Bernd Zangerl: Into the Sun

“While pulling hard on a difficult project in Cresciano, Switzerland, I slipped off the holds and a split second later I landed on my crashpad,”

“There was only little pain in my neck, which I didn’t give much attention to, and I went back home… After an MRI, the doctors explained to me that I was very lucky, but I’d badly injured the 5th and 6th vertebra in my neck. When I woke up a few days later, I couldn’t feel my thumb and index finger anymore. A funky feeling. A few hours later my muscles on my back (terres major and serratus anterior) started vibrating.”

The above is a quote from a conversation with professional boulderer Bernd Zangerl. His accident occurred almost two years ago, but it was only this week that he released a short film detailing his return to climbing. 

489 days after the fall which nearly ended his climbing career, Zangerl climbed a new route called Into The Sun (5.14c), a stout highball bouldering and trad climbing. 

Give it a watch below: