Jules Marchaland Achieves First Ascent of 5.15c King Kang

French climber Jules Marchaland has made the first ascent of King Kang at Flatanger, Norway, proposing a grade of 5.15c (9b+). The route is an old project in the famous Flatanger cave and features a powerful dyno that Marchaland says gives the climb the character of a one-move route. In 2025, Marchaland became one of the few climbers to have flashed V15 with Power of Now Direct. The project that became King Kang first caught his attention when he tried it the previous year. Adam Ondra had introduced him to the line, and Marchaland quickly became captivated by its potential.…