Kostas Grafanakis - COACH
Kostas Grafanakis: The Greek Coach Who Brings Mind-Body Balance to Climbing
Based in Leonidio, Kostas Grafanakis blends science, experience, and mindfulness in a workshop that redefines modern climbing, at the Kalymnos Climbing Festival.
Kostas Grafanakis, one of Greece’s leading climbing coaches and athletes, joins this year’s Kalymnos Climbing Festival to lead a workshop that explores the physical, technical, and mental dimensions of climbing.
Born in Crete in 1987, Kostas discovered climbing at the age of 16 and has since dedicated his life to the sport. A graduate in Sport Science, he holds certifications from the Greek General Secretariat of Sports and Austria’s Tiroler Bergsportführer Verband, combining scientific training with real-world experience.
Having worked with top Greek athletes and climbers of all ages, Kostas promotes a holistic coaching philosophy that balances body, technique, and mind. His studies in yoga in India allow him to integrate mindfulness and awareness into athletic performance.
At the Kalymnos Climbing Festival, Kostas will share his unique approach to climbing — one that transcends physical limits and connects the sport with mindfulness, community, and growth. His presence reflects the spirit of the festival: learning, sharing, and celebrating climbing together, on one of the world’s most iconic islands.
Manthos Valsamidis
Manthos Valsamidis: The Doctor Who Lives for Adventure
National Climbing Team athlete and medical doctor, Manthos Valsamidis joins the Kalymnos Climbing Festival 2025, blending science, mountains, and pure passion for life outdoors.
Manthos Valsamidis is not your typical athlete. A member of the Greek National Climbing Team, a medical doctor, and an outdoor enthusiast, he bridges two worlds… medicine and the mountains with a shared spirit of curiosity and resilience.
With over 14 years of climbing experience, Manthos has competed at top national and international levels while staying true to his love for nature and movement. From trail running and swimming to acrobatics, cliff diving, and mountain biking, he finds freedom and balance in every challenge.
As an Anesthesiology Resident currently pursuing an MSc in Emergency Surgery and Trauma, his long-term vision is to combine medicine and mountaineering as an air rescue specialist. Pushing the limits of both body and mind.
Beyond the mountain walls, Manthos is a dedicated content creator and storyteller, sharing his adventures and mindset on YouTube and social media with a growing community that finds inspiration in his passion and discipline.
During the Kalymnos Climbing Festival 2025, Manthos will host an audiovisual presentation on Saturday, October 18th, at Elena Village Hotel, where he will share his story, experiences from both medicine and mountains, and his philosophy of living each day as a new adventure.
Silvo Karo
Silvo Karo: The Legend of Alpinism Comes to Kalymnos
The Piolet d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award winner joins the Kalymnos Climbing Festival to share his story and inspire a new generation of climbers.
The Kalymnos Climbing Festival is honored to welcome a true legend of world alpinism — Silvo Karo.
Born in Slovenia in 1960, Silvo is one of the most influential figures in the history of mountaineering. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has climbed over 2,000 routes and completed more than 300 first ascents on some of the planet’s most iconic mountains — from Patagonia and the Alps to the Himalayas.
A leading member of Slovenia’s “rock ’n’ roll generation” of climbers, alongside Janez Jeglič and Franček Knez, Karo helped define a new golden era of alpinism. His bold ascents of the Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Torre Egger, and Bhagirathi walls became milestones in climbing history. Embracing the “Light and Fast” philosophy, he combined efficiency, courage, and creativity — transforming the way mountaineers approached the world’s great walls.
In 2022, he was awarded the Piolet d’Or for Lifetime Achievement, the highest honor in global mountaineering.
This year, Silvo Karo joins the Kalymnos Climbing Festival, bringing with him decades of experience, adventure, and stories from a life spent on the edge of the vertical world. His presence celebrates not only the spirit of climbing, but also the essence of exploration, community, and connection that the Kalymnos Festival stands for.
A true master of the mountains — inspiring generations to climb higher, lighter, and freer.
For more about Silvo Karo’s projects, expeditions, and philosophy, visit his official website: www.silvokaro.com
Don’t miss the chance to follow all the updates and program details of the Kalymnos Climbing Festival 2025:www.kalymnosclimbingfestival.gr
Silvia Loreggian
Silvia Loreggian: The Italian Alpine Guide Conquering the World’s Greatest Walls
From the Dolomites to El Capitan and now to Kalymnos — Silvia Loreggian brings her mountain passion and spirit of adventure to the Kalymnos Climbing Festival.
The Kalymnos Climbing Festival is thrilled to welcome Silvia Loreggian, one of Europe’s most inspiring and accomplished alpinists.
Born in Padua, Italy in 1990, Silvia grew up in a family passionate about the mountains, discovering the outdoors from her earliest years. After earning a degree in Geography and Tourism, she soon realized that her true path lay beyond enclosed spaces — in climbing, skiing, and the vast alpine landscapes she now calls home.
Her first expedition to Patagonia marked the beginning of a life dedicated to vertical adventures. Today, as a certified UIAGM Alpine Guide (2023), she divides her time between guiding across the Alps and exploring new routes in remote corners of the world.
Her participation in the Kalymnos Climbing Festival feels like a natural fit — a meeting point for climbers from around the globe who share her passion for mountains, exploration, and human connection. On Kalymnos, Silvia will share her experience, her spirit, and her love for the walls that unite people beyond borders.
Alex "AJ" Johnson
Alex Johnson is a professional climber representing Evolv at the Kalymnos Climbing Festival and the head coach at Vertical Endeavors climbing gym in Minneapolis, MN. She’s been climbing for twenty years, has two Bouldering World Cup gold medals, has been a National Champion in all three disciplines; Bouldering, Sport, and Speed, and spent sixteen years on the US Climbing Team. Along with a decorated competitive career, Alex has put up first ascents around the Southwest, and claimed dozens of first female ascents on climbs ranging from V10 to V13.
Klemen Becan
At age 7 Klemen tried to climb for the first time and since then all he wanted to do was to climb. Soon he joined the competition group and started to train more seriously and with age 14 he started with international competitions on the Slovenian Youth team. He had many good results and at age 15 he became world youth champion. In the big competitions it was a little harder as he had to fight from the back of the rankings. Finally, in the year 2008 he finally got to the top of the podium on World cup competition in Kranj, Slovenia. In bouldering World Cups, he got two second places in year 2009.
More important for him than competitions was always rock climbing outside. He spends as much time as possible in nature. On sight is his favorite thing and in 2004 he did his 1st 8b+ on sight. Many other hard routes followed, with the hardest one being Siempre se Puede Hacer Menos, where he did on sight first ascent graded first 8c+ and later downgraded to “only” 8c after finding an easier way out at the top. Klemen doesn’t like to spend much time working the routes, but he still managed to do some 9a’s with the hardest one being Water World in Osp, where he had to approach with the kayak or later on Tyrolean traverse. At the moment he’s putting a lot of energy into bolting new routes all over the world and of course climbing them after.
Peter Croft
Canadian living in California and loves to climb big routes!
First one day ascent of El Capitan and Half Dome in 1986
First solo of Astroman and the Rostrum in 1987
First ascent (on sight) of the Shadow (5.13) in Squamish 1988
First free ascent of the Moonlight Buttress in Zion 1992
First one day ascent of the Nose and Salathe routes in 1992
First ascent of the Evolution Traverse in high Sierra 1999
First ascent of Airstream (5.13) on the Incredible Hulk, High 2004
Living in Bishop California with wife Karine
