In September 2019, Dani Arnold sets a new record time at the Cima Grande. The Mammut Pro Team Athlete climbs the north face over the Comici-Dimai route in 46 minutes and 30 seconds. The 35 years old now holds the speed record on four of Europe’s six major north faces.
Dani Arnold climbed the Comici-Dimai route three times in a party and carefully prepared himself before tackling the north face of the Cima Grande on September 5th 2019 for his speed record – writing history again. The legendary 550-metre-long, partly overhanging mountain face is one of the peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, a striking massif in the Sexten Dolomites in Italy.
"THIS SUCCESS MEANS A LOT TO ME."
At the day of his speed record, the conditions are anything but easy: "The rock is not really solid and due to the many climbs of other parties quite slippy, almost polished", explains Dani. While an experienced party needs six to seven hours to ascend on this route, the 35-year-old reaches the top after around 46 minutes and therefore beats the previous record by almost 20 minutes.
The Swiss overtakes two rope teams in the wall and another one at the summit – just before he stands at the very top, overwhelmed by his feelings: "This success means a lot to me. Less than two months ago, I was on my first eight-thousander. If you are into climbing, you know you won't be in your best shape and rather tired after such an expedition. Getting so fit again in this short time is just cool", Dani says. How proud the Swiss is of his performance, he reveals with a wink: "Almost all the great mountaineers have left their mark on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo – now I'm part of them".
