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Babsi Zangerl & Jacopo Larcher vs. El Capitan’s ‘Zodiac’

One of climbing's most talented couples tackles the legendary 'Zodiac' in this refreshing take on big-wall storytelling.

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Jacopo Larcher and Babsi Zangerl sent Zodiac (5.13d), one of El Capitan’s most formidable free climbs, back in 2016.

But it turns out the edit of that ascent, published last week on the YouTube channel Louder Than Eleven, was worth waiting for. 

That’s not only because Larcher and Zangerl’s camaraderie is both obvious and infectious. It’s also because the film crew made some creative decisions. Most interesting is the side-by-side videos of the pair leading the same pitch, allowing viewers to compare their climbing styles in real time. 

“With some of the hardest climbing in the Valley crammed into 16 pitches, the Zodiac had only seen two previous ascents … until Babsi and Jacopo showed up,” the vid’s description says.

Runtime: 10 minutes

alex honnold employing a knee bar so he can give the camera a two thumbs up

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