onsight
On sight, or onsight, is a term used in rock climbing and bouldering to describe a successful ascent completed on the first attempt without prior information about the route’s holds, sequence, or grade beyond what is visible from the ground. The climber must ascend from start to finish in a single, uninterrupted effort, with no falls or practice on the route. The definition emphasizes lack of beta gathered beforehand, rather than the climber’s skill alone.
The concept is commonly contrasted with flash and redpoint. A flash involves a first-attempt ascent with some
In competitive climbing, onsights are recognized as a measure of route-reading, composure, and technical ability, separate