Michaela Kiersch, who two weeks ago completed Dreamtime (8C) , has done Kings of Sonlerto (8A+) and Darkness (8A+) in Brione. (c) Brett Lowell

Can you tell us more about those two ascents?
Kings was on my dream list for a long time and it was cool to do it with Giuliano [Cameroni] spotting. Took me maybe 5 tries and I did the top on a rope before doing it from the bottom. On Darkness I flashed the right 7C and then maybe 5 tries or so for the 8A+.

Chaehyeon Seo, who was #6 in the Paris Olympics, has onsighted Fish eye (8c) in Oliana and redpointed Open Your Mind Direct (9a) in Santa Linya.

Seo made her first VL/8a headlines at just 11 years old by onsighting an 8a. At 14, she climbed her first 8c+ and in 2022, she added two impressive achievements to her record: she onsighted L'antagonista (8c) and sent La Rambla (9a+). Her competition track record is equally impressive. In 2019 she won the Lead World Cup after having won four straight events at age 15. Two years later she became the World Champion.

Can you tell us more about the trip and those two ascents?
We planned to stay in Santa Linya for a month but the weather and the rock conditions were too bad so we tried to climb at Oliana. It was not the best because many climbing days were in fog.

While in Santa Linya, I tried Open your mind because it's very famous route and I need to adapt for the rocks. Rock was slippery, but before it I climbed on wet rocks so it felt quite ok, so I could send it.

In Oliana I tried Papichulo (9a+) for my project. First few days I was checking the moves and making the moves perfectly and the weather was also good. But the last three days were too humid and rainy, so I felt ready but rocks were too bad. As I waiting for the rocks get dry I just tried Fish Eye for fun. The lower part went smoothly, and in sudden I was at the top part crux. I was focusing so much. Last crux was at the last 3 meters, so I fought there about 10 min before I could send it.

Noah Wheeler, who previously in 2024 has done two 8C+’, has repeated Austin Hoyt’s The Big Bad Wolf (8C) in Gunks (NY). Huge props to Austin for putting up the first 8C in the Northeast! Deciphered the sit movement with the east coast boys this summer and sent in a few today. Chossy start - I crumbled a hold on the send go - but super enjoyable movement which builds in an incredible way and culminates in a gnarly right hand satch from an unstable position. Feels like shouldery/crimpy 13 [8B] into powerful 12 [8A+] which seems to make the grade accurate.”

After 10 incredible years, it’s time for us at Vertical-Life to turn the page and focus fully on developing our digital climbing platform. As part of this transition, we’re saying goodbye to the Zlagboard—a product that has shaped our journey and connected climbers around the world.

We still have some Zlagboards left in stock, and this is your chance to grab one at a special price of €99. It’s more than a training tool—it’s a piece of Vertical-Life history.

The Zlagboard has been a huge part of our story. We’ve sold over 10,000 boards, hosted countless of Zlagboard contests, and watched climbers push their limits, from beginners to world-class athletes. For many years, the record held firm at the 02:44.35 time set by Ramón Julián Puigblanque. Last year, Günther Unterrainer raised the bar with an impressive 03:05.98!

The Zlagboard app will remain fully functional, supporting climbers to train smarter and climb harder for years to come. While this chapter ends, the Zlagboard’s legacy continues—we’re in discussions with potential partners in the climbing training industry to carry the project forward under a new name.

Finally, we’d like to share that our books will now be distributed by Panico Alpinverlag. This ensures our climbing guides remain accessible to climbers everywhere, continuing to inspire adventures for years to come.

Ready to claim one of the last Zlagboards? Don’t wait—once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Train smart, climb hard!

Melina Costanza, who last month won the US Nationals in both Lead and Boulder, has completed Direct North (8B+) in Buttermilks.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I originally went to Bishop to try The Swarm (8B), but we went to the Grandma boulder to warm up and I ended up doing all the components of Direct North. I knew I could put down the link quickly, but for some reason I had kind of an epic time on the whole line. I had a heartbreaker fall off the last move before it dumped snow for a couple days, but I stuck it out and sent the line once it cleared up. Big adversity training problem for me. Never ended up going to The Swarm the whole trip!