Adam Ondra, the renowned Czech climber, has claimed his first 9A boulder problem, known as Soudain Seul, during his remarkable campaign this winter at the iconic climbing area of Fontainebleau, France. On February 8, 2025, Ondra successfully completed the fourth ascent of Soudain Seul, which has rapidly gained fame and recognition within the climbing community for its difficulty and beautiful location.
This impressive achievement marks Ondra's hardest bouldering send to date, accomplished over just five days of effort. Located at the top of Coquibus Rumont hill, Soudain Seul resides within a fragile biological reserve, making it not only iconic but also potentially sensitive to ecological changes.
Initially established as The Island V14 by prominent climber Dave Graham back in 2008, the climb underwent significant evolution over the years. Simon Lorenzi later created the sit start to this problem, dubbing it Soudain Seul. After investing 25 sessions, Lorenzi proposed the climb's difficulty as V17. Just one month later, another climber, Nico Pelorson, topped the boulder and suggested it might be slightly easier, at V16. Camille Coudert's ascent followed, during which he implied the problem was low-end V17.
Soudain Seul's climbing narrative has seen its share of re-evaluations, but Ondra was undeterred. His commitment to bouldering intensified this winter. "This winter, I really wanted to dedicate myself a bit more seriously to bouldering, and obviously, I was thinking about which 9A/V17 could fit my style the best," he shared on Instagram.
Ondra's successful ascent of Soudain Seul marks not merely another tick mark on his extensive climbing résumé, but also signifies his perseverance over the last few seasons where he felt close yet never quite finished significant climbs. After accomplishing this ascent, he expressed how gratifying it was: "I feel very happy and proud about this send; it means particularly a lot to me, especially after the last few seasons when I always felt very close to doing some relevant ascents, but it never really quite happened. Sending this in [the] 5th session is the icing on the cake."
His confidence and strong performance continued as he immediately flashed La Ligne de Bête V14 on February 9, 2025, following the completion of Soudain Seul. This flash added to his already towering record within the sport, showcasing his exceptional skill level and climbing range.
Remarkably, Ondra also tackled El Elegido (previously graded V14/15) earlier this year, adjusting its challenge to V14 after his own successful flash ascent. This accomplishment, alongside his history of authoritative climbs—such as the V16 first ascents Brutal Rider, Ledoborec, and Terranova—highlights his outstanding capabilities as one of the leading climbers of his generation.
Discussing the grade of Soudain Seul, Ondra acknowledged the complexity of grading high-end boulders, which adds another layer of intrigue to his achievement. "I don’t feel like I am an expert when it... I honestly feel strong at the moment, and the problem fits my style perfectly. And it still feels harder than my [V16] first ascents at my home crag," he reflected, addressing the various elements involved with the climbing technique and how morphology affects the difficulty of bouldering.
Through his continuous dedication and success, Adam Ondra remains not just a star fixture on the climbing circuit but also serves as an inspiring figure within the climbing community. His recent feats affirm his status and promise for future climbs, providing motivation for climbers around the world to push their limits and embrace the challenge of difficult ascents.