55 m 9a, Kruder's preperation for China Boulder WC's
Jernej Kruder, #1 and #2 in the two first Boulder World Cups 2018, has done the 55 meter long Water World in Osp/Misja Pec. "with my new first crux beta, not so hard I guess." Interesting is that this monster endurance session was his last preparation for the next two Boulder World Cups in China. As a matter of a fact, Kruder says he has not have had one single indoor session since he returned from Moscow!

Crag & route pages updated
Weโ€™ve updated the layout of the crag and route pages. The new page structure lays the foundation for bringing Topos to Vertical-Life Web. Alongside the new layโ€ฆ
Nearly 2,000 hectares of Font Forest destroyed by wildfire
Exceptional wildfires are currently sweeping through parts of France's Fontainebleau Forest. Located around 70 km south-east of Paris, the UNESCO Biosphere Reseโ€ฆ
Fight or Flight 9b by Matty Hong
Anna Liina Laitinen reports on her Insta that her boyfriend Matty Hong has done Fight or Flight. As can be seen by the picture by Francois Lebleau there is a long flight down if you miss that last jug. Matty has previously done three 9a+' and he is also a professional photographer taking great pictures of his climbing world class friends like when Margo Hayes did La Rambla 9a+.

9a by Jonathan Guadalcรกzar
Jonathan Guadalcazar has done his second 9a, Ataxia in Crevillent where he previously has set up four 8c+' "A big marathon trough the lip of the roofs. Climbs Supernova and then from the anchor it is a five routes combo. Hard to grade, it is pretty bouldery with bad rests. To me it seems logical to grade this (9a). It is the 8c+ of Supernova adding an 8b+. A great route really."

9a by Martin Schidlowski
Martin Schidlowski has done his first 9a, Kraftplatzl in Berglsteiner See. "it took me 15 sessions, the fist one being in march last year. In winter I focused on power endurance (the route only has 25 moves) and finger strength training. When perseverance, dedication and hard work finally pay off! Got lucky with the conditions after many frustrating tries. Thanks to all my friends for belaying me, especially Valerie for the positive attitude on the sending day! My next plan is to finish my mountain guide education and to find more time for alpine climbing and mountaineering. I will rather focus on longer routes during the summer months instead of starting a new hard project."

Akira Waku started climbing 12 years ago being 35 years. There were no climbing gym in the neighborhood so he decided to build one. His physical background was close to nothing. "I was doing athletics competition in my school days. After that some road bike since I was 30 years old. Climbing training is mainly muscle training and campus board training. I devise my own training and practice it. I do not have coaches, trainers, etc and I do not even go there." In the video Akira does Babel in Shiobara put up as an 8C/+ by Dai Koyamada in 2007 as an 8C/+ and it has been confirmed as an 8C by the four repeaters.