About Reel Rock
The annual Reel Rock Film Tour brings the best in climbing and adventure films to local audiences across the globe. Reel Rock shows are spirited community events where climbers and outdoors lovers come together to celebrates and sample the ultimate in adventure filmmaking. Prize giveaways, appearances by top climbers, and fundraising for non-profit organizations are always part of the party at reel rock events.
Reel Rock screened in over 400 locations world-wide, drew over 100,000+ audience members, raised over $20,000 for non-profits, partnered with more than 150 retailers, university outing clubs and climbing gyms, and won copious media coverage and critical praise.
This year Reel Rock 8 Tour Kota Kinabalu is proudly brought to you by Mountain Torq for Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF).
Film Descriptions
THE SENSEI
Forty-three-year-old Yuji Hirayama is one of the great legends of modern climbing. Near retirement, he plans one big swan-song mission to complete a project, one of his hardest ever, at the spectacular summit of Mount Kinabalu, on the island of Borneo. But first he must find the right partner. Enter Daniel Woods, the young American boulderer who is one of the strongest humans in the climbing world, but lacks mountain experience. Daniel-San travels to Japan to prove himself worthy of Hirayama’s mentorship, and the unlikely duo team up for the expedition of a lifetime.
SPICE GIRL
The UK climbing scene is known for its strict traditional ethic, yielding dangerous routes and a competitive machismo among the driven young climbers risking it all to prove their boldness. It’s the last place you’d expect to find a nice little blond girl putting all the lads to shame, but Hazel Findlay is doing just that. The first woman to climb the British grade of E9 (super hard, super sketchy), Hazel is a connoisseur of loose rock, dodgy gear, and big runouts. Having mastered the scrappy seacliffs at home she teams up with Emily Harrington to tackle the massive, untamed bigwalls of Taghia Gorge, Morocco.
HIGH TENSION : UELI STECK AND THE CLASH ON EVEREST
Mount Everest made headlines around the world this year when it was reported that Ueli Steck and Simone Moro, the strongest duo in alpinism, were attacked by a crowd of angry sherpas at Camp 2 while attempting a cutting edge new route on the highest — and most crowded — mountain in the world.
Fearing for their lives, the climbers fled the mountain, and the incident sparked a flurry of gasps and angry recrimination: sherpas, western climbers, guiding companies, even the legendary mountain itself were pounded with criticism from all sides. Amidst the bizarre event, REEL ROCK was embedded with the climbing team and given an exclusive look at what happened that day, and why.
THE STONE MASTERS
Sender Films is currently working on a feature documentary about the counterculture climbing scene in Yosemite over the last 50 years. Provisionally titled “Valley Uprising,” the film brings all the legends to life: from Royal Robbins’ epic battle with Warren Harding to the fabled drug plane crash of 1977 and the escalating tensions between climbers and national park rangers.
This year’s REEL ROCK Film Tour will include a teaser clip from the film that focuses on the sex-drugs-n-rock era of Jim Bridwell and the Stonemasters.
RR8 Kota Kinabalu Tour – Itinerary
| Time | Itinerary |
| 2:00pm | RR8 Tour KK – Start Blood Donation Drive Climbing Related Games |
| 3:00pm | Registration Free Snack Served |
| 3:30pm | VIP Arrival |
| 3:45pm | Key Notes& Launching |
| 4:00pm | RR8 Screening – Part 1
|
| 5:00pm | Intermission |
| 5:15pm | RR8 Screening – Part 2
|
| 6:00pm | Lucky Draw |
| 6:30pm | Free Snack Served Cold Beverages Booth Open |
| 7:00pm | Guest speaker presentation |
| 8:00pm | RR8 Tour KK – The End |
Guest Speaker Profile
YUJI HIRAYAMA
Starts his climbing career at age 15 and becomes one of the top climbers in Japan as a teenager. After training in America at age 17 for 6 months, moves to France at age 19 where he bases himself for 7 years to compete in international climbing competitions. Becomes the first Japanese climber to conquer World Cup series in 1998, and again in 2000 as No.1 World Ranker. Major accomplishments include One-day All-free ascent on El Capitan’s Salathe Wall in 2002, 2004 White Zombies On-site ascent, and two-time world record making of El Capitan’s The Nose route speed ascent in 2002 and 2008. Recently opened Japan’s largest climbing gym “Climb Park Base Camp” in Iruma, Saitama.
Biography
Date of Birth : February, 23 1969
Birth Place : Tokyo, Japan
Height : 173cm
Weight : 65kg
Major Accomplishments
2013: Zembrocal (5.14c 7pitches) with James Peason, Caroline Ciavaldini , Sam Elias, and Jacopo Larcher at Le Union island
2012: Master de Bouldering competition in South America (Chili) 2nd
Pogulian do Koduduo (5.14d) at 4000m above sea level Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia Borneo Island
2011:Green Spits (5.14a) in Italy
2010:Devers Royel (5.14c) in Terkey
2009 : Cobra Crack (Squamish, Canada) Ascent; 1st Asian, 6th ascender in the world
Golden Climbing Shoes Award (Awarded to Best Asian Climber)
2008: El Capitan The Nose (Yosemite, USA) Speed Climbing World Record at the time (2hr 37min 5 sec)
2007: IFSC Climbing World Cup (Imst (AUT)) ; 9th place
2006: UIAA Asian Championships (Kaoshiung (TPE)) ; Champion
2005: UIAA World Championship (Munich (GER)) ; 14th place
UIAA World Cup (Veliko Tarnovo (BUL)) ; 6th place
2004: UIAA World Cup (Kranj (SLO)) ; 10th place
UIAA Asian Championships (Jeolla Nam Do (KOR)) ; 2nd place
White Zombie (Spain) 8c On-site Ascent
2003: El Capitan El Nino (Yosemite, USA) ; All-Free 28/30 On-site
2002: El Capitan Salathe Wall (Yosemite, USA) ; One-day All-Free
El Capitan The Nose (Yosemite, USA) Speed Climbing World Record at the time (2hr 48min 55 sec)
2001: UIAA World Championship (Winterthur (SUI)) ; 5th place
Rock Master Arco (International Event (ITA)) ; Champion
2000: UIAA World Cup 2000 Champion
UIAA Asian Championship (Kuala Lumpur (MAS)) ; Champion
Serre Chevalier (International Event (FRA)) ; Champion
Best All Around Rock Climber Award (Climbing Magazine, USA)
1999: UIAA World Championship (Birmingham (GBR)) ; 2nd place
UIAA World Cup (Kranj (SLO)) ; 2nd place
1998: UIAA World Cup 1998 Champion – First Japanese World Cup Champ
UIAA Masters Rock Masters Arco (ITA) ; 2nd place
1997: UIAA World Cup (Birmingham (GBR)); 3rd place
El Capitan Salathe Wall (Yosemite, USA) ; World’s first One-push All-Free
