Following are some short videos I've made. Some are Quicktime, some are Windows Media. Rest assured that all future videos will be Quicktime movies.

Click the images to play the videos.

First Crossing: Slacklining at Chandler Park

Video Details: Shot on Sony DCR TRV-17, edited with FCP 4.0. Saved as a Quicktime movie (.mov). File size: 688.1 MB, Duration: 7:48 This is a big file and takes a while to download - use a fast connection to view.

Credits: Directing, Camera, Editing by Aaron Gibson. Nic, Chris McRaven and I set the slackline rig, Nic walked the line. Also in the video are the Goett brothers, Andrew and Edward. Thanks to everyone who helped. Music by Phantom Planet, Flaming Lips, Radiohead (please don't sue me).

Notes: Nic made the first crossing of a highline (slackline) at Chandler Park on Saturday, May 15th. We got lots of pictures and I was lucky enough to have my video camera out and ready! It was an awesome achievement by Nic. It was a very spur-of-the-moment idea. We pulled some gear together and came up with a sure-fire rig that could hold a fall. We used the front of Nic's truck for one side of the anchor and a couple of sturdy trees for the other side. Nic used his Slackline Brothers rig to set the line tight and he doubled-up on the webbing. He put on a harness and tied in using a section of rope (you'll notice him cutting off a section of rope in the video - this was his leash). The line was somewhere around 30 feet in length and even in height from edge to edge. The line went from the Upper Chandler parking lot to the top of Troop Wall. We had a decent sized crowd on-hand and some really awful kareoke music in the background. After several masterful crossings, Nic decides to take it to the next level and try some aerial manueveurs - that's when he gets some air-time! But all's well that ends well and with the first highline at Chandler walked and some lessons learned, this is surely the beginning of a new era.

Elkhorn Special: A First Ascent

Video Details: Shot on Sony DCR TRV-17, edited with Adobe Premiere 6.0. Saved as a Windows Media File.

Credits: Russell Hooper - climber, Tony Wilson - belayer, Directing, Camera, Editing by Aaron Gibson. Music by Paul Oakenfold.

Notes: 12/8/03 -On an unusually warm November day in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma, Russell Hooper made the first ascent of a project he first attempted 10 years ago. The Elkhorn Special, located in the Charons Gardens Wilderness area, has had few attempts since it was first established by Tony Wilson in the early 90s. A 35-45 minute cross-country hike over rugged terrain brings you to the top of a hill and the striking yellow-lichen covered wall that is Big Whiskey Peak. The Elkhorn Special climbs the left side of the wall directly to the shoulder of the formation. From the beginning, Elkhorn is relentless - with a heel-hook start on overhanging rock to a small slopey edge. By the second bolt you are pumped, but it is here that the real climbing begins; clinching "the razor" hold with your right, a long reach is made to the first hold in a series of granite slopers.  
Elkhorn embodies everything that a hard Wichitas climb is: thin, sharp, overly technical, sequential, and intimidating. The 5.12d rating may sound "moderate" in the age of 5.14 climbing but anyone who climbs in the Wichitas with regularity knows exactly how hard such a climb can be - then again, maybe you don't. So here's a chance to see a great climber on a great route. Russell's ascent is encouragement to never give up on those projects. Enjoy.

Russell on Chinaman's Chance at The Quarry

Video Details: Shot on Sony DCR TRV-17 and edited with Adobe Premiere 6.0. Saved as a Windows Media File. Duration: 7:08, File size: 13.6MB

Credits: Russell Hooper- climber, Clayton Burgess- belayer, Camera, Rigging, Editing by Aaron Gibson. Music : Dark Machine by Paul Oakenfold from Swordfish soundtrack.

Notes: 1/19/03: Climbers are always asking me about The Quarry. So I thought I'd post a video that depicts a classic Quarry line: Chinaman's Chance (5.12b). It's like no other route you've ever seen. The start is as smooth as a well-polished tombstone, it requires sticky shoes, strong fingers, and artistic technique. The first half of the route is by far the hardest section. Paddle your feet, crimp on nothing-edges and reach with desperation and you'll find yourself at the only the second clip. The rest of the route has holds - but it gets steeper. Combine this with clipping 1/4" rusted bolts and you get the real Quarry experience. It's always fun climbing with Russell Hooper because he makes anything look possible. In this video he shows us how Chainman's Chance is done. Thanks Russ. 

Nic's Day

Video Details: Shot on Sony DCR TRV-17 and edited using Adobe Premiere 6.0. Saved as a Quicktime file. File size: 5.21MB Duration: 2:46

Credits: Nic Heidinger-climber, Jeff, Adam -spotters. Camera, Editing-Aaron Gibson. Music by the Chemical Brothers.

Notes: Nic's Day, is some of the first footage I shot with my DV camera and my first effort at editing using Adobe Premiere 6.0. The music, as you might recognize, is too good to be my own. See if you can figure out who it is. I know, I know...the music is supposed to be licensed and all that, but this video isn't going up for sale or anything...it's just for fun. As Nic's Day shows, some days are better than others. On this day, Nic was attempting a V9 named Reef Direct. It's a tough eliminate problem on the backside of Troop Wall at Chandler Park. He must have given this problem 30 or more attempts...it was amazing! He was very determined to get it...and he eventually did get it, but not on this particular day. Adam and Jeff are the two spotters urging him on. I like this video because it is representative of many days spent bouldering. Unlike many climbing videos where a climber is portrayed as sending a problem on the first try as if they already have it wired, this video shows the reality for most of us attempting a hard problem.

This is still one of my favorite videos even though it was a first for me. I'd like tore-edit it using FCP 4.0

Wing's of Steel - Chandler Park Bouldering

Video Details: Shot on Sony DCR TRV-17 and edited using Adobe Premiere 6.0. File size: 4.80MB. Duration: 2:33 Saved as a Quicktime file.

Credits: Adam Gibson, Chris McRaven - climbers, Camera, Editing - Aaron Gibson. Music by Aaron Gibson.

Notes: Wings of Steel is a classic boulder problem on the East end of Chandler Park. The climb is just right of an arete (which is considered off). Thin pockets and tricky footwork lead to a final crux up high just before you get to the top. Adam started off by climbing up the back of the wall and leaning over to brush each of the top holds; nothing like reaching into a dirt-filled pocket when you're 15 feet up. Once the holds were cleaned, they set to work locating holds and figuring out the sequence. A few tries later, Adam gets it. Watch this video and it will make you want to try the line!

Springdale Bouldering - Springdale, Arkansas

Video Details: Shot in 16:9 on Sony DCR TRV-17 and edited with Adobe Premiere 6.0 using various filters and effects. File Size: 5.56 MB. Duration: 3:27. Saved as a poorly compressed Quicktime file.

Credits: Adam Gibson - climber, Aaron Gibson-spotter/camera/editor. Music by Aaron Gibson.

Notes: This video is entitled Springdale Bouldering. It features my youngest brother Adam climbing in Springdale, Arkansas. Watching this video again I realized there are definently some things I would change. There are some good angles on the shots though. The music on this video is my own creation, too - which is a little weak. For all practical purposes - this was an early video but I will let it live as is. By the way, you can no longer climb at Springdale - the area is closed!