New Speed Record For El Capitan
Japanese-American team eclipses the Huber brothers' 2007 record for The Nose.
Posted: 7 July 2008
by Jon
Californian Hans Florine and Japanese Yuji Hirayama have set a
new record for climbing the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite
beating the Huber brothers' mark, set last year, by two minutes and
12 seconds.
The pair posted the new time of two hours and 43 minutes and 33
seconds last Wednesday, 2 July, on their third attempt of the week.
According to reports,
the Japanese-American duo were some ten minutes ahead of schedule at
the halfway mark of the 2,900-foot climb, but tiredness and a snagged
rope slowed their progress on the upper part of the route.
To get an idea of what it's all about, take a look at this scary trailer
for the Hubers' film of their record ascent, To The Limit...
It was a personal triumph for Florine and Hirayama who held the
record prior to the Huber's ascent last year, even though the pair
apparently view their latest effort as 'a temporary record' with
Hirayama, confident he can go even faster.
"It's my back yard, darn it. I think we should own the route," the
Modesto Bee reports Florine saying after the climb.
More details at www.sfgate.com,
www.modbee.com
and www.speedclimb.com.
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