Amazing: Adam Ondra Repeats Possible 9a route ‘Il Piccolo Orsa’ In Austria
Posted by Jason A. Hendricks on August 20, 2008 |
15-year-old climbing sensation Adam Ondra has repeated a route that has turned back sixteen years’ worth of climbers. Il Piccolo Orsa was first redpointed back in 1992 by Stefan Fürst and given a grade of 8c+. Over the years, with no one else having success at the elusive route, it was upgraded to 9a–the toughest climbing grade currently in existence. Only one other route has been rated 9a in the world and that belongs to a route with the conspiciously short name of “Om”.
It is amazing that after sixteen years, a 15-year-old has repeated one of the world’s toughest and most exclusive routes. Adam Ondra is no ordinary 15-year-old though. He is currently ranked 2nd in the world for tough routes on the 8a.nu climbing site. He also posesses the 4th highest lifetime rating by quite possibly the largest climbing site in the world. Adam Ondra is no fluke. In 2007, he marched in and claimed the 2007 Youth World Championship title for climbing. He has put up dozens of first ascents and repeats on some of the toughest routes in the world in what amounts to very little time.
[...] by all means. At fifteen, you surely would not have confused my abilities with the likes of Adam Ondra’s today. My only experience climbing had been in the gym, Prime Climb, located in Wallingford, [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm