of Magic Mushroom (VI 5.14a)-El Cap's second hardest route.

Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher went to battle on one of El Cap's most formidable free routes. The Zodiac (5.13d) had only seen two previous ascents - until Babsi and Jacopo showed up.

From America, England, France, Italy and Japan. From each corner of the earth, five climbers – Sam Elias, James Pearson, Caroline Ciavaldini, Jacopo Larcher and Yuji Hirayama – attempt to open a new multi-pitch route on the basalt island of Reunion. Lost in the South Indian Ocean, Reunion is the childhood home of Caroline and, after traveling the world for several years as a professional climber, returning was something she had to do. By working together as climbers and friends, the team is able to open, ground-up, one of the hardest multi-pitch rock climbs in the world.

In this new 3-part series from acclaimed film-maker Andrea Cossu, we follow Jacopo as he travels from Europe, to America and the UK to gain a deeper understanding of trad-climbing as an art-form, it’s diverse community, culture, ethics and history - exploring what ‘hard-trad’ actually means and whether, when push comes to shove, the grades actually matter. Chapter 1 | USA Jacopo’s first stop is Yosemite, California. Jacopo has visited the valley on multiple occasions in the last decade, but usually with his focus on a big-wall objective. This time, he returns with his sights firmly focussed on experiencing the trad culture and history by sampling some of the area’s most iconic classic routes and attempting one of its hardest.

Sixteen world-class athletes on eight teams battling to be the fastest up the wall of gruelling six pitches at Red Bull Dual Ascent: two exact routes, side-by-side, 180m high, one winning team.

One try. That’s all it took for Babsi Zangerl to send the 3,000-foot Free Rider (VI 5.13a) on El Capitan. Setting off on a ground-up attempt this past November, Babsi and her partner Jacopo spent three days battling polished slabs, offwidths, and cryptic sequences on their historic bid. In the end, Babsi topped out as the first person to flash El Cap. But that’s just the “black and white” outcome of those fateful three days. What truly transpired was captured on film and tells a much deeper story—one of love, partnership, and character. This is the real story of Babsi and Jacopo’s epic ascent, laid bare for all to see.

Three new films featuring the biggest climbing and adventure stories of the year: ADN - SEB BOUIN: 29-year-old French sport climber Seb Bouin quietly climbed the elite ranks, culminating in his attempt to establish a long slope in a cave overhang in the Gorges du Verdon in France / CLIMBING RESISTANCE: In the hills torn by the Palestinian conflict, young Palestinians embrace rock climbing as a necessary respite from the oppression of the occupation Israeli. American writer and climber Andrew Bisharat visits the West Bank to explore his own roots and the power of climbing to transcend existence / BURNING THR FLAME: Big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo seek their most Biggest challenge so far: a free ascent of "Eternal Flame", a 3,000 foot route on the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan's Karakoram Range.

Big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo seek their greatest challenge yet: a free ascent of Eternal Flame, an elusive 3,000-ft. route up the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Facing extreme conditions and 5.13 trad climbing at high altitude, a two-year quest comes down to one short weather window. Captured with drones and on-mountain cameras in one of the most stunning places on earth, Burning the Flame transports viewers to a place normally off-limits to all but the world’s best climbers. See Pakistan through the eyes of Babsi and Jacopo with the Eternal Journal—a deep dive into their own thoughts and images from the trip, compiled into this beautiful journal chronicling their adventure to send the Eternal Flame. https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/stories/eternal-journal/