BURSTOn April 11, Eva Hammelmüller redpointed Adam Ondra’s Bombardino 5.15a (9a+) in Arco, Italy. The route is her first of the grade. The 25-year-old Austrian climber has been on a tear in recent years, sending two 5.14d’s earlier this year, three last year, and one in 2024. Over the years, she’s also racked up 20 5.14c’s and one 5.14c/d.
Ondra established Bombardino in February 2022. Bomba 5.15b was the original vision for the line, first opened by Ondra. He knew there was an exit to the right, but initially thought it was too easy for him to spend time on. After exploring it more and realizing its difficulty, the right exit became what is now known as Bombardino.
Bombardino has seen several repeats, including those from Stefano Ghisolfi, Gio Placci, Laura Rogora and most recently Gianluca Vighetti. Placci climbed it in four days, and Rogora put it away in only one. Ondra initially suggested on 8a.nu that it might be 5.15b, but Ghisolfi and subsequent ascensionists found different beta to tame the crux. Seventeen-year-old Vighetti sent the route in only two sessions, believing the route to be 5.14d rather than 5.15a.
“Bolted by Alfredo Webber, this route was first ascended by [Adam Ondra] as a [5.15a/b], and later [Stefano Ghisolfi] found an easier beta and graded it [5.15a],” said Hammelmüller after her send via Instagram. “Just recently, [Gianluca Vighetti] (who is just too strong) proposed 5.14d]. The first time I tried it last year, I couldn’t do all moves in the crux, and I was sure that this route would be a next step for me. One year passed, and when I returned two weeks ago, I hoped that somehow I could find a solution for the missing moves. However, not only did I manage to do all the moves, I could even do a few links. I knew I could climb this line.
“I was so psyched. One week later, I came back with good skin, better conditions, and ready to start giving send goes. I was incredibly nervous, yet I didn’t really expect anything… until I climbed through the whole crux section. Clipping the chains of my hardest route so far felt like a dream.”
Hammelmüller had this to add on her 8a.nu page: “Speechless. Never have I ever thought in my wildest dreams that I could do this route that quickly. It already felt amazing when I tried it last week on my third day of climbing. This weekend, I returned with good skin, refined my beta yesterday, and sent it today. I still simply can’t believe it. I think the crux is 100% my style, and the route is for sure a soft one for the grade. Nonetheless, I am just super proud!”
Hammelmüller is known for her sending sprees and tenacity on rock. In February this year, she climbed two 5.14d routes in France: WRC in Castillon and Sans Complexe in Lourmarin. Last year, she spent time climbing in France and Spain, where she racked up an impressive tick list. Over a period of two days in early February in France, she redpointed two 5.14a routes and flashed one 5.13d. A few days later, in Oliana, she flashed another 5.13d and redpointed 5.14b.
She climbed Esclatamàsters 5.14d in Lleida, in only four sessions, then redpointed Blanquita 5.14c, La Morenita 5.14c, Joe Blau 5.14c, T-1 Full Equip 5.14a, and Crimptonite 5.14a. She also onsighted Humildes pa Casa 5.14a. She finished the trip with a send of Joe-cita 5.14d. At the end of the year, she climbed Stefano Ghisolfi’s Omen Nomen 5.14d.
Adam Ondra’s First Ascent of Bombardino
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