Ticino Gravity

Photographer: Alex Fuchs Athlete: Kaddi Lehmann Location: Ticino, Switzerland

Ticino Gravity

An homage to Ticino bouldering.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024

Embrace Gravity – A Ticino bouldering story

STRAIGHT AWAY I FELL IN LOVE WITH TICINO TO REPEAT ALL THOSE CLASSIC KING LINES AND ESTABLISH NEW BOULDERS. I’M DRIVEN BY THE IDEA OF FINDING THE ONE BOULDER THAT STANDS OUT OVER ALL THE OTHER.

For BD athlete Kim Marschner and ambassador Kaddi Lehmann Ticino has become a second home. In this film they show you where their love for the area comes from and take you on a journey through one of the best and most renowned bouldering areas in the world. Ticino is home to world class zones like Chironico, Cresciano, Callanca, Brione and Valle Bavona where bouldering history was made. They follow in the footsteps of Claudio Cameroni, Fred Nicole, Bernd Zangerl, Thomas “Steini” Steinbrugger, Michi and Ivan Tresch, to name just a few. They also meet up with Richi Signer—one of the visionary pioneers who recognized the potential of bouldering in Chironico. Let's go.

Embrace Gravity – A Ticino bouldering story

The first time I went to Ticino was in 2016. I turned 18 that year and was allowed to drive by myself. I have just bought my first van, invited two friends, and we drove to Switzerland.

Straight away I fell in love with Ticino and I knew that this would be the bouldering area I want to spent my time, to repeat all those classic king lines and establish new boulders.

I soon put my attention to the Val Bavona. It’s a side valley of Valle Maggia and the first time I went there, I was overwhelmed by the endless number of boulders in that valley. You drive up this narrow valley, and right from the start, there are fields of blocs to the left and right of the road. The special thing about Bavona is that most of the established boulders are 8a or harder. There are more than ten boulders 8C and harder in this small valley. I don't know of any other place in the world where this is the case.

I’ve spent hours and days walking through the forest and up the hills looking for boulders. I’m driven by the idea of finding that one boulder that stands out over all the others. To be honest, I don’t even know what this boulder must look like. For sure it should be tall and hard, overhanging, with clear features. But in the end, it’s hard to imagine this bloc and that’s why I keep on exploring and I’ll probably never stop looking for that one boulder.

“…my eye caught the countless boulders with fine surface texture. My heart instantly started to beat faster and my eyes were astounded by the tremendous bouldering opportunities.”