James Webb comes with great news on Instagram, with a picture from Isabelle Faus. "Cold conditions today in bocan but things seemed to work out. On my first go of the session I sent 'The Game' V15. Feels so good to finish it off just before rolling back home. Huge props to @dawoods89 for puttin up this beast and a huge cheers to the krew for stickin with me the past few days!" Daniel Woods made the FA in 2010 after 17 days of projecting giving it 8C+. Later Carlo Traversi made the second ascent giving it a personal grade of 8C, having found a better sequence which also Jon Cardwell agreed upon, although he broke a crucial hold. Woods said that some of the new holds used have gotten bigger due to brushing.

Steve McClure has been on a great trip to Chulilla, where he onsighted a dozen 8a's and some harder routes, including Taka Okame 8b+. Not bad for a 45 year old. Here is his modest comment. Photo Keith Sharples "Great place Chulilla, loved it, super tech. One of best places I've been for ages, though its ages since I've been anywhere! Not sure I onsighted 8b+. how can one tell? Other than how it feels, and what the guide says! It says 8b+, other say 8b+, it felt 8b+. Still, I found it really hard, but onsight you never know, you get it wrong and you really can't say. But my efforts are irrelevant really, in todays climate, not even worth a mention, I'm amazed anyone is interested! Its almost embarrassing that a few of my routes would make 'news'. Still, maybe its because I'm so old I should have given up and grown up...."

Here are some official stats from SimilarWeb suggesting that 8a is the leading global sport climbing website. Measured by traffic, 8a is #4 but the higher ranked get most of their visitors from their country of origin. It is also interesting that all the other major websites do get most of their traffic from Google search, Facebook etc meanwhile 8a gets 87 % by visitors actively writing www.8a.nu in the browser. Thank you for your active interest :)

Fanatic Climbing comes with the great news that Kevin Lopata has done the 4th ascent of Misti 8C in Fontainebleau. The professional double bass musician at the music academy of Lille has also done Mécanique élémentaire 8B+ in the forest. - "Misti is very esthetic line, with a continuous effort where I am quite comfortable in this style... Small holds, technical feet moves, resistance,... It just requires me to improve a little bit in undercling body tension...Not to bad for me. About Mécanique, it's the opposite ! Big body tension, no foot, and a weird heelhook at the beginning. I like this style and I'm training a lot for that and it pays ! This 2 problems show to me that for having the success you must stay focused and work hard !"

Alexander Megos had really good days with outstanding sends in Margalef at the end of November, but he left some unfinished business. Such was the route which ended up being his first 9b, 'First Round First Minute', which he sent on his next trip to the area, the very last day of 2015. That plus what he fired-off the next two days (a 9a+, the FA of a 9a and the FA of an 8c+) made my head boil with questions when I saw him climbing... Read the interview here. Pic© Ignacio Sandoval Burón.