Kevin Jorgeson facts for kids
Jorgeson at the 2015 Toyota/Save Mart 350
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Jörg, K. J. |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | October 7, 1984 Santa Rosa, California |
| Education | Maria Carrillo High School, University of California Berkeley |
| Occupation | Rock climber |
| Climbing career | |
| Type of climber |
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| Known for | Free climbing The Dawn Wall |
Kevin Jorgeson, born on October 7, 1984, is a famous American rock climber. He is best known for an amazing achievement in 2015. With his climbing partner Tommy Caldwell, he completed the first-ever free climb of The Dawn Wall. This incredible climb is on the huge rock face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
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About Kevin Jorgeson
Kevin Jorgeson was born to Eric and Gaelena Jorgeson. His dad worked for the Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation Department. He helped Kevin and his younger brother Matt love being outdoors. When Kevin was 11, an indoor climbing gym opened in their city. His dad encouraged him to try climbing, and Kevin quickly fell in love with it.
Early Climbing Days
By the time he was 16, Kevin was already competing in climbing contests around the world. He became known for his special climbing style called free climbing. This means he uses only his hands and feet to climb. He only uses ropes and gear to catch him if he falls, not to help him move up. Kevin is also famous for "highballing" big boulders. This is when climbers tackle very tall boulders without ropes, making the climb extra challenging and exciting.
Kevin graduated from Maria Carrillo High School in 2003. He has even gone back to his old school to share his climbing stories. After high school, he studied civil engineering at the University of California Berkeley. But he never stopped following his passion for rock climbing.
The Dawn Wall Climb
Kevin Jorgeson and his climbing partner, Tommy Caldwell, made history together. They were the first two climbers to successfully free climb The Dawn Wall. This part of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park is about 3,000 feet tall! They completed this amazing climb between December 28, 2014, and January 14, 2015.
Why The Dawn Wall is Special
The Dawn Wall is one of the hardest big-wall climbs in the world. It has many sections, called "pitches," that are rated 5.14 in the Yosemite Decimal System. This rating means they are extremely difficult. Tommy Caldwell had thought about free climbing The Dawn Wall for a long time. He had already free climbed other, easier routes on El Capitan. After seeing a documentary film called Progression in 2009, Kevin wrote to Tommy. Soon after, they began to plan and practice for their epic climb.
The Dawn Wall Documentary
A documentary film called The Dawn Wall was released on September 19, 2018. This movie follows Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell on their incredible free climb. Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer directed the film. It shows all the challenges and triumphs they faced.
Beyond Climbing
Kevin Jorgeson is sponsored by well-known brands like Adidas and Five Ten.
In 2018, Kevin started working on a new climbing gym project called Session. This facility is located in Sonoma County, California. It has likely opened by now, offering a new space for climbers.
He is also a co-founder of 1Climb. This organization helps introduce children to the sport of climbing. Kevin also gives speeches at different events. He has spoken for companies like The Gap, Samsung, and Alcon Laboratories.
See also
- History of rock climbing
- List of first ascents (sport climbing)
