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Last weekend, an incredible climbing competition took place in the picaresque setting of Bilbao, Spain. The Master Series Psicobloc event was held on a 50ft high wall above the water of the Bilbao Estuary. Nearly 5,000 people gathered to watch history in the making as climbers. As it turns out, our very own spiderman, Chris Sharma, put on quite a show (massive understatement).

As a poster-child for the climbing world, Chris continues to set the standard and blaze a trail few can keep up with. Chris is known for completing mind-blowing climbs including regional favorite: Es Pontas of Mallorca, Spain.

In the event, Chris was the only competitor able to conquer the double dyno (meaning two ridiculously difficult maneuvers) and top the feature. Needless to say, first place was all his!

Climbing and outdoor juggernaut, prAna, was able to catch up with Chris shortly after his monumental win. We’ve (politely) borrowed a few words from the spiderman himself as quoted on prAna‘s blog:

“It was such an awesome event, unbelievable actually” said Chris. He continued to explain, “climbing high over the water, with no rope, changed my perception of what was possible in climbing.  It is without doubt for me the purest form of climbing, as well being very spectacular.”

Right now, the sport of climbing is growing faster than the mane atop Chris’ head… All eyes seem to be on the sport as its ambassadors a bringing things to new heights- quite literally.

Chris went on to say, “The high adrenaline and big falls make it a super spectacular spectator sport, more so than any other climbing competition format…

…Looking back on the years when climbing was in the X Games but just couldn’t translate to the mainstream audience because if its slow subtle nature, this new form of competition will surely blow the minds of any non climber and I believe will be a key element in climbing becoming a more mainstream sport.”

Chris smilin’ big on the podium. Wait a minute, are those mad scientists??

Check out just how gnarly Chris’s performance is… And you thought climbing the social ladder was tough…

For more information on the competition visit: http://bit.ly/aqntZo

It’s Monday, so we’ll keep it short and sweet. Here’s a few highlights from this year’s Outdoor Retailer. Check out Sanuk’s very own spiderman, Chris Sharma, doing his thing….

Highlights from the Unified Bouldering Championships, SLC, Summer OR 2010 from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.

Rock and Ice Climbing Zone at Outdoor Retailer, summer 2010 from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.

The Arco Rock Legends Nominees have been announced! Sanuk’s Chris Sharma has (yet again) snagged a place in the running for the Salewa Rock Award. Chris was last year’s winner and is looking to repeat!

In total, five athletes have been nominated for the Salewa Rock Award. The four other nominees include Charlotte Durif from France, Enzo Oddo- a 15-year-old French climber, Adam Ondra –a Czech teenage speed demon, and Daniel Woods – an American climber with his second nomination. The fifth annual ARCO Rock Legends competition will be held on Saturday, July 17 in Arco (That’s in Italy). Anyone want to meet us for gelato afterwards? Our treat…

(photo via: Climbing.com)

Ooo..Shiny..

Saturday’s celebration at Mesa Rim Climbing Center went off in a big way. Climbing fans were sticker’d, ‘stached and stoked as Chris Sharma snagged the top spot in the climbing competition. As an encore, Chris grabbed a skateboard and hit up mini-ramp. Watch out Tony Hawk there’s a new sheriff in town with a killer pair of kicks!

Sanuk is celebrating the grand opening of Mesa Rim Climbing Center in San Diego this Saturday. We are going to be on site from noon to 4pm stoking out the rock climbers with Sanuk stickers and Donny ‘staches. Be sure to swing by and say hi to the Sanuk crew, meet Chris Sharma and maybe snag some Sanuks!