Michela Kiersch has done Wovenhand (8B) in Magic Wood. In just the last year, the Doctor of occupational therapy, has done some 35 boulders 8A and harder out of which some just the last few days, also in MW.

Can you tell us more about the send and the number of sessions needed?
It took about 3 sessions for me - on the second session I tried 15 times and had to take two rest days afterwards, oops! The style is very challenging for me- very powerful sequences with large moves and compression. Proud of this one!

How does the warming up routine look like and which are your favourite boulders in MW?
An important part of my routine here in Magic Wood is starting the climbing day with a joyful moment — something which sharply juxtaposes the longer and arduous projecting sessions. Favorite boulders of the trip are , Blue Sky Of Mine (6A+), and .

Nathan Musson (12) and Maël Musson (17) have, respectively, done La théorie des cordes (8c) in and La proue debridée (8c+) in Roche de rame.

Their mother Christelle comments, "Nathan started climbing as a child, mainly on the cliffs at first. He immediately got hooked on the activity and progressed very quickly, which enabled him to do his first routes in the eighth degree at the age of 10. He then did his first 8b+ in Rodellar last summer and his first 8c at 12 years old this week."

Big brother Maël comments, "My brother has been my climbing partner since we were little. Our parents quickly trusted us and as soon as he was 6 or 7 years old we immediately started to belay and climb together. When I was his age I was already climbing in the 8th degree but I was far from having the ease that he has. I was doing 8a or 8b at most.

Can you also tell us more about your 8c+ ascent?
The route is divided into 3 sections. The first part of 5 quickdraws is very bouldery and technical. It is followed by a second resistant part of about fifteen moves which ends with some very intense moves which make the crux of the route. Finally, there is a last section of a 7c slab with a last random move. I started working on it during the February holidays. I quickly managed to master the first part which made me want to come back to try the climb. I went back every weekend in March. The route being south facing it was impossible to try it before 5 pm which did not allow me to do many climbs per session. I passed the start but fell at the last hard moves of the crux. Being not very tall, I couldn't do the traditional method. Then I couldn't go for a few weekends and I thought that it would soon be too hot and that I didn't have much time left for this year.

A fortnight ago, when I came back, I found a new method for the crux that suited me better and I was able to do the route a few tries later. I was so happy when I clipped the belay! During all the weekends we spent in Saint Léger, we often met the same climbers! The atmosphere was really nice! It was a great adventure!

Marcello Bombardi, who won the Lead WC in Chamonix in 2017, has made the FA of El puma (9a) in Chesod. "Old line bolted by Hervé Barmasse years ago and never tried seriously by other climbers. Completely natural and on crazy and unique rock. The moves turned out to be amazing. Difficult to grade for me, proposed 9a." (c) Photografem

Can you tell us more about the ascent? It looks very steep?
I needed around 6 days spread over different years. During the first couple of sessions, I struggled to find a good beta. The rock on that wall is unique, it features a series of awesome cracks which are often too flared and bad oriented to hold on to. I then found a way to climb the few meters of the hard section, using different holds I didn’t consider before, keeping the tension with the feet and a very difficult (for me) heel hook to prevent to swing until the last moment. It’s been great to experience the finding of the right beta and the tries for climbing it.

It’s not so steep actually but however you always need to keep the tension on the feet so you don’t cut loose. The hard section consists of nine moves where you cannot find a good position to clip or get chalk.

What are your competition and Olympic plans?
Obviously to qualify for the Olympics would be a big dream. I will compete in the World Cups needed to qualify for the qualification events of next year. It will be hard but I will try hard.

Adrian Houbron, who last year did two 8c+', has repeated Tony Lamiche's Condé de choc (9a) in Entraygues.

Can you tell us more about doing your first 9a?
I discovered Entraygues only last year and I had in mind to try San ku kai (8c+), the king line of the crag. After several sessions on the route, I finally did it and I choose to try La moustache qui fâche (9a+) but to be honest, it was way too hard for me! At the same time, I tried the easier start of Deltaplane man direct (8c+) (start in the classic 7c and finish in the final bow shared with Delataplane Man and Condé de Choc). After two sessions, I managed to link up this combi and I told myself that I had nothing to lose by trying the moves at the bottom of Condé. I quickly managed to do the famous jump on the crimp, but a move just below was a big problem for me to go into a right finger jam. The end of the season was approaching and I still hadn't found a solution for this move, so I left Entraygues with only one idea in mind: come back stronger next year to do it!

This year, we came to Entraygues much earlier. From the first session, I found the sensations in the jump, and I immediately found a solution for the movement which caused me problems! During the second session, I focused on the moves of the second part of the route, but I felt much less good than last year. And to add some spice, the first hold of the route was starting to get wet, so we decided to take a day off, hoping that the hold would not be too wet. I came back a day later, with the knife between the teeth, the hold was not quite dry but we found a way to dry it just before a run. I put in a first try, I managed to catch the finger jam but I fell at the jump, fingers a little cold. I rested for 10 minutes, then I put a run again before I get too cold, I got to the jump again but with much warmer fingers and much more excitement, and I did the jump!

I did the less hard moves to get to the rest, where I stayed for almost 3 minutes, and I go back to the top section that I was a bit more apprehensive about. I passed the top crux and carried by the encouragements of Lilian and Justin, I made the last moves to reach the saving jug, it was an explosion of joy, then I make the final mantle and I clip the chain, without really realising what had just happened.

Cody Roth, who one month ago did the FA of Flipping the Bird (9a), at Arco's Grottosauro, has reported on Insta that he has bolted and sent a new direct finish to it, which he thinks could be a little harder but he is reluctant to up the grade. (c) Francesco Zerbi

"A week after freeing Flipping the Bird, I went back and added a further eight bolts which created an independent finish for this climb. Initially I'd doubted that there was enough there, which is why I went into the neighbouring 8c. Once I completed Flipping the Bird, I was able to zoom out again and I realized there probably was enough there for a direct finish and I couldn't help feeling like I'd taken the easy way out. I didn't expect to climb it as quickly as I did, and claiming another 9a and getting attention for it feels a bit like cheating in this case, which is why I haven't made a big deal out of it; but, if it being known means others might climb it, I'm happy!

I managed to get it done on the evening of May 3rd after work, and just two days before flying to the US for a family visit and work conference, which I just came back from. I think this direct version could be a touch harder, but I'm not entirely sure and I don't feel any pressure to put a plus on it. With both of these climbs I was able to approach them in such an efficient, slow-build way which makes it hard to keep perspective. On top of that, I worked on them alone which gives great feeling of self-reliance, but not such a great feeling of awareness and certainty."