Basecamp Podcast Discussion with David Lama
David Lama is currently one of the world’s leading alpine free climbers, but like many of today’s top senders he started in a gym. In 2004 and 2005, he was the Youth World Champion. He continued to rank high in World Cups until 2008, when he began to focus more on outdoor climbing. Back in 2000, he became the youngest climber to send a 5.13b after his ascent of Kindergarten in Slovenia. In 2007, he sent three 5.14s in a day including one 5.14d.Â
Listen to Gripped editor Brandon Pullan discuss climbing with Lama at the 2015 Banff Mountain Festival below.
Lama’s biggest contributions to climbing would be accomplished in the high alpine. In 2010, he and Jorg Verhoeven made the first free ascent of Brento Centro on the east face of Monte Brento in Italy at 5.13d for 29 pitches. He then went on to send Bellavista, a 500-metre 5.14a in Italy after one day.
In 2011, he sent Pacienca 5.13 up the north face of the Eiger with Peter Ortner, makes the first ascent of Yoniverse on Cerro Kishtwar in India with Denis Burdet and Stephan Siegrist, and repeated a number of big-wall 5.13s in Austria.
In 2012, Lama made the historic first free ascent of Cerro Torre via a variation to the Compressor Route after Jason Kruk and Hayden Kennedy chopped the bolts a few days before. Also in 2012, Lama climbed Trango Tower (6,239 m) in Pakistan, and Chogolisa ((7,668 m) in the same Karakorum range. Lama would continue to make big free ascents in the alpine and in 2015 made the first ascent of Avatar 5.14d in Lebanon.
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