THE FIRE WITHIN - Stephan Vogt | Action Directe 9a

Stephan Vogt takes on one of sport climbing’s most iconic tests in THE FIRE WITHIN, a short, high-focus film from Mad Rock centered on Action Directe (9a). Anchored by Wolfgang Güllich’s timeless line—“The climber’s strongest muscle is the brain”—the story follows Vogt’s long pursuit, built from more than 20 days on the route spread across five years of patient, deliberate projection. What makes this worth your seven minutes is the mental battle behind the grade: managing doubt, refining micro-beta, and returning again and again when progress is measured in millimeters. It’s a tight hit of motivation and perspective for anyone who’s ever obsessed over a sequence—proof that the real crux often isn’t the holds, but the commitment to keep showing up until the impossible finally feels inevitable.

Mad Rock · 7:19

“The climber’s strongest muscle is the brain” – Wolfgang Gullich Mad Rock athlete Stephan Vogt spent over 20 days in a span of 5 years projecting one the most famous sport climbs in the world.