Even after falling nearly 200 feet in the Roger鈥檚 Pass, Adam Campbell still has a love for mountains.
The former Canadian national triathlon and duathlon athlete will be a keynote speaker at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival鈥檚 鈥淏est of the Fest鈥� world tour, scheduled for 91大黄鸭 Saturday, Oct. 20 at the 91大黄鸭 Community Theatre.
The fall, after Campbell attempted grab a loose rock, left him with four broken vertebrae and a crushed iliac crest.
Now full of titanium, his film In Constant Motion will be played during the festival. Campbell will share his story of the lessons he鈥檚 learned since the accident two years ago and his recovery process as part of his overarching theme to overcome adversity.
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In Constant Motion was the winner of Best Mountain Sports Film at the festival.
鈥淪ince (the fall) I鈥檝e been an advocate for safety in the mountains,鈥� he said.
Campbell remains an active climber, runner and skier. Living in Canmore, he鈥檚 surrounded by the mountains.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an aesthetic beauty to them, but they鈥檙e also very raw, they create a challenge,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a certain amount of danger to them.鈥�
Mountains can hurt the most skilled and they can hurt beginners, he said. But they also give rewarding experiences such as hiking with family and friends. So he鈥檚 learned to slow down and appreciate the small things since his accident.
The 39-year-old鈥檚 philosophy now is to have a general appreciation of being alive.
鈥淥ne is overcoming adversity but also a perspective shift from having (a) dramatic trauma,鈥� Campbell said.
鈥淪ince then I鈥檝e been an advocate for safety in the mountains,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was very high performance minded, it was a little bit of a selfish endeavour鈥� you鈥檙e trying to beat goals, beat times.鈥�
There鈥檚 beauty to the mountains, he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e surrounded by mountains, there鈥檚 an enticing beauty to them but they鈥檙e also just very raw, you really have to be in tune with them, they provide the challenge, you don鈥檛 have to create an artificial challenge with them鈥�. there鈥檚 a certain amount of danger to them and I respect that,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淭hey hurt the best and they hurt beginners.鈥�
Campbell鈥檚 also always had a competitive drive, competing in virtually every sport as a child while growing up in West Africa.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have TV or anything so I grew up for surfing and sailing and playing in the ocean,鈥� he said.
From a young age, he excelled at endurance sports and enjoyed running laps as a warm-up for soccer practice.
鈥淓arly recognition and success and drew me towards it,鈥� Campbell said.
He said the most interesting stories aren鈥檛 necessarily about high performing athletes doing 鈥渞ad鈥� things, it鈥檚 about finding inspiring stories about people challenging themselves no matter what.
Tickets are available at most outdoor stores around town or at the door.
The presentation starts at 7 p.m. and will also feature a performance by Canadian musician Noah Derksen.
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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