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 October 7, 1984) is an amazing American rock climber. He became famous in 2015 when he and his climbing partner, Tommy Caldwell, made history. They were the first people to "free climb" a super tough route called The Dawn Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
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Kevin Jorgeson's Early Life and Climbing Journey
Kevin Jorgeson was born in 1984 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, a new indoor climbing gym opened in his city. His dad encouraged him to try climbing, and Kevin quickly fell in love with the sport. By the time he was 16, he was already competing in climbing contests around the world!
What is Free Climbing?
Kevin is known for his special climbing style called "free climbing." This means he uses only his hands and feet to move up the rock. Ropes and other gear are only there to catch him if he falls, not to help him climb.
He's also famous for "highball" climbing. This is when you climb very tall boulders without a rope. It's super challenging and takes a lot of courage!
School and Continued Passion
Kevin went to Maria Carrillo High School and graduated in 2003. He has even gone back to speak to students there many times. After high school, he studied civil engineering at the University of California Berkeley. But even with his studies, he never stopped following his passion for rock climbing.
Conquering The Dawn Wall
In 2015, Kevin Jorgeson and his climbing partner, Tommy Caldwell, achieved something incredible. They became the first people to "free climb" The Dawn Wall. This is a huge rock face on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
The Epic Climb
The climb took them 19 days, from December 28, 2014, to January 14, 2015. The Dawn Wall is about 3,000 feet tall, which is like climbing three Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other! It's known as one of the hardest big-wall climbs in the world.
Some parts of the climb were rated 5.14, which is extremely difficult in the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing routes.
Planning the Impossible
Tommy Caldwell had thought about free climbing The Dawn Wall for a long time. He even explored it after his documentary film Progression came out in 2009. Kevin saw the film and wrote to Tommy. Soon, they started planning and practicing for this amazing adventure together.
The Dawn Wall Documentary
Their incredible journey was captured in a documentary film called The Dawn Wall. It was released on September 19, 2018. The film was directed by Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer. It shows all the challenges and triumphs Kevin and Tommy faced during their historic climb.
Kevin's Other Ventures
Kevin Jorgeson is sponsored by big brands like Adidas and Five Ten. He also works on other exciting projects.
Session Climbing Facility
As of 2019, Kevin was working to open a new climbing gym called Session. It's located in Sonoma County, California. The construction for this project started in 2018.
1Climb Organization
Kevin is also a co-founder of an organization called 1Climb. This group focuses on introducing children to the sport of climbing. They help kids discover the joy and challenges of climbing.
Keynote Speaker
Besides climbing, Kevin Jorgeson also gives speeches at different events. He shares his experiences and inspires people at companies like The Gap, Samsung, and Alcon Laboratories.
See also
- History of rock climbing
- List of first ascents (sport climbing)
