Black Diamond Presents: Flashed—Babsi Zangerl's Historic Flash of El Capitan

In Flashed, Babsi Zangerl sets her sights on the 3,000-foot Free Rider on El Capitan—and does what no one has done before: a true flash of one of the world’s most iconic big walls. With partner Jacopo Larcher, she commits to a ground-up effort that stretches across three intense days on Yosemite granite. This isn’t just a headline ascent. The film digs into the texture of the attempt—slick slabs, gnarly offwidths, and sequences that only reveal themselves when you’re already in too deep—while showing the calm, trust, and grit it takes to keep moving upward. If you want a front-row seat to history and the human story behind it, this one delivers.

Black Diamond Equipment · 33:00

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.