Spain is where it all seems to be going down these days. Adam Ondra has been a regular in the news recently but this week it’s Chris Sharma’s turn. Hot off the press is the news that Chris has just made the first ascent of his long term project at the Laboratory, Margalef, First Round, First Minute…

Chris’s achievement on First Round is outstanding. First Round is shorter that many of the routes at Margalef but it’s obviously utterly desperate and it’s clearly been a personal journey of some considerable proportion for Chris having fallen off the route numerous times whilst he’s been trying it. The effort and commitment needed to close out such projects is evident, in spades, in the short clip and interview on Planet Mountain (http://www.planetmountain.com/english/News/shownews1.lasso?keyid=38091#)

But First Round, First Minute isn’t the only project Chris is working at Margalef as I found out a short while back when I saw Chris at one of the other main sectors, Raco de la Finestra. Finestra is amazingly – c. 45 degs over vertical for its length which must be best part of 25 to 30 metres. Entry routes kick-off at F8b but there are half a dozen lines that go at F9a and above. The crag looked nails and the difficulty of the routes clearly reinforce that fact. Most folks slide right on past looking for more amenable stuff but not so Chris. Most who have been to Margalef and stood beneath many of the walls will admit to being impressed. The wall with First Round, First Minute looks very impressive but Chris’s project on Finestra looks staggering.

One of the days we were at Finestra a Catalyuna TV film crew were there shooting Chris and Dani Andrada. I’d photographed Chris before and he shouted me over as I arrived. Later on, Chris invited me to shoot him while he tried a link on his project. Never one to pass-up an opportunity, I don’t wait for a second invite. From just below the lip Chris’s line looked amazing; super, super steep and very powerful climbing on holds that seriously don’t look much to write home about! In characteristic style Chris put the power down but (sadly) the link didn’t happen. He looked, and sounded, pretty psyched though. I was once told to beware the use of the superlative, so - and at the risk of letting the cat out of the bag – I’ll simply say that this is one very, very hard looking project!

I’m hoping to release more on this later but meanwhile here are some teaser shots of Chris in action…

 Overhanging madness:  Chris around a third height on the initial wall. Three other routes start up here also – all are F9a…