Adventure Magazine

BEHIND THE COVER...

Climber Giuliano Cameroni Image by Stefan Kürzi; From the Red Bull content pool, illume Quest Entry

The Red Bull Illume competition

brings together the best athletes and

photographers in the world. The results

are often stunning, capturing a moment,

a feeling, or visually telling a narrative.

Giuliano Cameroni is an astounding

climber with a unique way of looking at

both the rock he climbs and the nature

that surrounds it . Stefan Kürzi has

managed to capture that moment with this

exceptional image.

Giuliano Cameroni sees rocks differently

to most people. To him, a boulder of

granite is a playground, a puzzle. It's a

work of art. The Swiss climber used to

follow the ways of most other climbers by

working heavily in the gym to build up the

muscle to tackle the toughest boulders

both at home and abroad. However, an

encounter with another climber, Charles

Albert, a couple of years ago transformed

his outlook on how he approaches every

climb. Go climbing, not to the gym!

"I knew this connection with the rock was

very important, but everyone goes to the

gym and trains, so I thought I had to do

it also," he recalled. "I started doing it

when I was young and the results were

never great. I'd never make that big step

forward. He was like, 'Dude, training is

s***. Just go on the rock and just try really

hard'. I lived with him for two months and I

tried it because I was curious."

His new-found philosophy has seen a

rapid progression in his career. He likes to

meditate to help prepare body and mind

and, even when not climbing, he enjoys

being at one with nature in the search for

his next potential conquest.

"I really love the energy of the forest,"

he said. "It gives me tremendous energy

being outside. The world is so perfect,

nature is perfect. I really see the beauty of

it and the chance to be able to be there. I

spend as much time there as possible."

"Out there in nature, I'm trying to figure

out the rock and what it offers – the close

connection to the rock," he said. "Others

only go to the gym and train, and have

much more power than me, but still

can't do the rocks as they don't feel that

connection... "

“Northern Rocks is an indoor

bouldering facility, we foster

community, growth and

positive experiences

for people of all

backgrounds, ages

and abilities.”

World Class Indoor Climbing

First visit $25* then free for a week!

Fantastic community, beginners

welcome, boulder classes for all ages

and abilities, inquire now.

* Discounts for youths and own gear

Student Mondays, entry $15

www.northernrocks.co.nz

@northernrocks.climbing

Unit 17, 101-111 Diana Drive,

Wairau Valley, Auckland | 09 278 2363