1/24/12 - Alizée Dufraisse from France has made the first female ascent of La Reina Mora (5.14c/d) in Siurana, Spain, her first of the grade.
First ascensionist Ramón Julian Puigblanque (Spain) initially graded La Reina Mora at 5.14b/c in 2008. In 2010, Belgian Nico Favresse repeated the line, suggesting 5.14c. (See the video below of Favresse's ascent.) Then Spain's Dani Andrada followed suit in 2011, proposing another upgrade to 5.14c/d. Dufraisse is leaning toward 5.14d, but states she's waiting on the opinion of future ascensionists.
From Dufraisse's website: "Yesterday I had an incredible fight, and I sent it. It is the most beautiful and hard route I ve ever done.
It is both resistance, boulder, and continuity with no rest; three boulder problems around 7C/V9. This mix was terrible but super cool."
Dufraisse recently climbed her first 5.14c with nearby Patinoso. If La Reina Mora stands at 5.14d, she will join the ranks of Josune Bereziartu, Charlotte Durif, and Sasha DiGiulian as female 5.14d climbers, although it's safe to say she's one of the world's strongest sport climbers.
Date of ascent: January 23, 2012
Source: alizeedufraisse.blogspot.com, climbing.com
