Arcteryx Equipment Inc. in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op will sponsor the the 3rd annual Squamish Mountain Festival. The festival runs from August 12 to 16th, with events taking place at
venues around Squamish including the Eagle Eye Theatre, The Squamish
Adventure Centre, The Howe Sound Brew Pub, and of course the local
crags.
The events includes a film festival and photography contest (Steep Shot
Photo Shoot Out), educational climbing clinics and a Dyno competition,
where climbers from around the globe will compete for the biggest jump.
Focusing mainly on climbing and its surrounding culture, the event also encompasses complementary activities such as yoga, a themed party and its first ever trail run.
Competing in the Photo Shoot Out this year are Susanica Tam, Andrew Burr, Corey Richards, Sonnie Trotter and Keith Ladzinski. This line-up brings years of experience in climbing and adventure photography to centre stage. Each competitor will show the best of
their climbing portfolios in a five to eight minute presentation set to music. The competition, which is judged by a panel of experts, is always an exciting night that sells out each year.
Alongside the film festival at the Eagle Eye Theatre there will be featured guest speakers recounting tales of their international climbing endeavors. This years roster consists of Canadian greats, Peter Croft and Will Stanhope; female powerhouses, Lauren Lee, Ines Papert and Audrey Gariepy; and the British crew of Ian Parnell and Simon Yates.
As reported by one of the key event organizers, Ivan Hughes, the planning of the event is getting better and better,
“I think this years festival will be one of the most exciting yet. Weve got an incredible mix of sport, alpine and rock climbers coming to the festival with gripping stories and images from their latest adventures from the far corners of the world. Films are being submitted from all over as well, weve had entries from Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, the US and Canada. Im amazed at all the creative and inspiring filmmakers out there that manage to get amazing footage of the wildest action again and again every year.”
The hugely popular party always has a theme that encourages entertaining costumes and this years is sure to draw the unusual and quirk: “Trailer Trash Super Heroes” .need we say more.
Also in the exciting events lineup is the newly added Smoke Bluffs Scramble, a five-kilometer “twoonie style” trail run with a happy hour social to follow.
The aim of the festival is to have veteran climbers and novices come together and share their enthusiasm for climbing and the mountain realm in a grassroots celebration. The beneficiaries of this years festival are Squamish Access Society, Climbers Access Society of BC, and Squamish Girls Rock.
Tickets for the Squamish Mountain Festival can be purchased online at www.squamishmountainfestival.com or at the Squamis
