Though you have all probably already seen this incredible video, I’m re-posting it again because I think it’s special. What is so cool to me is how much more interesting this video is to me than the typical polished film that re-creates a hard ascent for the camera. The footage of this rare bit of climbing from Adam Ondra, captured as it actually happened, takes us all court-side to this crag in northern Spain’s Basque region. You see the rawness of climbing. You feel it. You’re there. Even though I know Ondra onsighted this route, while watching the video I still felt unsure that he would actually do it. I’ve watched this a few times, and it still gets me stoked.
BD Athlete Adam Ondra Onsights Il Domani (9a) from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.
Coming here from the Digiulian/Caprez/Orbayu article, this is a perfectly good example as to why one doesn’t need to occupy a route for weeks to tell a great story about climbing. Adam having the plan to onsight this in the back of his mind for at least one year is, to me, just as compelling as the typical journey for a hard redpoint, and certainly more unusual and original.