Soudain Seul | 9A Boulder problem at Coquibus Rumont

UKClimbing.com | bleau.info | 8a.nu
Translation: Suddenly Alone. Also known as The Big Island Assis. Sit start to The Big Island. See also The Island.

A long standing project that saw a lot of attention before finally succumbing to Simon Lorenzi after 25 days of work.

It's an 'old' project which has been tried long before The Island was opened in 2008. The roof, called "Toit du Nid d'Aigle" by foresters, had been identified as a futuristic project by climbers in 1973 and its sitstart had been tried since the late 1990s. [1]

The name comes from the title of a book that first ascentionist Simon Lorenzi borrowed from his girlfriend to place under his kneepad. [2]

References

[1] https://bleau.info/coquibus/306875.html

[2] Autissier, Isabelle. Soudain, seuls. France: Stock, 2015.

Contributors
remus
30 contributions since 10th February 2021.
ben
1 contribution since 10th February 2025.
aniol_santacreu
1 contribution since 21st September 2024.

Pics + Vids

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Ascents

4 recorded ascents.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Simon Lorenzi Boulder | worked 8th Feb 2021 9A
First ascent. 25 sessions.

After ticking the stand start quickly the low start was a much more protracted affair, stretching out to 25 days of effort.

To make a crucial knee on the sit work better Simon borrowed a book from his girlfriend and placed it underneath his kneepad to make his shin a little longer. The name of the problem comes from the title of the book. Simon also extensively modified his shoes to get the most out of them: starting with a pair of Scarpa Instinct VSRs, he added extra rubber to the top of the shoe for better toe hooking on the big slopers and transplanted the heel from the Drago LV as he found it stuck better on a crucial left heel.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CLCxgJ2jDB1/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFXX58DbGN/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqq-K0HK18
Nico Pelorson Boulder | worked 16th Mar 2021 8C+
Second ascent.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CM9EtIQjeD9/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROzPjONA6M

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ic0MCtHA8E
Camille Coudert Boulder | worked 12th Feb 2022 9A (soft)
Third ascent. Between 70 and 100 sessions.

Including 43 repeats of The Big Island!

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CaCJgPBIUR0/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7ML3ItOvM/

[3] https://fanatic-climbing.com/camille-coudert-empoche-la-3eme-ascension-de-soudain-seul-camille-coudert-claims-the-third-ascent-of-soudain-seul-interview/

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6oR6lMvaA
Adam Ondra Boulder | worked 9th Feb 2025 9A (soft)
Fourth ascent. 5 sessions. Harder than Terranova, Ledoborec and Brutal Rider.

I just tried so, so hard in this part, and all of a sudden all I had to do was two relatively easy moves to get the lip. But then I knew like it's possible to fall off. But that one second, super try-hard made me so tired that I was almost seeing black.

It's a funny two moves, because no matter how tired you are, no matter how tired your arms are and no matter how bad friction you have you can still squeeze with all of your body. It's compression. You feel like a cobra you know, just completely frozen. [3]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DF5XgLjMdJu/

[2] https://www.adamondra.com/soudain-seul-aka-the-big-island-sit-9a/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2HSEKx6zus

[4] https://www.instagram.com/p/DGD2HHVM4yn/

[5] https://fanatic-climbing.com/bleau-adam-ondra-realise-la-4eme-ascension-de-soudain-seul-font-adam-ondra-ticks-soudain-seuls-4th-ascent-exclusive-bonus-intw/

[6] https://www.grimper.com/news-adam-ondra-reussit-premier-9a-bloc-soudain-seul-fontainebleau