When Chris Sharma isn't busy completing DWS projects in Mallorca, he's establishing new lines on the Spanish mainland. The American has been working on Le Blond since 2012. in Oliana – a video by the Mawem brothers provides new insights.
Chris Sharma has big plans for 2025 – not only above the waves of Mallorca, but also on the rope. In addition to his own line Perfecto Mundo (9b+) from more than 15 years ago, a previously completely unclimbed route is also one of his current goals.
Le Blond is located in the Catalan Oliana, where Sharma already in 2013 with La Dura Dura (9b+) made a piece of climbing history. The true strength endurance test piece, Le Blond, is even a year older: In 2012, Chris Sharma bolted the route and dedicated it to French climber Patrick Edlinger, who died that day.
Mickaël Mawem: “The size of the handles is a real problem”
Le Blond has been projected sporadically by Sharma since 2012 and has repeatedly been touted as a potential 9c. It is characterized by its steep incline, small ledges, and a dynamic crux at the very end.
Together with the top French climber Mickaël Mawem Chris Sharma is now paying a visit to his ongoing project – and showing once again why, even at the age of 43, he is still a fixture in the development of new lines.
Each individual move is between 7c and 8b in difficulty. The size of the holds is a real problem—they're microscopically small.
Mickaël Mawem
In the video you can see Chris Sharma and Mickaël Mawem working on a line that could one day be one of the hardest sport climbing routes in Spain.
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Credits cover photo: The Mawem brothers