Adam Ondra claims world’s first 9a+ flash at St. Léger

Just the other day Adam Ondra announced he was waiting for Saint-Léger du Ventoux in France to dry out so that he could concentrate on bigger projects, but no one could have imagined what lay in store: the flash of a 9a+ sport climb. Ondra achieved this on Super Crackinette, a route freed by Alexander Megos in 2016 after three days of work.

This is the first time in climbing history that a 9a+ has been climbed in this style, i.e. first go and knowing something about the climb, and even if details at present are missing, it’s clear that the 25-year-old Czech has raised the bar once again.

It’s worth remembering that in the past Ondra has onsighted the 9a’s Cabane au Canada at Rawyl in France (2013) and Il Domani at Baltzola in Spain (2014), as well as flashing the former 9a+ Southern Smoke Direct at Red River Gorge, USA (2012).

Super Crackinette 9a+ flash, St Leger, France. @montura_official @blackdiamond @mytendon @lasportivagram @gardatrentino Video still by @bernardo_gimenez @bigupclimbing

A post shared by Adam Ondra (@adam.ondra) on Feb 10, 2018 at 1:08pm PST