Hannes Van Duysen cleaned up at Deep Water Soloing on Mallorca: First he flashed the 8c line Poseidon's Kiss, later he doubled up by climbing the ultimate test piece Es Pontas (9a+).
The 20-year-old Belgian Hannes VanDuysen is one of the up-and-coming names in the international competition circuit. The 2023 Lead Youth World Champion finished 14th in his Olympic debut this summer. He recently proved that he is also really strong on the rock at Mallorca.
In the DWS Mecca par excellence he was able to climb Philipp Geisenhoff’s 8c line Poseidon's Kiss flash and a little later Chris Sharma's ultimate test piece Es Pontas Repeat (9a+).
Unexpected Flash
The fact that Hannes Van Duysen surprised himself with his flash ascent of Poseidon's Kiss is shown by the fact that he didn't take any chalk with him for the attempt. He was so sure that he would fall that he didn't want to waste any magnesium, says the 20-year-old.
"Of course, I immediately regretted this, as the first few holds were quite wet." Although it felt as if he could fly out at any moment, he kept calm and was able to complete the flash ascent in dry conditions.
Four sessions for Es Pontas
The main goal of the trip, however, was Es Pontas, the DWS test piece par excellence. The line, first climbed by Chris Sharma in 2006, is still considered one of the most difficult and spectacular routes in the discipline of deep water soloing.
Es Pontas has been a lifelong goal. It feels so good to have climbed this line.
Hannes VanDuysen
It is astonishing how quickly the youngster was able to climb the DWS route at the ninth level of difficulty. Only four sessions were needed before he stood on top of the famous rock arch in the south of the island.
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Credits: Cover photo Nakajima Kazushige/IFSC