Exciting news reaches us from the island of Hvar, where French climber Sebastien Bouin made the first ascent of Vidra La Vida. The proposed difficulty of the new route is 9b/+ (5.15b/c), making it the hardest sport climbing route in Croatia to date.
This means that the Frenchman succeeds only a few months after El Gran Cabron the currently most difficult route in China, another "national record". The new line in Croatia has it Seb Bouin particularly impressed: He ranks it among his top 5 worldwide favorites at this level of difficulty.
Background information on Vidra La Vida
A month ago, Seb had already climbed the first of two pitches (9a, named Vidra). After a north wind brought cooling and thus better conditions, he closed the bag and secured the first ascent the entire route.
Difficulty meets beauty. So happy to make this dream line come true.
Sebastien Bouin
The route was originally bolted by Klemen Bečan, the 2008 World Cup lead climber. Seb describes the climb as long and demanding. The route starts in the 8c+ range, and the first pitch ends with a 9a section. Then it goes into the crux of a roof, requiring unconventional moves and which Sebastien describes as a "boulder problem within the route."
That might interest you
- "The true kingline in Pic Saint-Loup" | Seb Bouin's Wolf Kingdom (9b+) – Lacrux Climbing Magazine
- Seb Bouin: "This roof is massive!" | Narcissus (9a/+) – Lacrux Climbing Magazine
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Credits Cover photo: Thibaut Marot