Tales Of Inspiring Adventures At Film Festival

Tales Of Inspiring Adventures At The New Zealand Mountain Film Festival

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand, (May 2, 2008) – A line-up of passionate and dedicated world-wide adventurers will inspire and entertain audiences at this year’s New Zealand Mountain Film Festival in July.

Real life experiences of conquering the highest, traveling the furthest, the fastest to tales of outlandish adventures will be shared by international and Kiwi speakers during the five days of the festival.

Keynote speaker, Timmy O'Neill, is one of America's most outrageous climbers. He has been at the cutting-edge of the sport for over 15 years and set many impressive speed climbing records including from Yosemite to Patagonia. He is a world-class slackliner, renowned building solo climber, class 5+ kayaker and advanced mountain biker. O’Neill also partners with leading amputee and spinal injury athletes in ascension and technology development. His irreverent humour will entertain and engross the listeners.

Graham Dingle (NZ) is a well respected and accomplished mountaineer. He has achieved hundreds of mountaineering and rock climbing firsts throughout the world, including first ascents in the Andes, Himalaya, Antarctica and New Zealand, and the first traverse of the Southern Alps (100 days in winter). His attention is now focused on advancing the four successful charities he is founder and CEO for including The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre and The Foundation for Youth Development (formerly the Project K Trust). Add to his credentials artist, writer and humanitarian, Dingle has an enthralling life story to recount.

Chuck Berry is an active outdoor man addicted to exhilaration. He will share his tales of over 4000 skydives, 100 base jumps and being a member of the New Zealand parachute team gaining a fourth at the world championships. Berry is constantly looking for the next challenge to advance his personal boundaries and will make for riveting listening.
Alice Smith (NZ) and Dennis Behan (USA) walked 3000km from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island on trails, farmland and back roads during 2007. For five months they braved erratic weather, wayward animals, quirky locals, knee deep mud and more while experiencing the diversity of New Zealand's landscapes. The duo will describe the adventure they created and encountered, the struggle of living the outdoor dream and of making it a reality.
In 1988 Lydia Bradey (NZ) became the first woman to climb Mt Everest without supplementary oxygen and to date remains the only New Zealander to have done so. Bradey has been on a total of eight Himalayan expeditions and continues her adventures in the mountains with friends. Bradey will talk about her recent trip to Pakistan and attempts to climb Bela Brakkai Chhok 6940m, the first ascent of Wahine Shar, 5800m, and the cultural experience of traveling in Pakistan on a two women expedition.
Brian Alder (NZ) has just returned from an expedition to Changabang in the Indian Himalayas, a peak that continues to inspire mountaineers the world over. Summited less than a dozen times, the northern side has recorded just three successful attempts. As a member of the NZ team that attempted Changabang in 2002, Alder wanted to give it another try. He will talk about the expedition and his battle to reach the summit

Festival director Mark Sedon said he was delighted a diverse and talented group of adventurers will recount their stories for festival goers, “It is a great opportunity for armchair and budding adventurers to hear real life experiences and gain an insight in to the hardships and sense of achievement when the challenges and dreams are turned in to reality,” he said.

The speaker platforms are just one component of this year’s New Zealand Mountain Film Festival running 4th to 8th July. The festival also includes over 40 screenings of adventure lifestyle films, photographic exhibitions and a gear trade show. For more information on the programme of speakers and festival see www.mountainfilm.net.nz

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