Drew Ruana redpointing "The Assassin" 5.14d/9a at Smith Rocks, OR

At Smith Rock’s Aggro Gully, 16-year-old Drew Ruana takes on a long-whispered line and turns local legend into reality. This film follows his redpoint of The Assassin—an ambitious linkup of Repeat Offender, Villain, and White Wedding—proposed at 5.14d/9a and poised to be the hardest route in the park. What makes it so gripping is the blend of history and pure execution: a route known for years as the “Triple Link,” now tested move by move until it finally goes. Watch for the intensity of Smith’s style—powerful sequences, thin rests, and the kind of precision that only shows up when everything is on the line—plus the extra intrigue of how The Assassin compares to the unrepeated Shock and Awe, sharing the same bottom but demanding its own unique finish.

christineruana · 24:27

On Feb 13, 2016, Drew Ruana (16) redpointed and established "The Assassin" at Smith Rocks, OR in Aggro Gully. He proposed a difficulty grade of 5.14d/9a which makes it the hardest route in the park. This particular line was well known for years - it was referred to by the locals as the "Triple Link" because it strung together three separate difficult rock climbs: Repeat Offender, Villain, and White Wedding. The Assassin is very similar to Shock and Awe 14c, which is another unrepeated line at Smith. The Assassin and Shock and Awe have identical bottom sections, but Shock and Awe has an "easier" finish.