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Mejdi Schalck Climbs Power of Now Direct V15 in a Few Goes
French climber Mejdi Schalck recently topped Power of Now Direct V15 (8C) while on a visit to Magic Wood, Switzerland. The comp climbing star adds the ascent to his growing list of boulders of the grade, including classics like The Big Island, Defying Gravity, and Sleepwalker.
“Few days of climbing in Magic Wood, the best place to escape the heat,” said Schalck on Instagram. Despite really bad [conditions] I managed to send this amazing line in few goes. It was one of the best lines to try with this temps honestly, there’s few more blocs I want to do here but I might come back in a colder period lol. Coming back two years after doing the higher start and feeling much stronger on every move was a really satisfying feeling, sometimes outdoor blocs are one of the best things to measure your progress.”
The original line Power of Now V14 was opened by Giuliano Cameroni in 2020. Simon Lorenzi tried the problem in 2021, but he was unable to find beta for his size, instead opting to open a variation of the line called Power of Now Direct V15. The Direct begins with sharp underclings and a throw to the starting crimp of the original line. The dynamic problem ascends a 60-degree overhang and finishes with a powerful throw to the lip of the roof.
Since Lorenzi’s FA, Power of Now Direct has seen many ascents, including from Sam Richard, Clément Lechaptois, and Marco Müller. In August last year, Jules Marchaland flashed the problem, making his send the second-ever flash of a V15.
Power of Now Direct was Schalck’s sixth V15. He’s also sent many V14s, including four of the grade last year. In 2024, he repeated the world’s first deep water solo graded 5.15a, Chris Sharma’s Es Pontas in Mallorca. But the 212-year-old is perhaps best known for his comp climbing. He won one gold and two silvers in the 2025 Boulder World Cup. On this year’s circuit, he’s thus far won one silver and two bronzes.
Mejdi Schalck climbs Power of Now Direct V15
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