Sam Richard attempts Chris Sharma’s renowned deep water solo Es Pontas 5.15a
During the month of October in 2025, Sam Richard achieved a remarkable feat by successfully climbing Chris Sharma’s renowned Es Pontas 5.15a (9a+) deep water solo in Mallorca, Spain. Following this significant accomplishment, Richard proceeded to conquer his most challenging bouldering route, Simon Lorenzi’s Soudain Seul V17 in Fontainebleau, France, a mere 20 days later.
The inception of Es Pontas dates back to 2006 when Sharma made the first ascent, establishing it as the most difficult deep water solo at the time. Since then, a select group of climbers have dared to challenge this formidable feature, with notable individuals including Jernej Kruder, Jan Hojer, Jakob Schubert, Léo Favot, Hannes Van Duysen, and Mejdi Schalck. A recently released video showcasing Richard’s mastery of Es Pontas is now available for viewing on his YouTube Channel.
Translated from Catalan, the regional language of Catalunya in northeastern Spain, Es Pontas means “the big bridge.” This captivating limestone arch towers approximately 20 meters above sea level, accessible solely by water, either through boat navigation or swimming. The route is characterized by a daunting seven-foot dyno crux, a challenging move that even Sharma struggled to stick, requiring about 50 attempts. Further, an even more demanding upper crux awaits climbers at the lip of the arch.
Expressing his elation on Instagram in October, Richard shared the exhilaration of completing the arduous route by stating, “Just sent the craziest line of my life. Can’t express how good it feels. [Two] trips, 12 sessions, too many attempts, and [six] times sticking the jump. That was a mental battle from the first day, but today I was in the flow, I gave my all, and it finally went down. I wasn’t born when [Chris Sharma] did the FA, then ten years ago he signed me a chalk bag, and the last dry chalk bag I had before the send was this one. Thank you for the inspiration you have been for me.”
In addition to his outdoor climbing achievements, Richard has made strides in the competitive climbing scene. Notable successes include a podium finish, securing the bronze medal alongside Sorato Anraku and Mejdi Schalck at the Boulder World Cup in Prague in June 2025. Moreover, Richard showcased his prowess on rock by sending his first V15 at the age of 15 with The Big Island in Fontainebleau in April 2023, and the following year, achieving the second ascent of The Power of Now Direct V15 in Magic Wood in July 2024. His relentless pursuit of challenging routes culminated in the successful ascent of Soudain Seul V17, a low start to The Big Island, in October 2025, further solidifying his reputation as a proficient and determined climber.