Adam Ondra Setting New Standards
In May 2014, we reported that Adam Ondra had climbed 96 routes graded 5.14d (9a) or harder. In December 2014, Ondra climbed his 100th 5.14d or harder.
The climber’s database 8a.nu posted last week that Ondra reached the benchmark. Planet Mountain followed up with an in-depth interview with the climbing prodigy. Ondra’s first 5.14d was Martin Krpan at Slovenia’s Misja Pec in 2006 when he was only 13 years old. Since then he’s climbed 68 5.14ds, 20 5.15as, nine 5.15bs and three 5.15cs.
In 2004, at age 11, Ondra said in an interview with 8a.nu, “I like slightly overhanging walls. If I see a nice route, no matter the grade or the character, I want to climb it. Cracks too. I aim to climb all types of routes on various types of rocks. I try to climb new projects in crags near Brno.”
The world’s watched Ondra grow from being one of the potential greats in climbing to being the great one. In the interview with Planet Mountain, Ondra said, “The number seems unbelievable! Even today, 9a represents a really high level of difficulty, where I have to try hard.”
Read the full interview on Planet Mountain hereÂ
Watch this 2009 video about Ondra:
Ondra wins Lead World Cup 2014
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