What does it take to flash El Cap? Babsi and Jacopo talk pressure, expectation, motivation, fear, failure and flow.

In this episode, I sit down with Barbara Zangler ( Babsi) and Jacopo Larcher to learn more about their ascent of Freerider on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. They both shared the same goal of flashing the route, however, only Babsi managed to achieve this, making her the first person to have ever flashed El Capitain. Hearing the story from both sides was interesting and unique. We discuss their motivations for climbing this route, what the road to get there looked like and what they both learned from the experience.

There’s also a film about their ascents available on the Black Diamond website, which you can watch here: https://eu.blackdiamondequipment.com/blogs/stories/babsi-flashes-free-rider

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- Timestamps -

00:00:00 - Intro and updates.

00:06:24 - When did you both decide to commit your lives 100% to climbing?

00:14:53 - Partnership and their climbing journey.

00:21:27 - Strategic approach to climbing throughout the year.

00:24:10 - Struggles of the first time climbing in Yosemite.

00:34:04 - When did flashing freerider become a goal for you?

00:41:25 - Did this goal have more meaning to you compared to others?

00:48:46- How did you manage the pressure?

00:54:15 - Jacopo’s fall on the boulder problem.

00:57:25 - Babsi’s flow experience on the boulder problem.

01:01:10 - Jacopo on supporting Babsi and managing his emotions after he failed.

01:06:34 - Jacopo’s inner critic vs. practising self-kindness.

01:09:50 - Babsi’s reflections after the climb.

01:14:46 - Is happiness tied to achievement?

01:19:27 - What lessons have you both learned from this journey?