The North Face and Petzl Climb Session

Welcome to The North Face and Petzl Climb Session - a snapshot of the biggest and best climbing stories of the moment.

We aim to bring you stories from across the climbing world, predominantly rock and competition but with a little snow & ice added here and there! Top ascents, amazing expeditions and the beauty of community, alongside inspiration from those who simply manage to squeeze climbing into their busy lives.

Building on the success of last year, join our brilliant co-hosts; Team GB’s Molly Thompson-Smith and the founder of Colour Up Bristol, Carlos Casas.

Here are just some of the amazing speakers joining us on stage, with more to be announced soon…

Stefano Ghisolfi has to be one of the world's top five sport climbers. He started out as a mountain bike racer but discovered climbing aged 11 and never looked back. He was almost immediately successful in competition climbing, specialising in lead events and over his career boasts two World Cup victories. Using his indoor training, when he eventually ventured onto rock, Stefano completed his first 7a, 7b and 7c leads in the same day. It made him realise he could push his limits further, and in 2015 made the first free ascent of Lapsus (9b). In 2018, he ticked 9b+ with Perfecto Mundo, the fourth climber to redpoint a route at that grade. In 2020, he made the second ascent of Adam Ondra's route Change (9b+) at Flatanger and the following year Bibliographie (9b+) at Ceuse, downgrading it from its original 9c. This year Stefano made the first ascent of Excalibur, in Arco, at a proposed 9b+. Fun fact: Stefano is the current Guinness World Record holder for the longest duration on a revolving climbing wall.

The UK Paraclimbing Collective is a charity that was set up and runs entirely voluntarily by a group of paraclimbers who feel passionate about improving access to rock climbing. Whether you have a mental or physical health condition, a learning disability, sensory difference, are neurodivergent, or have another disability or condition, the Collective want to show that climbing is for everybody.