A DAY IN THE LIFE: LUCAS VERISSIMO
PART THREE - CASA DE PEDRA
Lucas began rock climbing in 2017 immediately after watching Valley Uprising, the award-winning documentary on Yosemite Valley's countercultural lifestyle, shaped by generations of boundary-pushing, free-thinking rock climbers. There was no doubt in his mind that rock climbing would become part of his life too. Soon after, Lucas joined São Paulo's Casa de Pedra, one of Brazil's best-rated indoor-climbing venues, and began taking classes. With us is Photographer Fernando Mendes, to document the scene as the closing installment of this Day In The Life three-part series.
Beyond the mental and physical benefits of climbing, Lucas points to the aloneness of the practice, explaining that finding solitude is increasingly important to him. He also appreciates the simplicity of the sport's objective: Choose an endpoint and follow your pre-planned route to get there. It's as straightforward as it gets.
And then there' the gear. Lucas generally likes gear, but he really digs rock climbing gear.
Form defined by function. That's gear. Rock climbing gear is a very literal manifestation of this product development concept. A high-stakes, high endurance balancing game, often played in the harshest conditions and always against gravity, rock climbing requires equipment on which you must rely for survival. Climbing gear has to be 100% reliable. Forget form—just function.
It's rewarding to witness the OBRA LIGHT SUEDE MULE in the context of rock climbing where gear is all important. The mule is in its element here.
The style is meant as post-activity option, a recovery footwear alternative that doesn't look the part. It's fit for the purpose but fits any context. Sharp or chill, formal or casual. With socks and without socks. After a run and after a nap.
Far from the rocky heights, climbing equipment and other extreme condition gear are repurposed. Form regains importance, especially if it is unfamiliar. The object's original function is of interest for context but is of no particular use. Seduced by the gear's quality, built, colors or originality, we just want it. As with OBRA Mule, the excitement of making these unfamiliar objects our own, nothing more, could be argued to be purpose enough.
