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Verzasca Dam set to host second edition of Red Bull Dual Ascent

Twenty-four of the world’s best climbers will descend on Switzerland’s spectacular Verzasca Dam – used in the James Bond film ‘GoldenEye – for the second edition of Red Bull Dual Ascent on November 1-4. 

The first edition last October saw 16 climbers in teams of two compete in the first-ever head-to-head multi-pitch climbing competition up 180m artificial routes on the Verzasca Dam’s imposing 220m sheer face.

The total climbing height consisted of two parallel routes made up of 6 pitches each that were a minimum of 6C and went up to a difficulty level of 8B on the French numerical system.

Spain’s Alberto Ginés López and Slovenia’s Luka Potočar were crowned champions after beating Slovenian champion Domen Škofic and former bouldering world champion Jernej Kruder in a thrilling final.

This time around in early November, 12 teams of one male and one female each will take on the Dam live on Red Bull TV with qualification taking place on Wednesday, November 1 and Thursday, November 2 before Friday, November 3 rest day and finals day on Saturday, November 4.

Along with the returning Ginés López, Potočar, Škofic and Kruder, Swiss climber Petra Klingler, France’s Oriane Bertone, Brazil’s Felipe Camargo and Australian Angie Scarth-Johnson also compete in the 24-strong field as well as American bouldering star Shawn Raboutou and sister Brooke.

Routes will be climbed ‘redpoint’ (flash mode) meaning it is the first time the climbers try the route; however, they will have received prior information from a route demonstration shortly before.

Teams will need a clean redpoint send, on every pitch, on lead and following. The climbers are allowed an unlimited number of falls, where, if they do fall, they start at that same pitch again.

Last year, Klingler revealed: “The Verzasca Dam is such a beautiful location – I feel so excited to climb it in my home country.”

Camargo added: “The competition has been specially designed to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible – we hope this also inspires the climbing community and newcomers to take on their own challenges.”

Red Bull Dual Ascent was inspired by the Red Bull 360 Ascent project and created in partnership with Ascona-Locarno Tourism, The North Face, Cornèrcard and Hilti.

Discover more about Red Bull Dual Ascent HERE.

Header image: Venue during Red Bull Dual Ascent 2022 at Verzasca, Switzerland, October 26–29, 2022. Credit: True Color Films / Red Bull Content Pool

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