The popular Sunshine Coast climbing destination Coolum Cave had drawn a crowd of at least thirty people one humid day in January. Many people squinted upwards as they belayed a partner above, or stood chatting, recovering, or learning from others. But mostly, raw emotion and elation controlled the atmosphere in the area. The crowd stood with bated breath, watching Satoshi Ogawa on his final attempt of ‘Evil Wears No Pants’ (30) before his return to Japan. Not even a shoulder injury would prevent him from having a final go at his long-term project.
Satoshi’s climbing is mesmerizing; there’s simply no other word for it. His grace is effortless, but somehow conveys the skilled prowess of his ability.
The below sequence of photos shows Satoshi’s three attempts at this highly advanced route.
