It is a testiment to the wild characters that wander the streets of Llanberis, the sort of people that operate under the radar, and can still walk dowen the street in the height of the summer without anyone realising that they are perhaps in the world elite of there given sub-sport, be it climbing, aplinism, big walling, paragliding or kayaking. To a certain extent LLAMFF can give these guys an oppotunity to allow us mortals the chance to get an idea of just what floats their boat. Often far lessed polished than the ‘Keynote’ speakers of our times like The Emmett, Kirkpatrick or The Caveman, but its a unique look into what motivates them to live in the heart of the adventure community of North Wales.

To book tickets visit there website

So the Key seakers are:

Keith Partridge – Extreme Cameraman

Andy Turner – Pro Cyclist turned Pro Winter Climber. First Ground Up Ascent of The Hurting, and a regular face in the staff room of Plas Y Brenin

Ian Parnell – Adventure climber, and extreme winter sufferer, and now the editor of CLIMB magazine.

Paul Diffley – Climbing film maker and man behind “Hot Aches Productions” talks abotu the challenges and tales of filming the climbing elite.

Olly Sanders – A total legend, this man has be there and done a lot more than most people would expect. From remote and unsupported sea kayaking/Mountaineering expeditions to the wilds of the greenland coast. To even being nominate for teh Pioloet D’or. This is a talk you should go and see if you really want to know what it is to be totally understated and totally hardcore. RECOMMENDED

Alan Hinkes – Famous for failing on the 14 peaks after a chapati incident.

Al Hughes – Local and possible one of the UK’s first modern filmmaker, he goes back to when beta-max was cool. Responsible for iconic films like stone monkey, gogarth and erm…..?

James Bingham – Is an ex-local who currently drives a desk in London, he recounts being pulled up Everest and other peaks, before heading into The ‘Stan for a first British Ascent. Probably a few AK 47 in this talk?!

Marmot Sponsored Event – the Slackers guide to climbing, by two of the least slack people in the climbing world Steve McClure and Lucy Creamer. Lots of logos and big grades!

Anni Hogan and Cathy O’Dowd – Sounds like the arty piece of the festival, with live soundscape set to a film of everest. Potentially unique!

The Twid and Stu Show – An Epic Big Wall in Baffin. In has been said that anyone planning a new route on remote big wall/apine face, describe there proposed line in grant meetings as being to the left or teh right of one of Twid’s Routes. I have also heard the Welsh Sports Council grant been called Twid’s Holiday fund. The fact is these guys went out there and destroyed the wall, unless Twid learns to write this will be totally unique, as I haven’t heard of a book deal on the horizon. RECOMMENDED

Tarka and Katie – Walk the Great Wall of China. Katie used to be a model, so I expected some men will be present!

Calum Muskett – Keen Youth from Llanberis who is rather handy, and has had a few story to tell. Probably about sandbagging people twice his age!

Snowdonia 2050 – a doomsday speech about the environment, where it could all go down the pan. Potentially alarming.

Climber Clubs Guidebooks – Past, Present and Future – Bound to be a laugh a minute, don’t forget the pins to stick in your eyes. One for the annoracks amongt us, and I know there are a few!

Zac Laraman – Moutnaineering and Climbing Injury – treatment and avoidance – I am sure there will be a queue out the door to get free advice from the local shamen.

Martin Chester – Director of Training at Plas Y Brenin, UIAGM and avid ski mountaineer. Expect fresh tracks and talk of powder, and not to mention some out there adventures in remote parts of the world.

Mike Raine – The Nature of Snowdonia – Mike talks about his book and the great nature of snowdonia. If you don’t catch him buy the book.

Lukas wacha(sic) – An extreme photographer whose name is too hard to spell without cutting and pasting, but he has worked with some of the best, including Andy Turner. He talks about the challenge and rewards of profressional photography.

Arwel Philip – A local who paddled round Wales.

George Smith – Local funny man, takes a side view of climbing and the idiosyncratic behaviour we all are guilty of!

Jocky Sanderson – A paraglider of serious note. One to watch if you are bored of all the talk of snow, ice, rock and near death falls. Although I suspect there are some rather exciting times, as he has made some how to… HD videos for paragliders. Where are the out takes?

Mark Reeves – Some total chump will bore the audience to death on rock climbing across the americas. Although he has a tendency not to focus on the climbing. The phrase, “watch you toes” will never seem the same again.

I made me think how long it will be until the younger generations forget the VHS/Video media, and it gets left to the annuals of history along with Betamax, tea strainers and C90 compilation tapes. Trying to make some of the younger groups I work with believe that there was a pre-internet, pre-mobile phone, pre-computer age is hard enough. Anyway in the distant times before we had electricity and desktop editing, Total Control was THE climbing video of it’s generation. Staring the late great Jimmy Jewel, who made a name for himself soloing many routes that still cause a degree on difficulty by today’s standards.

In the original edit, rather than the more modern ‘director’s cut’ which is apparently ruined by a Jim Perrin voice over, rather than the original John Cousin commentary. Jimmy Solo’s a selection of north wales classic route that are very aspirational, the fact I have managed to climb all the routes often several times, and still can’t see how Jimmy stays so cool throughout each ascent, says a lot about the man mountain. Sadly jimmy life was taken when a slip whilst down climbing an easy route, but that is the wager you put down every time you solo.

Anyway the film is a classic, a must see, I believe that Alan Hughes has put a compilation DVD with Total Control on it. Now before all the young climbers complain about the sound track, bear in mind that it was recorded in one take, at the local ‘silent cinema’, where the organ player saw the film once and then played whilst they watched, like back in the good olde days. If you’d like to buy the directors cut on 80′s Birth of Extreme at V12 outdoors