Frankenjura.com reports that Alexander Megos, who last year did the first 9a onsight by Estato Critico in Siurana, has done a two hour ascent of Action Directe 9a in Frankenjura. AD was put up in 1991 by Wolfgang Güllich as an 8c+ but is now recognized as the first 9a in the world. It has had some 15 repeats but this is by far the quickest ascent. Megos ascent was the second ascent since 2012. (c) Jorgos Megos

Manon HILY has had some great days in Margalef onsighting two 8a+, Sarganta Killer and Hard Crit as well as redpointed Flash Over 8b+.

Martin Keller blogs about the FA of "Gepresster Hase" at Sustenpass, Switzerland, a possible 8C. Prior to the ascent he had several injuries that caused him to lay off for 8 months. (c) Angela Wagner

Nalle Hukkataival reports on facebook, ""Bügeleisen sit start could be the hardest thing I've climbed and more importantly it is one of the best boulders in the world! Huge respect to Klem Loskot for the original vision!" Klem Loskot suggested 8B+ for the stand start but also 8C has been proposed ad a personal grade. Nalle has not yet suggested a grade for the sit start but he has done several 8C's and also Gioia for which Adam Ondra suggested a personal upgrade to 8C+. Nalle did not give Gioia a grade.

Jule Wurm who was travelling during February and March and did nine 8A and 8A+' won the first World Cup in China after just one month of hard indoor training. Last year she was #5 overall after having won one event? (c) Eddie Fowke What are the major changes you have done in preparation for 2014 compared to previous years, beside bouldering hard outside? I guess I changed a lot of things. I trained in a different gym than before and did a lot of short and hard boulders on a super overhanging wall and also trained once a week or so on the campus board. And it is a big change that I take half a year off from University now to have more time for training, to do all the comps and also some outdoor trips. What is the best thing travelling all over the globe to compete in the World Cup? It´s so cool to get to see many different places and cultures. The day before yesterday we've still been to China and now we're in Azerbaijan! That´s so crazy! And what I like even more is that we hang out with people from many different countries and have fun with them!

Joes in Bros Valley from Cold House Media on Vimeo.

Lets go way back to spring of 2013. Feeling frisky after a weekend in Boulder for SCS Nationals, homies and bros Paul Robinson and Josh Larson head to Southern Utah's gem, Joes Valley, for a few days of hikin' up forks and walkin' up boulders.

CLIMBS:
Beyond Life - V10
The Last Great One - V13
Slasher - V13
Worm Turns - V11
Black Daliah - V10
Insurgency - V14

Music: Gold Panda - You

Lukasz Dudek has done two great 8c+ in Siurana, El rastro "One of the best in my life! Last day, last try" and La furia de la noche "Probably FA, Dani Andrada project. In total, Lukasz has done 23 8c+ and ten 9a's. In the Combined ranking game, he is #5.

Jan hojer who is #3 in the 8a ranking game took a great victory in the first Boulder WC of 2014. Last year he was #8 after having won one event. (c) Eddie Fowke How come you tried the first boulder 24 times instead of saving energy? I kept trying the first dyno over and over again because I desperately wanted to have an advantage going into the other boulders especially the last one! Trying a boulder 14 times in 4 minutes might be a little uncommon, but if you compete against Dmitrii who is so much stronger, it requires weird tactics and (even more important) a lot of luck! Have you done any specific training to be better prepared 2014? This year I wanted to take the preparation for the WC's a bit more seriously, because I wasn't in good shape last year when the season started. I stretched more, ate healthier and climbed in more different gyms before we flew to China

markel mendieta has done the FA of Lurragorri 8C in Araotz. If this is his first 8C we do not know but he has done at least a dozen 8B+.

Chris Zehani has done his third 8c+ FA the last year, Fox et Sashidananda in Orgon which is link-up between an 8b and Sashidananda 9a. "There are 42 ultra resistant moves without rest and it is for sure 8c+. It took me a lot of tries and a lot of time... but I am 40 years old (in June!) and now many routes take more tries and time than before. Another thing. Gerome Pouvreau redpointed Sashidanada in 2009 and graded it 9a. It is for sure too hard for me but I think it's more a 9a+ which many strong climbers also think.