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“Possibly the Bouldering Flash Ascent That I Value the Most” – Adam Ondra Flashes V14

It's his second flash of the grade, his first being the famous Jade nearly 10 years ago

Photo by: Ruben Diaz

On January 28, Adam Ondra flashed El Elegido V14/15 in La Pedriza, Spain, giving the line a personal grade of V14 (8B+). It’s the Czech climber’s second flash ascent of the grade. In 2015, he flashed Jade V14 in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. He’s flashed fourteen V13 problems, several of which were proposed V14 that he downgraded post-flash.

El Elegido was established by Alberto Rocasolano Jaudenes in 2017. Since then, it’s seen a few repeats, including from Spanish sport climbing star Jorge Díaz-Rullo. Unlike Ondra, prior ascensionists suggested V14/15 for the problem, including Díaz-Rullo. You can watch Díaz-Rullo send the line in a video embedded below.

After flashing El Elegido, Ondra made the first ascent of Elemental, grading the problem V14. The line starts as for El Elegido but then moves into a direct finish rather than traversing left. “Maybe a bit harder than Elegido, but less pumpy,” said Ondra on his 8a.nu page. “Good line for sure!”

“La Pedriza is an incredible crag in Spain featuring slab climbing, trad climbing and bouldering,” he added on Instagram. It is a destination where I always wanted to go, but for some reason I never really went. Circumstances and bad weather everywhere made me go there this week and it was a great decision. I was treated by great friction and great company of [Jose Luis Palao Peinado] and Ruben Diaz.

“I was able to flash El Elegido, which is an incredible boulder by [Alberto Rocasolano Jaudenes] graded [V14/15]. It is possibly the bouldering flash ascent that I value the most, even though I probably can’t take the slash grade. Nevertheless, really happy about my current shape in bouldering and about this unforgettable ascent in rather special circumstances. You will know better in the upcoming video on my YouTube channel.

“To finish the day, I was able to make FA of direct finish of Elemental that is probably still an [V14], even though it might be a bit harder than El Elegido. But I can imagine some people might find it actually easier.”

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Lead photo: Ruben Diaz