Paul Robinson Sends Jaws II (9a+)
Paul Robinson Sends Jaws II (9a+) follows Paul Robinson back to a haunting obsession: Jaws II, the sweeping schist testpiece hidden in the forest outside Rumney, New Hampshire. First tried in 2011, the route keeps pulling him back for years until a fall trip finally gives him the chance to devote himself fully—day after day—to decoding the crux, battling doubt, and chasing a dream-level sport-climbing milestone. What makes this one worth your eight minutes is the raw, familiar arc of a real project: confusion that won’t quit, incremental breakthroughs, pressure as time runs out, and the razor-thin line between coming up short and getting it done. The film captures the unglamorous grind behind a 5.15a/9a+ send, then delivers the payoff as Paul fights through repeated top-end falls to claim the ascent—his hardest sport climb at the time—and leaves Rumney with the kind of stoke that’s impossible to fake.
prAna · 8:41
I first tried Jaws in 2011 and quickly became obsessed with the route. Every so often over the past few years I would think about the line and wish I was there trying it. Fortunately this fall I had some time and wanted more than anything to make an ascent of this beautiful sweeping piece of schist in the forest outside of Rumney, New Hampshire. Alex and I flew here in the middle of the month and I quickly set to work on the climb. I spent day after day trying to figure out the crux sequence but kept hiking out from the cliff unsure of what I was doing wrong. I had thoughts of giving up but I decided the struggle would make it all the better in the end so I kept at it. I finally figured out the sequence that would work best for me and began making big links on the line! The end of the trip was fast approaching and I knew I would have to send soon! I spent two days falling off of the top and finally on October 30th, I managed to make the fifth ascent of Jaws II, 5.15a. This marks my hardest sport climb to date and a dream realized, to climb both v15 and 5.15. The psyche is high as I leave Rumney on a high note. I can't wait for more! ~Paul Robinson, prAna Ambassador