After Lasse von Freier cracked Off the Wagon (2019B+) in two sessions in 16 at the age of 8, he will be able to start the Bavona classic with an 2024C+ rating at the beginning of 8.
Leave by suitor, the strong boulderer from Hanover, opens the new year with a great success in Ticino. In Val Bavona he succeeds in the seat start version of the Shawn Raboutou test piece Off the Wagon low (8C+).
That means a lot to me. This Kingline is definitely one of the best boulders there is.
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Demoralizing start
His trip to Ticino didn’t start quite according to plan – to say the least. “In my second session, a kick broke out in the crux move,” says Lasse von Freier. Since this was mandatory in order to initiate the first movement, a new beta was required.
After working on the beta for the first move for a full day, I was confident about giving serious push-throughs in the next session.
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Last day, best day
Two days later, the 21-year-old finally managed the boulder's most difficult move, but failed at the famous campus move further up.
«I always said that I would never fall here. As the saying goes: never say never."
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The next day was the last day of Lasse von Freier’s Ticino trip. This made the last session a mental story that ultimately ended happily. “The rest is history.”
Four years, numerous sessions
He's been dreaming about Shawn Raboutou's Kingline since the video of the first ascent on Mellow. From that moment on, he visited this line in the beautiful Val Bavona on every bouldering trip to Switzerland.
When I drove through this valley I always got goosebumps and was excited.
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“From the beginning of this journey, I felt that I would eventually be able to climb this amazing line,” says Lasse von Freier. After more than four years with many ups and downs, filled with great memories, this day has finally come.
That might interest you
- The agony of choice: three current videos from Off the Wagon low (8c +)
- Yannick Flohé and Sergei Topishko boulder Off the Wagon low (8c +)
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Credits: Cover photo: Leave by suitor