Yuji Onsights 5.14b
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Yuji Hirayama has onsighted the route White Zombie (5.14b) at Baltzola in Spain’s Basque country. The route has had several repeats and is considered solid at the grade, making it the first confirmed 5.14b to be onsighted. Earlier this year, with beta, Kilian Fischhuber of Austria flashed a short, possibly 5.14b route that had been upgraded after a hold broke. And five years ago, Hirayama onsighted Mortal Kombat, a route subsequently downgraded to 5.14a. “It was very hard to wait for good conditions,” Hirayama said. “I waited three days, and finally I achieved my biggest goal for the year. I am very happy to have set a new mark for onsight climbing.” The Japanese climber is now headed to France to attempt more hard onsights.