Enzo Oddo repeats Ambrosia and other Bishop ascents

A quick update from the Buttermilks in Bishop, USA, which seem to be are all the rage at the moment with a handful of extremely strong international climbers visiting the area. The big news today is that French youngster Enzo Oddo has repeated Ambrosia, at V11 not the hardest problem in Bishop, but certainly one of the highest.

The 15-year-old checked out the Kevin Jorgeson's 2009 problem on the Grandpa Peabody on a toprope prior to the ascent, then sent it in windy conditions proving that he's not just an ace on long stamina routes such as Realization at Ceuse and Just do It! at Smith Rocks, but also on problems where nerves of steel are required. Previous repeats include Alex Honnold and Isaac Caldiero.

Fingers of steel and raw power are required for The Mandala, Chris Sharma's problem sent at the start of the new millennium and certainly the most famous in Bishop. American climber Alex Johnson is certainly no slouch and she sent the classic V12 testpiece on January 28 and then went on to repeat another beauty, Haroun and the Sea of Stories (V11/12). Both problems had previously been repeated by fellow American Lisa Rands and Johnson is now hoping to take things one stage futher still.

Other international bouldering stars in the area include Kilian Fischhuber and Anna Stöhr from Austria, as well as Nalle Hukkataival from Finnland. A few days ago Fischhuber and Hukkataival paid homage to The Mandala and Hukkataival also made extremely swift work of The Swarm (V13/14). All these climbers plan to spend considerable time in the area, weather conditions permitting. At present it's snowing...

Enzo Oddo Sends Ambrosia V11