On Wednesday, February 18th, 2015, the Rio Theatre in Vancouver will play host to local Squaminard Jim Martinello as he shares his stories about adventure around the Sea to Sky Corridor and his multi-sport adventure in Northern Canada. Jim has long been a developer in the Sea to Sky corridor, sharpening his teeth on the Pemberton’s Suicide Bluffs and boulder fields. He is well know for his adventurous nature and continues to explore the Sea to Sky corridor on a regular basis. Squamish Climbing thought it best to check in with Jim and see what he is going to be chatting about at VIMFF a week from today. Here is what he had to say.
Hi Jim. Thanks for talking to us. How are things?
Things have been going great, sunny day’s in Squamish are hard to beat. Been spending the last few weeks S.U.P paddling, climbing, new routing and shooting out on the Howe Sound it has been truly magical out there to say the least. Why complain about the skiing snow,blah,blah, change it up and get after it in other way’s, so much adventure and beauty out there to be amongst, change the negative to a positive.
You are presenting on Wednesday the 18th at VIMFF. What will you be sharing and talking about on that night?
The night is going to be a real mix batch of adventure’s and questing. The start of the evening is going to feature our R.A.W(rock,air,water) series from the Yukon and N.W.T. It is one of the most epic journey’s and diverse trips I’ve ever been on and I’m so stoked to share it and to talk about some of the wild moments from the multi sport adventure from the S.U.P river paddling, to climbing and flying on the Vampire spire to the mystical Cirque of the Unclimbables. I will also be doing a slide show on skiing, climbing ice and mix, wingsuit flying, S.U.P adventures, mountain biking and more, a whole bunch of photography from the last 15 years of expeditions.
How did you end up getting behind the lens for these adventures?
When I got out of high school I started traveling every 6 months for 6 months of the year. My first trip was Asia to Nepal and Thailand and I had no camera, friends were awesome enough to send me images that I met along the way. That summer, I got back and my parents bought me one and I took it on my next trip and came back with some great images. My first time sending in images and putting them out there I got published right away and sold tonnes within the first 6 months of getting them out there, after that it just started taken off. I love photography and being out shooting with my friends and family and capturing and sharing all the incredible and beautiful places around the world.
Martinello behind the lens while Steve Townsend battles for evermore. Photo courtesy of Jim Martinello ©
You have long been a local in the sea to sky corridor. Did you grow up here or when did you come out here and set up shop?
My family moved to Whistler 25 years ago from the prairie lands of Manitoba. So I must say once I arrived in B.C I was really stoked. The first few years I got my ass kicked trying to learn and keep up with all the local crew that I went to school with and good friends from Whistler, it was humbling to put it in words. Thanks for the amazing friends and family showed me the way.
Did all the kids in Whistler rip it up at a young age?
The crew of Whistler kids sure do rip it up, what a fun and adventurest place to grow up, so much fun and adventure to be had. The Sea to Sky corridor is full of amazing kids and great athelets, awsome, blessed to be here.
What is it about the sea to sky corridor that keeps you so creative in your adventures?
The Sea to Sky corridor is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, so blessed to be here, my family and I love it. It is endless the adventures to be had and fun times and the crew and people that live here are so awsome, what a circle of incredible athletes and spirit that share from Pemby to Vancouver. Being creative love it and our playground gets it so alive.
I have to ask about a few of your recent adventures. So what is the deal with this paddle board development?
S.U.P paddeling is off the charts its one of the funniest and most peaceful things going. It is a blast on the river and very challenging, test all the skills. I love that you can go solo and take it everywhere. My family and kiddies love it, we spend tones of time at the lake playing and jumping off them and cruising round. We have been exploring the sea cliffs around the Howe sound for years now and it is my favorite place to go climbing, ocean,sun and freaking awsome granite, so good, endless exploring.
Howe Sound climbing right out of the water. Undisclosed location. Photo Courtesy of Jim Martinello ©
Can you tell us a little about your route ‘Newlife’?
‘Newlife’ was a great quest. My good buddy Trevor Mcdonald and I put it up. It was so much fun, tones of stoke when we spotted that line. Trevor and I love to explore and have had a blast finding new ground and are always keen for a great adventure. Trevor is my brother from another mother, we love to get after it and stir it up, shanagins all the way. Newlife was full of it and there is more to come, we have another couple routes beside we are working on, that hopefully be ready to go by the end of this summer, the chief kicks ass.
You have developed a number of routes and boulders over the year. What was the first area you developed and how did that shape how you develop now?
The pemby boulders and Nairn fall routes are where alot of the new routing began. It was a blast, Trevy Mcdonald, Kelly Dyler and a fleet of other good friends, we had so much fun cleaning and sending so many cool and challenging problems and routes. Those day’s were magic, oh to be that strong again, haha. If you want to try some really sweet routes Trevor Mcdonalds “Into the Mystic” and the other route I put up “Natural Mytic” at Nairnfalls are 5 star and the surrounding couldn’t be better, wild spot.
Climbing near Nairn Falls in Pemberton, BC. Photo Courtesy of Jim Martinello ©
Are there any memorable moments when you were developing a route or bouldering area where you just felt on top of the world?
New routing now has been out on the Howe Sound, granite goodtimes, routes right out of the water, climbing in a t-shirt in Janaurary got to love it.
You now are a father of two. How has climbing and adventure changed (and stayed the same) through the growth of your family?
Family life! I love it and my kids and family are everything to me. Adventure when you have a family gets a little tricker for sure, time management and a very supportive and amazing wife, that I love dearly can make it all work. We support each 100% toward creativity and doing the things we love, it makes us stronger as a family because we always have new and exciting things to share. Hanging with my kid is a blast, they are the best teachers, being in the moment and have fun…..
Where do you guys call home now?
Home is Squamish and my family loves it, we love all the great friends we have and all the beauty that surrounds us. We are gratefull for our home and the people and nature that surronds us, awsome, awsome, big thanks to all……..
Thanks so much Jim! We are all psyched for the show Wednesday night and can’t wait to see some of those How Sound routes up close! For those who are interested in Jim’s photography, please click here.
Jim in Waddington. Photo courtesy of Chris Christie.
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For the full 2015 VIMFF schedule, please click here.
