CouchClimbs - Rock Climbing Videos from All Over the World

Video of the Week 2012

Best rock climbing videos from 2012. Weekly spotlight on the most watched climbing films.

ARC'TERYX New Routin' in the Creek

Week of July 16, 2012

ARC'TERYX New Routin' in the Creek

Arc’teryx New Routin’ in the Creek drops you into Utah’s desert kingdom with Arc’teryx athlete Will Stanhope as he heads to Indian Creek to headpoint established testpieces and sniff out fresh lines hidden in plain sight. With the Creek’s iconic splitters as a backdrop, Stanhope’s approach is equal parts precision and play—less mystical “spirit quest,” more sharp eyes, good partners, and the willingness to try what’s between the obvious routes. What makes this short so fun is its mix of high-level climbing and lighthearted personality: you get clean desert crack action, candid insight into how new routes are really found, and the kind of backcountry humor that keeps the intensity from taking itself too seriously. If you love watching confident movement on perfect stone—and you’ve ever wondered how climbers keep finding “new” objectives in a well-known area—this is a quick, satisfying hit.

Arc'teryx · 7:53 · 134K views

Mountain climber saved at last second from near-fatal fall - Nerve-racking rescue caught on video

Week of July 2, 2012

Mountain climber saved at last second from near-fatal fall - Nerve-racking rescue caught on video

High on the frozen walls of Kennedy’s Gully in Colorado’s Ouray Ice Park, a climber pushes upward as the ice beneath him starts to fail. Filmed from above by fellow climbers, the moment turns from a routine ascent into an urgent fight to stay attached to the mountain, with voices off camera coordinating a rescue before gravity takes over. What makes this short film so gripping is its raw, unedited immediacy: you hear the tension, the quick decisions, and the calm determination it takes to manage risk when conditions change in seconds. It’s a sobering reminder of how fragile ice can be—and an inspiring look at teamwork, problem-solving, and the thin margin between a close call and catastrophe.

11MOAX · 4:57 · 2.9M views

Sanuk Climber Daniel Woods in Colorado - V14 / V15

Week of June 4, 2012

Sanuk Climber Daniel Woods in Colorado - V14 / V15

Sanuk Climber Daniel Woods in Colorado - V14 / V15 drops you into the high, cold alpine of Rocky Mountain National Park as Daniel Woods hunts down Colorado’s hardest boulder problems. Filmed in early 2012, it follows Daniel as he pushes the limits on three cutting-edge lines—Mirror Reality (V14), Mind to Motion (V14), and Paint it Black (V15)—turning raw stone, snow-dusted landings, and razor-thin margins into a stage for precision and courage. What makes this short film so gripping is how it pairs the tries with the process: the training, the problem-solving, and the mental reset that comes before committing to “impossible.” You’ll see the small details that matter—how sequences are built, how setbacks are absorbed, and how a breakthrough finally clicks—until the final top-outs feel earned, not edited. With tight filming and a crisp cut by Courtney Sanders, it’s a focused dose of modern hard bouldering that’s equal parts atmosphere, intensity, and inspiration.

Sanuk · 10:56 · 206K views

Petzl RocTrip China 2011 - The official movie

Week of May 14, 2012

Petzl RocTrip China 2011 - The official movie

Petzl RocTrip China 2011 – The official movie drops you into the heart of Petzl’s legendary gathering in China’s limestone paradise, where hundreds of climbers converged to explore brand-new lines in an otherworldly karst valley. Filmed during the 2011 RocTrip, it captures the scale of the event—freshly bolted routes, big formations, and the buzz of a traveling climbing community discovering a destination in real time. What makes it essential viewing is how it balances festival energy with truly world-class climbing: Dani Andrada’s relentless push on the 7-pitch Corazon de Ensueno (8c/5.14b), hard projects coming together, and standout first ascents from top names, all set against sweeping walls and soaring features. Whether you come for the multi-pitch drama, the cutting-edge sport grades, or the simple joy of a global crew sharing a valley and a vision, this film delivers a concentrated hit of motivation and adventure.

