Domen Škofic, overall Lead World Cup winner in 2016, has climbed Catxasa (9a+) in Santa Linya. "Such a brutal climb, I’m proud I’ve done it! I tried the route two years ago and almost did it without kneepads. This time I decided that I do it with kneepads since everyone is doing it that way and the grade should stand for what is the easiest way to climb it. My opinion on the grade is that it definitely makes it a bit easier with kneepads but it makes no sense for this route to be only 9a since you’re doing a hard 8c+ into another solid 8c+. The upper 8c+(Fabela) has been done with kneepads for the last 10 years and the grade still stands. I’ve done most of the routes in the cave and my opinion is to either downgrade everything or leave it as it is."

Tanguy Merard, who did five 9a+’s last year, has completed Le Cadafist (9a/+) in Saint Léger, Anidalle tracteur (9a) in L'Abattoir and Amicalement blues (9a) in Saint-Pancrasse. (c) Milan Keller

”Le Cadafist was for me my return to high level outdoors after 6 months without rock and without motivation. It's a route that required a lot of mental investment from me. I almost only fell in the second part (Rêve de poutre 8c) which gave me a lot of trouble. I fell 3 times on the last move to go to the final jug then I changed method and I sent.”

What made you lose motivation?
I think it's because I climbed outside a lot until I get bored of it and suddenly I didn't want to go outside at all. I've only been climbing for a little more than 10 years so I wanted to do something else, so I did partying, routsetting and fun climbing. 4/5 sessions per week but only spraywall climbing.

Ben Hanna, who last week did JoeDan por Fabelita 8c+/9a, has onsighted Humildes pa Casa (8b+) in Oliana. (c) Iandzilenski.com

”Onsighting 5.14 [8b+] had always been a dream of mine. Last week I told @iandzilenski I wanted to onsight Humildes pa Casa before the trip was over, for no other reason then it was the first 5.14a I saw on the Oliana topo. Yesterday we drove to Oliana with this as a goal, but as soon as I started warming up I felt terrible and almost bailed. But we were there, and Dizzy wasn’t about to let me leave without trying. I decided to just give it the good old half ass college try.

I almost fell 3 times on the intro 5.12 and was pretty blasted by the time I got to where the route really starts, but to be perfectly honest, once I started into the tufa I forgot all about how pumped I was and what I was trying to do. I was completely lost in how epic this route is! Probably the most beautiful and enjoyable line I have ever climbed. I had a ear-to-ear, shit-eating-grin across my face the entire route.

The next thing I knew I was pulling the last meter of tufa. It wasn’t until these last couple moves to the anchor that I realized sending was possible, and the fight was on. At this point I was able to get a no hands knee-bar at the last draw which did absolutely nothing I was so pumped. I managed to pull onto the head wall but because of all the rain the last few weeks non of the holds had chalk on them and so I was fully shooting in the dark. With a little bit of luck and power screaming I’m sure all of Spain could hear I was able to pull it off.”

Eva Hammelmüller has completed La théorie des cordes (8c) in Saint Léger. ”Didn’t think it possible to do the first crux with wet holds, but tinfoil works wonders ;) Really good line with hard moves in the first part and delicate slab climbing in the second part.” (c) Felix Mast

Can you tell us more about your tinfoil trick?
I have never used tinfoil before to climb a wet route, but the tufa in the lower crux of ‘La théorie des cordes’, was so drenched that we couldn’t dry it with tissues… Grabbing the hold worked surprisingly well because even though the friction is bad, your hand stays dry; however, heel-hooking on tinfoil is something you really have to get used to😅 Anyway, the weather on this short trip was definitely not on our side - the biggest challenge was finding dry routes.

Moritz Welt, who last week repeated Adam Ondra’s Stone Butterfly (9a+) as well as Black Cobra 2 (8c+) , has done the FA of the 45 m long Black Cobra (3) (9a) in Herculane.

“The logical extension, 3 more bolts from the 8c+ anchor, adds about 10 crimpy moves and ends on an obvious jug on the next chain, happy to add this and bring this line to a more logical finish, would propose solid 9a.”

David Bermudez Carbonell, who previously has done 18 routes 8c to 9a, has completed Victimas Perez (9a) in Margalef.

Can you tell us more about your latest 9a?
It has been a very special ascent for me because it was a route that I always wanted to do and before traveling to Margalef I had Víctimas Pérez on my mind.

The climb consists of over 60 moves on an overhanging wall with a final slab, and it is mainly an endurance route with a crux in the end of the route.

I sent it after 4 days of work, although the first 2 days I was sick and I was not in my best shape. The next days I fell on the final crux 3 times because my fingers did not lock well on a pocket. Finally on the last day of the trip I could send it.

Mackenzie Martin has flashed Víctimas del presente (8b+) and redpointed The journey (9a+) in Margalef. (c) Mateusz Haladaj

”Did it with one hang on my first session, then fell off the last few moves from session 2 onwards. Got sore fingers and left it for the year. Had forgotten about it after a hold broke but luckily it’s still possible, again hurt my finger (seems to injure more than those who climb it) rehabbed with water bottles and got it done with perfect connies (conditions). I was convinced it was benchmark 9a+ especially after the hold broke and the time it took but in the end I’m not sure.”