© chris_sharma
© jaredleto
© jaredleto
Mallorca, deep water solo climbers dream
Climbers flock to Mallorca attracted by its vertiginous cliffs
Deep water soloing, also known as psicobloc, consists in climbing without ropes on sea cliffs at high tide with only water protecting the athlete against falling. This increasingly popular sport has found an extensive playground in the island's limestone cliffs, which have become THE mecca for all psicobloc climbers.
Earlier this summer, Hollywood actor Jared Leto visited the island with American professional rock climber Chris Sharma to try out the cliffs around Port de Sóller, in Serra de Tramuntana, one of the most popular areas among deep solo climbers together with the southeastern coast of Mallorca, especially Cala Varques.
They were joined by Miquel Riera, Palma-born climbing legend and father of deep water soloing. According to Riera, "psicobloc was born in Mallorca in 1978". The island has one of the most difficult lines on Earth, Es Pontas in Cala Santanyí, which has become one of the most famous spots to practice the sport thanks to a documentary filmed in 2007 by Sharma that won an EMI for the best sports documentary that year (you can watch a clip clicking on the video link).
Leto spent a couple of days in Mallorca at the end of June to try psicobloc for the first time, an experience he described as "Intimidating and exciting esp on the open ocean and with the jellyfish in abundance - although they were beautiful." The 30 Seconds to Mars singer is a passionate climber and has recently directed a series of documentaries celebrating America's National Parks and the climbers that have explored them called 'Great Wide Open'.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about, why not try it out yourself? Read our climbing guide for more information and take a look at the activity companies offering climbing on the beautiful island of Mallorca. You can also check out our article on deep water soloing by Sam Shelley, an expert climbing instructor with Rock & Ride.
