Step into the quiet intensity of Magic Wood, Switzerland, as Daniel Woods takes on “In Search Of Time Lost” (8c/V15) in this short, focused film from coltleader. Shot during Woods’ 2008 visit, the climb is a famed link-up that stitches together “Remembrance of Things Past” (8B+/V14) and “Left Hand of Darkness” (8A+/V11–V12), capturing a rare moment where top-end bouldering becomes a precise, deliberate craft.
What makes this worth watching is how much story fits into just a few minutes: the tension before the pull, the subtle body positions, and the way power and control trade places move by move. It’s a sharp hit of elite climbing—no filler, just commitment on a world-class line—perfect for anyone who loves seeing hard movement done with composure and purpose.
In this short but gripping excerpt from Hot Aches Productions’ Committed Vol 1, Dave MacLeod turns his attention to Indian Face—North Wales’ infamous, heady E9 testpiece. Filmed around his 2007 look at the route, the clip captures the quiet intensity of trad climbing at its sharpest: a climber measuring risk, deciphering sequences, and weighing commitment on one of Britain’s most storied lines.
Worth watching for the raw focus and atmosphere as much as the climbing itself, this is a concentrated dose of what makes hard trad so compelling—precision, composure, and consequence. Whether you’re into MacLeod’s approach, the mythos of Indian Face, or simply the mental battle behind bold leads, the film delivers a surge of psych in under five minutes and leaves you thinking about what “committed” really means.
Dean Potter: King Air (First Ascent) drops into Yosemite Valley with one of climbing’s most magnetic figures as he takes on the Le Conte (House Keeping) Boulder and a line he’s obsessed over for more than a decade. In just over three minutes, Dean shares the story behind “King Air”—a proud, towering highball that sits right on the edge between bouldering and free soloing, shaped by persistence, secrecy, and the quiet support of the people around him.
This is worth watching for the mix of raw honesty and high-stakes movement: the crux that finally unlocks when he loosens up, the stealthy sessions and chalk-washing to keep the project under wraps, and the reality of falling hard from serious height even with pads and a trusted spotter. It’s a quick hit of Yosemite atmosphere, beautiful stone, and the mindset it takes to return to a line year after year until it goes.
Committed II: Dave MacLeod climbing The Hurting drops you into the raw Scottish winter as MacLeod takes on “The Hurting,” a notoriously unforgiving line that blurs the edges between ice climbing and mixed climbing. In just a few minutes, Hot Aches Productions captures the cold bite, the steepness, and the stakes—where every tool placement and crampon point has to count, and the margin for error feels as thin as the ice itself.
What makes this clip so watchable is its no-nonsense intensity: hard climbing, real exposure, and the ever-present possibility of a fall, delivered with the focused pacing Hot Aches is known for. If you want a quick hit of winter psych—equal parts inspiration and respect for what it takes to commit when conditions, terrain, and fatigue all push back—this is a short, sharp reminder of why climbing’s most memorable moments are earned.
Jakob Schubert takes on “Underground” (8c+/9a) in Massone, Arco, Italy—an intense slice of steep limestone where every move demands precision. In this short film from Schubert’s own channel, you’re dropped right into the fight: a modern testpiece, a world-class climber, and the quiet, focused rhythm of trying hard on one of Arco’s most iconic lines.
What makes this worth your seven minutes is the clarity of the performance—power where it counts, calm when it matters, and the kind of subtle footwork and body tension that separates attempts from sends. Whether you’re here for inspiration, beta-by-osmosis, or just the thrill of watching limits get pushed, “Underground” delivers that addictive blend of commitment, control, and pure climbing momentum.
Monkey See Monkey Do: Johnny Dawes Climbing Gin Palace is a bite-sized hit of pure British grit, following the inimitable Johnny Dawes as he dances his way through Gin Palace on slate. Filmed by Hot Aches Productions, it drops you right into that sharp-edged, balance-heavy world where the feet matter as much as the fingers, and every movement looks half impossible and half inevitable in Dawes’ hands.
What makes this one worth your time is the contrast between style and severity: slate’s unforgiving texture, the need for precision, and the way Dawes turns micro-choices into flowing sequences. In just a couple of minutes you get a masterclass in composure—quick to watch, hard to forget, and guaranteed to leave you staring at the wall a little differently (and maybe itching to try something bold of your own).
Hazel Findlay takes on the fierce slate testpiece “Rainbow of Recalcitrance” at E6 in this bite-sized clip from Hot Aches Productions’ Monkey See, Monkey Do. Set in North Wales, it drops you straight into the sharp end of British trad: thin edges, unforgiving angles, and the kind of commitment that starts long before you leave the ground.
It’s worth watching for the intensity packed into just a couple of minutes—precise movement on slippery slate, calm decision-making above gear, and the unmistakable rhythm of a serious lead coming together. Whether you’re here for Hazel’s poised style, a dose of Welsh slate atmosphere, or simply the thrill of high-grade trad, this is a quick hit of pure climbing focus that leaves you wanting the full film.
Join Hot Aches Productions for a crisp slice of Scottish winter climbing as Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner tackle the Great Chimney on Ben Nevis. Shot and cut with immediate, hut-that-night energy, the film follows their ascent as a tribute to the legacy of Robin Smith and Jimmy Marshall, whose bold achievements helped define what’s possible in the Ben.
In just over five minutes, it delivers the essentials that make winter climbing so addictive: steep, shadowed walls, the claustrophobic drama of chimney movement, and the steady problem-solving required when everything is cold, hard, and consequential. If you want raw Nevis atmosphere, two masterful climbers moving with purpose, and a short hit of pure winter psych, this is an easy watch that sticks with you.
Kevin Jorgeson takes on The Groove, one of England’s most infamous gritstone testpieces, in this short segment from bigUPproductions’ full-length film PROGRESSION. Set in the Peak District and grounded in the uncompromising reality of hard trad, it captures the tension of a serious lead where commitment, precision, and trust in your belayer matter as much as strength.
What makes this worth watching is how clearly it conveys the unique pressure of gritstone: insecure smears, subtle body positions, and protection that’s earned rather than guaranteed. In just a few minutes you get a front-row seat to the focus required for E11—quiet moments of doubt, decisive movement, and the satisfying rhythm of a climber finding the groove when it counts.
Chris Sharma: The Legacy Continues is a fast, high-voltage portrait of one of climbing’s most influential athletes, capturing the momentum of a career that redefined what “hard” could mean. From prodigy beginnings to headline ascents like Jumbo Love, Sharma’s story unfolds as more than a list of grades—it’s a glimpse into the mindset and lifestyle of someone who keeps pushing even after reaching the top of the sport.
Worth watching for its pure stoke and sense of scale, this short film distills a decade of progression into a punchy ride through steep limestone, bold ambition, and the everyday rhythm of training, traveling, and trying again. With Spain’s crags as a playground and big goals always on the horizon, it’s an inspiring reminder that legacy isn’t something you inherit—it’s something you build, one attempt at a time.
