Sell-Out Crowd Expected for Climbing Film Tour at CWU

October 15, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- For the past decade, Chris Sharma has dominated the sport of rock climbing and quickly become known to many as the strongest and most famous rock climber in the world. At 26 years old, the Santa Cruz, Calif., native looks to be just hitting his stride. Local climbing enthusiasts and outdoor adventure fans can get an up-close account of all the action when the 2007 Reel Rock Film Tour brings its highly acclaimed film "King Lines: Chris Sharma's Search for the Planet's Greatest Climbs" to Central Washington University Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. Tickets are just $5 for general admission, $2 for CWU students with Central ID, and are available at the Student Union Box Office or by calling 509-963-1301.

"Central is one of only a few stops for 'King Lines' in Washington," says Ryan Hopkins, event organizer and coordinator of CWU Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals (OPR), who expects a sell-out crowd. "Last year's Reel Rock Film Tour was very well received and it looks like this year's will be even more exciting. This is a great opportunity to see an amazing film, not just for climbers, but for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and appreciates fantastic cinematography."

"King Lines" documents Sharma's quest to find and climb the planet's most difficult, beautiful and improbable routes. In 2006, he made his most spectacular climb yet: a 60-foot tall rock arch rising from the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Mallorca, Spain. Climbing without a rope, Sharma took over 100 falls into the water from heights of up to 50 feet before succeeding on Es Pontas. This first ascent of Es Pontas was aired as an episode of NBC's "Jeep World Of Adventure Sports," winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography. The film crew also followed Sharma to the remote jungle plateaus of Venezuela, the pristine walls of the American Southwest, and the limestone labyrinths of Europe.

For more information about the Reel Rock Film Tour, visit www.reelrocktour.com. For more information about Central's Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals and climbing wall, visit www.cwu.edu/~rec. To make arrangements for disability accommodations, please call University Recreation at 509-963-3510 or (for hearing impaired) TDD 509-963-2143.

Contact:Ryan Hopkins, CWU Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals hopkinry@cwu.edu, 509-963-3536
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, olint@cwu.edu, 509-963-1416.

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state.