Hard climbs hunter Adam Ondra did it again. During a trip to Slovenia with fellow Slovenian Jernej Kruder, Ondra climbed Peščena Ura (9a), in Spota, Slovenia, making this his seventh flash of 9a or above.
First established by Sopota local Jernej Kruder in 2019, Peščena Ura is a real Slovenian test piece featuring a crux, which features a dyno low down that requires tons of coordination. Jernej managed to stick the crux and send the route in 2020. It’s the hardest route in Kruder’s home crag, where he bolted am impressive set of lines ranging from 7c to 9a.
During his month-long tour through Slovenia and Croatia, Ondra tried flashing more routes of the same grade, including another of Kruder’s In Time (9a), on which he unfortunately fell. After falling on In Time which he wanted to onsight, Adam took Jernej’s beta in Peščena Ura and managed to send it. His trip was also riddled with other successes, managing to FA Ratatouille (9a) and Filantrop L2 (8c+).
Kruder didn’t climb Peščena Ura this time as he was recuperating from injury but managed to show Adam the key moves to get past the entering crux move, although he didn’t quite remember the exact foot placement. It was a pleasure to watch as Jenrej declared himself, and he’s proud that his line was seconded by the “best climber in the world”.
As for Adam, he declared he surprised himself with this flash, as it was a freak moment to get through the crux move and that Peščena Ura is his hardest flash since Supercrackinette (9a+), which was in 2018.
Ondra’s first 9a flash was eleven years ago, in 2012, when sending Southern Smoke Direct in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, a route originally graded as 9a+.
On his road of accomplishments, Adam hasn’t yet qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He had a chance in Laval, France, at the IFSC European Qualifier however he only reached fourth position on the scoreboard, leaving Olympic qualification for another day
Featured image: @adam.ondra
