Adam Ondra #69: Belly Full of Bad Berries 8a (5.13b) / uncut with commentary drops you into a raw, up-close ascent where power, technique, and sheer grit collide. In this episode from Adam Ondra’s Road to Tokyo era, he takes on “Belly Full of Bad Berries” and explores the kind of climbing that doesn’t let you escape when the pump hits—an off-width fight that forces you to dig deeper with every uncomfortable move.
What makes this one essential is the format: more or less uncut, with commentary that lets you feel the tempo of a real battle—micro-rests, split-second decisions, and the moments where you’re hanging on by willpower alone. It’s an epic watch for anyone who loves seeing elite climbing without the gloss, whether you’re chasing 5.13 yourself or just want to understand what “emptying the tank” truly looks like on the wall.
Black Diamond Presents: Hazel Findlay in South Korea follows elite climber Hazel Findlay as she journeys through Korea to trace an unexpected thread in Black Diamond’s history—one that began with a chance connection in the mid-1980s and grew into a lasting partnership. Alongside fellow BD athlete and filmmaker Colette McInerney, Hazel steps into a country whose climbing scene has become a global force, shaped by deep roots, fresh energy, and a new generation of standout talent.
In just over seven minutes, the film delivers a vivid snapshot of South Korean climbing culture: the rock, the people, and the sense of shared heritage that links distant crags and communities. It’s worth watching for its blend of travel, history, and pure climbing inspiration—an intimate, beautifully shot reminder that the sport isn’t only about the send, but about the connections and stories that keep climbers returning to the stone.
In Adam Ondra #66: Flash it!, Adam Ondra heads back to Czechia to hunt for boulder problems he can try on sight—pushing himself on terrain he’s long neglected outdoors. With his trademark curiosity and competitive edge, he takes on flash attempts at staggering grades, including 8B+ and a world-class 8A+, sharing the mindset and precision it takes to commit when there’s no second chance.
What makes this episode so gripping is the raw, moment-to-moment tension of the flash: quick reads, split-second decisions, and the thin line between a perfect sequence and a slip. It’s a compact hit of high-end bouldering with Ondra’s honest commentary, focused effort, and the satisfying rhythm of attempts that either click instantly or unravel—ideal if you want inspiration, elite movement, and a taste of what “going for it” really looks like.
Steve McClure climbs Nightmayer follows one of Britain’s most respected climbers as he takes on Nightmayer (E8 6c) at Dinas Cromlech in Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia. Filmed by Keith Sharples for teamBMC, this short piece captures the atmosphere of a historic ascent: in 2019 McClure made the first-ever onsight of this hard, complex and committing trad line.
It’s worth watching for the rare mix of calm precision and real consequence that high-end onsight climbing demands. You’ll get a close look at how a master reads gear, manages uncertainty, and keeps moving when every decision matters—set against the iconic, steep walls of the Cromlech. Supported by Petzl and BMC TV, it’s a tight, gripping reminder of why trad climbing at this level is as much about composure as it is about strength.
Cryptography: the hardest slab in the world? follows Italian climber Alessandro Zeni as he takes on an audacious vision: a new, enigmatic 9b slab line at the legendary Saint-Loup crag in Switzerland. Crafted by Karpos, the film traces a route that was imagined and obsessed over for years—where success hinges less on brute strength than on balance, precision, and the nerve to trust nearly invisible footholds.
What makes this short film so gripping is how it captures the particular tension of slab climbing: the quiet, high-stakes problem-solving, the incremental progress, and the razor-thin margin between flow and failure. With a clean, focused style and the weight of a historic achievement hanging over every move, it’s a compact hit of inspiration—whether you’re chasing grades or just love watching athletes decode the seemingly impossible.
Adam Ondra drops into the Czech woods for “Knockout 8B+,” a quick-hit session at Komínky in the Chřiby range that captures the first ascent of a powerful boulder problem. In just over two minutes, you get a focused glimpse of Ondra’s Road to Tokyo era—where bouldering precision, competitive intensity, and pure curiosity meet on real rock.
It’s worth watching for the distilled punch of high-end climbing: fast pacing, uncompromising movement, and that unmistakable moment when a new line finally goes. Whether you’re here for Olympic-era motivation or simply love seeing elite problem solving on stone, “Knockout 8B+” delivers a satisfying burst of commitment and control from the first pull to the send.
Big Balls & Ground Falls is a raw, personal compilation from Jim Pope, stitching together three years of trad climbing footage into one unpolished, honest ride. True to its title, it leans into the reality of committing movement above gear, the inevitability of close calls, and the lessons that come with climbing where the ground is never far from the conversation.
What makes this film worth your time is the lack of gloss: no hype reel sheen, just the atmosphere of real days out, real partners, and real consequences—plus the quiet wins that keep people coming back. If you’re drawn to trad for its decision-making as much as its difficulty, this is a watch that captures the nerves, the humour, and the meaning behind the moments that don’t always look “shiny,” but stay with you long after the rope is coiled.
In Uncut: barefoot Charles Albert - No kpote only (proposed 9A/V17) FA, mellow drops you into a razor-focused moment from January 2019 as Charles Albert commits to his long-standing project, No Kpote Only—barefoot, understated, and aiming straight at the top end of bouldering’s mythic scale. With the first ascent carrying a proposed 9A/V17, the film captures that electric intersection of obsession, precision, and the quiet confidence of a climber who’s been living with a line for years.
What makes this short uncut watch so gripping is how little it needs to say: the movement speaks, the tension builds in real time, and every smear and toe placement feels amplified by the choice to climb barefoot. Add the ongoing grade conversation—Ryohei Kameyama’s repeat and the suggestion of 8C+/9A—and you’ve got a snapshot of cutting-edge bouldering where style, difficulty, and debate all collide in under two minutes.
Adam Ondra heads to Frankenjura, Germany—home of razor crimps and infamous two-finger pockets—for episode #60 of his Road to Tokyo series, taking on the storied testpiece Becoming 9a+. Filmed during his autumn 2019 sessions, this short vlog-style film drops you right into the process: the scouting, the hard moves, and the relentless problem-solving required on one of the area’s toughest lines.
What makes it worth watching is the honesty and intensity packed into just over eleven minutes. You’ll see world-class climbing distilled to its essentials—precision footwork, split-second decisions, and the kind of repeated effort where progress is measured in millimeters. Whether you’re chasing your first pockety sport route or just love seeing elite climbers wrestle with the unknown, this is a sharp, motivating look at how 9a+ is built try by try.
