Christian Mercene has done Andy Raether's Manphibian (9a) in Mt. Charleston. "I started putting in work on Manphibian this season after I sent the first section (Spyfiction 5.14c) last year. After about 13 days of consistent and steady progress and punting on the last hard move twice, I was able to finally send!" (c) Matt Levy

Did you do any specific or replica training?
I followed a power endurance work out called the 30/30s that I got after listening to Joe Kinder on the Nugget climbing podcast. I chose 6 boulder problems that feel consistent with the moves of Manphibian. The workout would consists of 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest 6 boulders in a row. After each week I would decrease the rest time between reps. On my second day I would train on a spray wall replica that mimicked the intensity and time under tension/ rest of Manphibian.

Sebastien BOUIN has done the first repeat of Adam Ondra’s, from 2013, Iron Curtain (9b) in Flatanger. The 29-year-old has published the full story on Insta, saying that due to his use of kneepads his personal grade is 9a+. The French has previously done seven routes 9b to 9c. (c) Marco Müller

"This year, I decided to return to Flatanger, without any real fixed objectives. I’m leaving myself open, and I will try what inspires me. So I started with Iron Curtain. The rock is so perfect, and the line is so cool. It took me 14 tries to do it, and 5 climbing days. I used kneepads to send it. I think the line is easier with kneepads. You can do the crux a bit differently. It's still quite hard, but less demanding on the shoulders, and more of a conventional boulder problem. Adam proposed a 9b grade without kneepad. And I am quite sure of this grade if you are not using kneepads. Regarding the time and investment it took me, it could be more 9a+ using kneepads. This line is exceptional."

Stasa Gejo, the Discovery+ commentator, made great interviews with the winners Adam Ondra and Janja Garnbret. (c) Petr Chodura

Ondra: “I definitely needed a break after the Olympics, but now I feel it’s the time – I got hungry for competitions. I think I picked up the best Lead World Cup on the circuit which is Chamonix and it was a great decision – I enjoyed climbing here. I love climbing when it’s actually dark, that’s when the time is still here in Chamonix and when all the crowd behind your back is unbelievable.

I think the more complex the route, the better for me. I especially liked the pinchy section at the top of the overhang. Then I was kind of disappointed that it was just a pure crimp fest, but I was pretty happy that I could actually recover a little bit before the last crimps. The last dyno I was pretty sure from observation that I could just reach, but it was not possible.

Garnbret: “I felt flowy. Usually I feel more nervous when I know a lot of girls before me already topped, but this time I was super calm and relaxed. I just climbed with a little bit of caution because I knew that I needed to top the route, but it was easy! Right now I’m really excited to go back home to fall back into a routine a little bit, and then I’m excited for Briançon.”

Janja Garnbret topped all her four routes with ease in Chamonix and won based on countback over Laura Rogora, Chaehyun Seo and Jessica Pilz. (c) Lena Drapella/IFSC

Among the men, Taisei Homma was first out and fell dynoing to the top. The dyno was done with a pogo swing with his left foot which later landed on a big volume at the same time trying to grab the top jug. Later, everyone fell at least ten moves lower before Adam Ondra cruised it until he tried a double dyno move to the top. Interestingly, Adam’s climbing time was 3.10 meanwhile Taisei had used two more minutes.

Last climber out was Sean Bailey but he fell like Luca Potocar and Yannick Flohe going to hold 30. Then the confusion started as he did not get his obvious 29+ and he was fifth in the official list. The award ceremony started without Bailey. Then some seconds later Bailey got his + and his bronze.

Adam Ondra made his first 2022 World Cup in Chamonix and got three straight Tops in the qualification and semi rounds. Among the males, there were a total of eleven Tops in the quarterfinal and then also Sean Bailey, Luka Potocar and Satone Yoshida topped the semi. The latter two topped only one of the qualification routes. Alex Megos also topped but was only given 13 points as he accidentally put some weight on the quickdraw, while clipping, when his foot cut loose. The big sensation was that Colin Duffy was #20 and Jesse Grupper #35. Jesse topped one route but toe-hooked outside the route on the second. Complete results

Natalia Grossman and Janja Garnbret did also top all three routes, as also Brooke Raboutou did but the latter was given 37 due to being timed out. Third is the ranking is Natsuki Tanii, who topped the semi but only one of the qualification routes. Complete results The finals starts 8.30 pm.

It should be mentioned that time will be crucial, especially among the males in the finals as 2 + 4 have the same results going into the finals. In other words, if Janja or Natalia get the same scoring, the faster will be ranked higher.

Allison Vest and Alex Johnson have done No More Greener Grasses (8A+) in Mount Blue Sky. Alex has both sends on her Insta. The 33-year-old has won two World Cups back in 2008 and 2010 and she has now done 15 boulders 8A+ and harder. Allison did her first 8B+ in 2022 and she is currently #2 in the 8a ranking game.

Vest (pictured): "Sent right before the storm and with an already damp top out… spicy. Such a good one!"
Johnson (spotting): "Always been on the life list. 2nd try this trip, remember trying in like 2008 and not being able to do any moves lol. Feeling pretty fit."

Matjaz Z🫍 has done Umetnost (9a) in Ter after some ten sessions. "I can say that all the lines in this sector are so beautiful especially this one of course. I’m really happy to send it right before I go to a longer vacation. I'm going for one month to France and Spain! There are still projects in this sector which may be even harder, so i’m psyched for the future!😊" (c) Rajko Zajc

Anak Verhoeven reports on Insta that she has done Jungfrau Marathon 9a in Gimmelwald. (c) Jon Thornton - Peak Imagery

The Belgian was previously a very successful competition climber and when it comes to outdoors, she has done 14 routes 8c+/9a and harder. In other words, although she's just 26-years-old, she is one of the best female climbers in history.

Could you tell us a little bit more about climbing this route?
I first spent two days climbing with local climbers, discovering the route and working the moves. On my third climbing day I went for the redpoint. I fell twice at the crux move; every time feeling a little better. I climbed through the crux on my third redpoint try and topped the route.

William Bosi has done the FA of Free at Last (9a+) in Dumbarton. ”What a line! This has got to be one of the best sport routes I've seen. Also if confirmed it will be Scotlands first 9a+ and hardest route. This is the bolted line right of requiem. I reckon the crux section could be around 8B+/C boulder.” (c) Band of Birds

Despite being bolted a long time ago, the route, known as Dumbarton Oaks (aka La Dumby-Dumby Project) had not received serious attention until 2014 when Dave Macleod and Alan Cassidy re-bolted it and put time into unlocking the sequence of moves.

Bosi commented on the ascent: “Dumby is one of my favourite crags and having climbed there a lot, it feels really special to add my own route to the crag which has such a special place in Scottish climbing’s history.”

On the climbing, Bosi commented, “Although there looks like a lot of holds from the floor, almost everything is an undercut or a side pull. This makes the climbing very technical as the feet are tiny! The climbing is also very intense and powerful as you cannot relax. The send go went really well with almost no mistakes and just a lot of try-hard! The day was pretty still so conditions were not great but while I was sat on the ledge above the slab the wind picked up and the conditions aligned! Topping out felt absolutely incredible and this route is definitely a highlight for me.”