Autumn has officially begun, and so has the countdown to the North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival! The festival opens on Thursday at 5pm. The vibe in Kalymnos is certainly festive, the weather is warm, and Masouri is abuzz with climbers. The festival base camp is all set up at ‘Elena Village’ Hotel in Armeos –the new hotel below Grande Grotta– where registration for the Open Marathon & Big Marathon starts tomorrow. When not busy at their new crag Psili Riza in Panormos, which has been bolted by TNF especially for the event, the North Face athletes are regularly sighted across the island (we played ‘Spot the Famous Climber’ at Odyssey this morning) as everybody eagerly anticipates the exciting new lines the North Face team has promised.
Jacopo Larcher climbing ‘Las Gallinas que Entran por las que Salen’ 8a at sector Odyssey this morning.
Photos from sector Psili Riza and from other new routes across Kalymnos can be viewed on the Chris Boukoros blog. In addition to other happenings, selected climbing photos by local photographer Nikolaos Smalios will be exhibited at Elena Village Hotel during the festival. We will post day-by-day festival updates here, so stay tuned.
The festival program and event summary by The North Face are listed below; for more info please visit the official festival page.
In one of our favorite shots, Yuji Hirayama, Caroline Ciavaldini and James Pearson at sector Odyssey this morning.
James Pearson trying one of the routes at The North Face’s new crag Psili Riza in Panormos. Photo: Chris Boukoros
The festival Base Camp / Info Point all set up at ‘Elena Village’ Hotel in Armeos.
THE NORTH FACE® KALYMNOS CLIMBING FESTIVAL OFFICIAL PROGRAM
The North Face®, together with the municipality of Kalymnos, has decided to set up a new, long-term event that brings together climbers of all nationalities and levels. Two days of the OPEN & BIG Climbing Marathon with over 493 pitches between grades 3c and 8a; 3 days of the PROject Competition on a crag specifically bolted for the occasion; a photography exhibition by Nicolas Smalios; stories of exploration with the world’s best athletes; a typical Greek dinner and a party open to all. We hope you will enjoy some action-packed days of climbing and other activities.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH
• 11AM – 10PM OPEN MARATHON AND BIG MARATHON OFFICIAL REGISTRATION
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH
• 7.30AM – 3PM PROJECT COMPETITION WARM-UP
• 11AM – 10PM OPEN MARATHON AND BIG MARATHON OFFICIAL REGISTRATION
• 5PM THE NORTH FACE KALYMNOS CLIMBING FESTIVAL OFFICIAL OPENING @Festival Base Camp
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH
• 7.30AM – 5PM PROJECT COMPETITION
• 8AM – 9AM OPEN MARATHON AND BIG MARATHON OFFICIAL REGISTRATION @Festival Base Camp
• 9AM -5PM OPEN MARATHON AND BIG MARATHON – DAY1
• 9.30PM SEASIDE STORY TELLER’S NIGHT. EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE STORIES WITH JAMES PEARSON, CAROLINE CIAVALDINI AND NICOLAS FAVRESSE @ Festival Base Camp
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH
• 7.30AM – 5PM PROJECT COMPETITION
• 9AM – 5PM OPEN MARATHON AND BIG MARATHON – DAY2
• 8.30PM – 10.30PM GREEK DINNER WITH LOCAL FOOD AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC
• 10.30PM PRIZE GIVING
• 11PM PARTY WITH LIVE DJ SET @Festival Base Camp
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH
• 10AM – 4PM CHILL-OUT CLIMBING WITH THE NORTH FACE® ATHLETES
• 5.00PM OFFICIAL CLOSURE
Links:
The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival page
The North Face on facebook
The North Face on Twitter
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