UKC

 

Chris Sharma has made the first ascent of Alasha, a Deep Water Solo (DWS) route which he says is of roughly the same difficulty as Es Pontas. The latter was opened almost exactly ten years ago.

Last week I was able to send a long term project that I'd been trying over the last 5 years...

Read more

In reply to UKC News:

"Opens"??? This is *UK* Climbing you know!

In reply to UKC News:

Does he even Grit?

In reply to UKC News:

I'm off to Mallorca for 2 weeks of DWS as of tomorrow. See you there Sharma!


PSYYYYCHE!

In reply to UKC News:

Fantastic achievement and hats off to him for this one. I am a regular to Mallorca and visited Es Pontas several times and it amazes me every time how he managed to climb it.

In reply to Jon Read:
Im sure people from outside the UK will also be reading this. 'Opened' is a far more interesting word in my view that simply 'put up'. Also Id disagree with Es Pontas never being graded. Talking to Chris the same day he did the FA of Es Pontas, he said its possibly 9b (but yes never confirmed it because it needs a second accent), but after Ethan Pringle found a more static way through the lower crux, 9a+ began to have more meaning. Although Es Pontas still remains unrepeted so who knows, perhaps Ethan will hold the answer one day?

In reply to Daimon - Rockfax:

It's certainly preferable to 'sends'. 'Opens' is a near direct translation from what the french say for their first ascents, isn't it? My comment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I appreciate that there is a certain monotony in saying 'climbs the first ascent of...'. Perhaps we can help Björn: I suggest

'Chris Sharma affords Alasha, 9? DWS on Mallorca'.

(and thumbs up for Chris and his high water high grade high jinks)

In reply to Jon Read:

I also like the word sends ..

In reply to Jon Read:

The French 'open' a route by bolting the line, climbing it is 'enchaîner'

In reply to beverooni:

Aha. Thanks for the clarification.