HBO's official trailer for the Here to Climb documentary profiles the rise of professional climber Sasha DiGiulian. This HBO Original Documentary from Red Bull Media House is a comprehensive look at the why, how, and motivational forces for DiGiulian as she faces obstacles in her ascent to conquer the top records in free soloing and ascent climbing success on her terms. She's focused, prepared, and seemingly fearless. Confronting physical and mental obstacles head-on, Sasha charts her course in a sport where a path didn't exist, enabling her passion to become a viable profession. She even ditched her senior prom to climb a wall.
This record-breaking female athlete continues to conquer summit after summit. With her female climbing icon Lynn Hill advising her, Sasha talks openly about her feelings of being an outsider in the climbing community. Sasha knew early on that climbing life and winning was her future. In the film, she says, "Watch me. I'll keep going." She was fortunate to have a mother and father who were aware of her natural talents and supported her, and today, she counts luminaries in the sport, like (Free Solo) Alex Honnold and Hill, as good friends and mentors.
The film is a thrilling portrait and a proper send-up to the few female climbers before her, like Hill, who suffered a lot of nonsense from men in the sport. Sasha is a millennial climber who uses the power of the image to her benefit—monetizing it and snagging huge sponsorships along the way. She's lit from within with a driving force. She is a self-described "not humble" climber. She likes luxe hotels and making money, which is part of the friction she endures as her ascent in the sport continues. Sasha also knows that her health and body have limits. She talks about her eating disorders, hip issues, and major surgeries with frankness and also takes a pragmatic look at her possible future.
You will see how Sasha succeeds in a sport usually dominated by men and does it with great style. The doc features appearances from Cedar Wright, Alex Honnold, Lynn Hill, Angela VanWiemeersch, and Vian Charbonneau; cinematographer Pablo Durana; plus Sasha's mother, Andrea DiGiulian, and Sasha's husband, Erik Osterholm.