The Season – Guest review by Nicola Underdown
Have you been reflecting on 2010, and setting your goals for 2011? Perhaps the weather is keeping you indoors? Or maybe you’re just escaping the daily grind by scouring the internet and getting inspiration for some trips this year. Whatever you’re doing this dark January, if you’ve haven’t already encountered one of 2010’s audio and video highlights, make the most of the long winter evenings and check out The Season.
As a climber, you can follow the trials and tribulations of Matt Maddaloni and Anya Miller. Matt describes himself as having realised that, although his spirit is willing, his body is not when it comes to climbing the most extreme and arduous routes; but he still wants to explore the vertical world. Being based in Squamish, British Columbia, he becomes intrigued with the Guillotine Flake on The Chief – a huge flake, anchored at the top and peeling away from the wall. Placing a cam behind it would risk levering the flake from the wall, with potentially disastrous consequences, so he sets out to design an alternative – the anti-cam. Matt inspires you with a story of both physical and mental labours; this isn’t simply climbing as athleticism, but also shows the psychological challenge of climbing loved by the British scene.
Anya Miller represents two of the other facets of our climbing community; she’s a boulderer, and she’s not a professional athlete. A designer and architect by trade, the only woman in the series tells of her journey to recover from injury and medical mishap, trying to restore her love of bouldering. For those who understand the impact that an injury can have (on a treasured hobby, if not on a career) Anya’s story is inspirational for her efforts to get beyond the reproach of ‘do what you’ve always done, and you’ll get what you’ve always got’.
Three other athletes share their stories in this 22 episode series of short films; Jonaven Moore (snowboarder), Paul Kuthe (paddler) and Scott Pettett (chiropractor and forty-plus downhill mountain biker). The stories are interwoven, and the threads of their lives provide a rhythm of expectations, disappointments and achievements. This shows that everyone, even the professionals, experience the downs you don’t often see, as well as the ups which fill magazine and web articles.
The Season Trailer from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.
The films are shot entirely in HD, and for someone who is getting withdrawal symptoms after a year in Canada, they are a paean to the delights of British Columbia, Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. The films also show a hugely innovative approach to filming, from cable cams suspended above the mountain bike track, to a metal frame pushing the camera operator out into space to provide a better shot of a climber. Filmmaker Bryan Smith demonstrates his continuing commitment to trying new things and allies this to an understanding of the shots which will wow his audience. Fitz Cahall, writer of the Dirtbag Diaries (another resource you should check out if you haven’t already) provides a distinctive and compelling commentary which acts as a thread of continuity throughout the series.
The Series was released during 2010, so you can see all the episodes through iTunes, or find out more about the project at the website. And sign up now! The Season 2 is currently in production.
Nicola has just returned to the UK after spending some time in British Columbia, Canada. Read all about Nicola’s adventures on her blog, or follow Nicola on Twitter. We’re hoping will become a regular contributor for Rock Climbing UK.
