Chris Sharma catches his Big Fish, spectacular and difficult new Deep Water Solo at Mallorca

Chris Sharma evidently has a great affinity with Deep Water Solo climbing. Es Pontas, his 2006 masterpiece at Majorca, opened the doors to a world that combines difficult climbing with the thrill - and also real risk - of climbing without a rope high above the water. In this game the psychological aspect is by no means to be underestimated and probably plays a role just as important as the actual technical difficulties dictated by the rock. Hence the reason why DWS is often referred to as psicobloc.

Of late the 36-year-old American has quite literally dived into this fascinating world, and in 2016 he created Alasha at Mallorca while in June this year he first ascended ground-up the 8b+ Pont d’Arc in Ardèche, France.

Sharma has now managed to free a line he’d noticed a while ago in Soller, Mallorca which he has described as "one of the most aesthetic, biggest and hardest deep water solos I've ever done." The climb offers difficulties in the region of 8c+/9a and a crux section 20 meters above the waves of the Balearic sea. It may seem superfluous to underline the following but we’ll do so nevertheless: 20 meters without a rope is a long, long way… The name of the climb couldn’t be more fitting therefore: Big Fish.

Link: Chris Sharma Instagram, Petzl