UKH

The Aviemore Adventure Festival (22-24 April) is a weekend festival packed with events for the outdoor enthusiast & adventurer- with uplifting talks from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers, kayakers and filmmakers, together with exhilarating film screenings from the outdoor world

Includes Guest Speakers: Dave Macleod, Leo Houlding, Lee Craigie, Erin Bastian & Luke Robertson.

The Festival kicks off on Friday 22nd April with the screening of the inspiring Scottish film “Transition” following young competition climber Natalie Berry as she starts off on her climbing career- transition from indoor to outside, plastic to rock and ice. Following the film, world class climber Dave MacLeod will give a guest lecture entitled: “What Are You Afraid Of?” exploring the ideas that defined his progress to making first ascents of some of the world’s hardest rock and ice climbs and how he reflected from other climbers he’s coached and ideas from outside sport to improve his own performance.

Our programme on Saturday & Sunday is jam-packed with exciting films & inspiring talks. On Saturday morning, we have the screening of “Eiger Paraclimb: Defiance” following the team of three British paraclimbers as they aim to break down the stigmas & stereotypes regarding disability and climbing by tackling the mighty Eiger mountain in Switzerland. Saturday afternoon we have an inspiring talk from Luke Robertson, who in January 2015, became the first Scot and the youngest Brit to ski unsupported to the South Pole.

Saturday night is the highlight of the weekend with the screening of the epic movie “The Last Great Climb” following top British climber & adventurer Leo Houlding (and his trusted team) as they attempt to climb one of the last great unclimbed routes in Antartica: the Northeast ridge of Ulvetanna (2931m).
Following the film, we will be welcoming Leo Houlding to the stage to talk about the film and his adventure / outdoor career so far. His lecture entitled: “Mirror Wall- Reflections” discusses his recent expedition to complete the first ascent of the 1200m Mirror Wall on a remote peak in north-east Greenland. This was Leo’s first expedition since becoming a father and it was his daughter's second birthday while he was on one of the most difficult sections of the climb. It was also just over a year since the death of his long-time climbing partner and close friend, Sean 'Stanley' Leary, in a wingsuit flying accident. Leo will talk about the conflict between a life of extreme adventure, and the responsibilities and homely joys of fatherhood, set against an undying drive for the next great quest.

Sunday is another action packed day with film screenings in the morning of “The Flying Frenchies: Back to the Fjords”- (follow up to the original highly acclaimed “I believe I can fly: Flight of the Frenchies”) and “Shifting Ice & Changing Tides” (following six women as they set sail for Greenland in search of virgin piste to explore and ski). In the afternoon we will be showing the recently released local film “Cape Wrath” following mountain bikers Lee Craigie & Andy Toop as they make the journey up to the most remote piece of land on the UK mainland: Cape Wrath. Following the film Mountain Biker Lee Craigie (British Mountain Bike Champion in 2013) will be talking about how the secret to her sporting success lay in her love of exploring big mountains by bike - and this is still her driving passion.

The festival is topped off with our Sunday Night programme- including the inspiring film “Nobody’s River” following four American kayakers as they hope to make the descent of one of the world’s longest & last free flowing rivers- the Amur river in Mongolia. The film will be followed by an inspiring talk from Kayaking Expeditioner Erin Bastian. Erin has been in love with the outdoors since an early age and has organised and led many kayaking expeditions all around the world, including: Paddling 800km down the West coast of Patagonia and Circumnavigating (paddling) both Corsica and Sardinia.

Individual Session Tickets start from £9 (adults) £7 (students & concessions) and £6.50 (Under 18s). Children under 12 go FREE (if accompanied by an adult).
Full Festival Passes cost £46 (adults), £42 (students & concessions) and £30 (Under 18s).

The festival is community run and not-for-profit, and proceeds from this year’s festival will be going to support the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team.

http://www.aviemoreadventureff.org
http://www.facebook.com/aviemoreadventureff
https://twitter.com/AviemoreAFF