Megos Makes Easy Work of Kalymnos Climbing Festival
Alexander Megos won the Kalymnos Climbing Festival this year after he completed all the men's project routes in under four hours. Caroline Ciavaldini took second place in the women's division.
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Alexander Megos took home first place at the Kalymnos Climbing Festival last weekend after he made short work of the island’s newest projects. Out of the four new routes, the 19-year-old German crusher managed to climb three of them on his first try:
The Unexpected Journey (5.13b), Don’t Call Me Greasy (5.13d/5.14a), and Don’t Touch My Balls
(5.13d). The fourth route, Klesh (5.14b/c), fell to Megos after two attempts, according to 8a.nu.
“He is from another planet,” said Italian climber Gabri Moroni of Megos on 8a.nu.
After completing these four routes in only four hours, Megos won the competition and received 3,000 Euros (~$4,000) in cash rewards.
Caroline Ciavaldini of France came out on top of the women’s field when she became the only woman in the competition to flash two of the four climbs: Skin on My Left Hand (5.13b) and Banana Party (5.13b). She then went on to make an ascent of Match Point (5.14a) on her second try.
Two Americans also took part in the competition. Daniel Woods of Colorado placed third behind Austria’s Kilian Fischhuber, and Sasha DiGiulian, America’s super-strong talent, placed third in the women’s competition.
“This place [Kalymnos] is spectacular. The ambiance is incredible: there is fabulous rock, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and good energy. I couldn’t ask for more except more time here! Just having such short time is tough! I love this place and I hope to return soon,” said DiGiulian on 8a.nu.
For complete results of the competition, click the graph below.
