Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll

About

Belgium

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Sean started sport climbing in Belgium at the age of 13 and progressed to what is now his specialty, free climbing big walls and off-width cracks in preferably harsh conditions and playing his Irish flute. He received a Piolet d'Or in 2010 for his big wall first ascents in Greenland. He made the first reverse ascent of the Fitz Traverse, solo, in 2021.

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Latest News & Articles

News posts and Articles featuring Sean

The Ticklist #24 - Women on a Rampage and New Alpine Routes

This week's ticklist is female-led, with some bouldering and alpine ascents thrown in for good measure...

9 Apr

News Reverse Fitz Traverse Solo by Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll

Belgian climber and musician Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll has made the second ascent of the Fitzroy or 'Fitz' Traverse in Patagonia, Argentina, first climbed by Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell in 2014. Sean completed the line solo and in...

24 12 Feb

Latest Reviews for Sean's Sponsors

Reviews from the UKC editorial team

Scarpa Drago LV

The super-sensitive Drago is ideal for high performance bouldering and sport, both indoors and out, and if your smaller or lower volume feet didn't fit the original then the LV version might be for you, says Penny Orr.

7 9 Feb

Scarpa Manta Tech GTX

Now in its seventh version, the Manta remains a benchmark mountain boot in the B2 category, and should equally appeal to mountaineers and winter hillwalkers. This is a robust and unashamedly chunky boot, says Dan Bailey, and while you'll find lighter models, and others...

8 19 Jan

PETZL IKO CORE - gimmick or innovation?

With its unique fit, the IKO CORE is a genuinely different and innovative headtorch. But whether it's much better than a more conventional model depends what you want it for, says Rob Greenwood. If you're climbing, look elsewhere; but if comfort,...

14 8 Dec, 2020

Comfy All-Day Rock Shoes

For beginners taking their first steps on the rock, or more experienced climbers looking for a foot-friendly rock shoe for long...

47 1 Dec, 2020

Scarpa Booster

The Booster has similar sensitivity to Scarpa's other soft shoes like the Furia Air, Furia S and Drago, says Rob Greenwood, but with the added...

19 13 Nov, 2020

Scarpa Kalipe

They are not the most technical approach shoe on the market, and their shallow tread could prove a worry on steep grass, but the Kalipe's...

29 Sep, 2020

Petzl SWIFT RL - One Headtorch to Rule Them All?

The SWIFT RL offers an amazingly heavyweight power output in a light and compact package, says Rob Greenwood,...

57 22 Sep, 2020

Latest News from Sean's Sponsors

Announcements direct from manufacturers

New Footwear Spring/Summer '21

In the absence of any trade show this year, we've created our own. Normally, shows tend to focus on products hitting the market in 6 months to a year, but we've asked brands to talk about the new kit available now. In this first round u...

11 8 Mar

Scarpa Manta Tech GTX

The Scarpa Manta has been an icon for over three decades. As a multi award winning model in various generations it has represented the "benchmark" in 4 season Mountain boots. Evolving over many generations, the new Manta Tech represents the 7th incarnation in a...

4 8 Sep, 2020

Scarpa Booster

The Booster is - in the words of Scarpa Designer Nathan Hoette - "all about the precision". It took 87 prototypes to get to the point where he and Scarpa's Climbing Shoe Category Manager, Heinz Mariacher, were happy with its weight and sensitivity. Designed with both the...

7 Aug, 2020