Petzl Sport · 23:29 · 1.4M views

Chris Sharma, World's First 5.15

Week of May 7, 2012

Chris Sharma, World's First 5.15

In July 2001, Chris Sharma rewrote climbing history on the limestone walls of Céüse, France, with the first ascent of Realization (Biographie) — the world’s first confirmed 5.15 (9a+). This short film from Big UP Productions follows Sharma through the weeks of attempts, travel, and obsession that led to one of sport climbing’s defining moments, culminating in the historic send captured on camera. What makes this worth watching isn’t just the grade—it’s the window into the process: the tiny refinements, the heavy days, the patience to return again and again when nothing clicks, and then the sudden electricity when it finally does. At 16 minutes, it’s a concentrated hit of motivation and perspective, reminding you why hard routes matter and how belief gets built one try at a time.

bigupproductions · 16:32 · 1.5M views

Conquistador Direct 8b Chironico Dave MacLeod

Week of April 23, 2012

Conquistador Direct 8b Chironico Dave MacLeod

Dave MacLeod drops into the granite playground of Chironico, Switzerland for a fast, focused repeat of Conquistador Direct—an iconic boulder problem graded 8B (often debated up to 8B+) since its first ascent in 2010. In under two minutes, this short film captures the essence of top-end bouldering: precision on small holds, total-body tension, and the calm intensity it takes to make hard moves look inevitable. It’s worth watching for the clarity of the performance. There’s no filler—just a masterclass in pacing, footwork, and commitment as MacLeod links powerful sequences with efficient control. Whether you’re here to study high-grade tactics or simply soak up the snap and silence of a world-class send, this is a quick hit of pure climbing quality.

Dave MacLeod · 1:29 · 21K views

Daniel Woods in Shiobara

Week of April 9, 2012

Daniel Woods in Shiobara

Daniel Woods in Shiobara drops you into Japan’s iconic Shiobara boulders alongside one of the strongest climbers of his generation. Filmed by THE NORTH FACE JAPAN, this 31-minute session follows Woods as he teams up with local legends Yuji Hirayama and Akiyo Noguchi for two focused days on steep, powerful problems: HYDRA (V13), CARTHARSIS (V14), and the hard-earned finale, HYDRANGIA (V15). What makes this film so watchable is its mix of raw effort and clean progression—real attempts, real conditions, and the small breakthroughs that turn a line from “impossible” into “done.” If you love modern bouldering, you’ll get a front-row seat to top-end movement, skin-on-stone commitment, and the kind of quiet intensity that only shows up when the grade is high and the landing is honest.

THE NORTH FACE JAPAN · 31:15 · 151K views

mind control

Week of February 27, 2012

mind control

Mind Control follows Nina Caprez on the sunlit walls of Oliana as she takes on the route that shares the film’s name. Filmed by Cédric Lachat, this short, focused ascent captures the calm intensity of a top climber moving through steep limestone—reading sequences, committing to razor-edged holds, and keeping her head clear when the climbing gets thin. What makes it worth watching is the way it turns a hard sport climb into a lesson in precision and composure. You’ll feel the rhythm of controlled breathing, the subtle body positioning that saves energy, and the split-second decisions that separate hesitation from flow. If you love crisp movement, real attempts, and that electric moment when doubt gives way to commitment, Mind Control delivers.

cédric lachat · 21:44 · 35K views

Alizée Dufraisse: La Reina Mora 8c+/9a FFA

Week of February 20, 2012

Alizée Dufraisse: La Reina Mora 8c+/9a FFA

Alizée Dufraisse: La Reina Mora 8c+/9a FFA drops you onto the sun-baked limestone of Siurana, Spain, as French climber Alizée Dufraisse tackles La Reina Mora in El Pati—one of the world’s most iconic testpiece walls. In under five minutes, this prAna short captures the intensity of her push into the 8c+/9a realm, culminating in a landmark first female ascent on a route whose grade and reputation have only grown with repeat attempts by the strongest climbers. What makes this worth watching is the blend of high-stakes history and raw, close-up effort: precise footwork on thin edges, committed body positions, and the quiet focus it takes to stick a sequence when everything is on the line. It’s a quick hit of big-grade inspiration—part snapshot of a breakthrough moment, part reminder of how rare and hard-earned performances at this level are—and it will leave you wanting to queue up more from Siurana’s legendary cliffs.

prAna · 4:58 · 86K views

Enzo Oddo: La Rambla 9a+ (5.15a) at Siurana Spain

Week of January 9, 2012

Enzo Oddo: La Rambla 9a+ (5.15a) at Siurana Spain

Enzo Oddo: La Rambla 9a+ (5.15a) at Siurana Spain drops you into the limestone arena of Siurana with 16-year-old French prodigy Enzo Oddo as he takes on one of sport climbing’s most famous testpieces. Filmed by prAna, this short but punchy ascent traces his repeat of La Rambla—first established by Alex Huber to a high point and later extended by Ramón Julián Puigblanque—against the backdrop of a route whose grade and legacy have been debated for years. What makes it worth watching is the collision of raw youth and historic difficulty: precise footwork on razor edges, relentless endurance, and the calm that’s required when every move feels like it could spit you off. Even in just a few minutes, it captures the full sport-climbing arc—rehearsal, doubt, commitment, and that final surge—while reminding you that “hard” isn’t only a number, it’s a story written into the rock and the climber who dares to try.

prAna · 6:21 · 75K views