Stefano Ghisolfi reports on Insta that he has repeated Adam Ondra's Queen Line in Arco. (c) Sara Grippo "I was very close to falling in every part of the route, even when the hardest section was over, and I had to give my 100% to complete the climb. The route is slightly harder then the other 9b's I climbed, so it's the second hardest route for me just after Perfecto Mundo." In 2018, the Italian was runner up in the Lead World Cup. In the 8a ranking game he is #5. In 2019, he goes all in for the Olympics.

Alex Puccio has done two more 8A's in Hueco Tanks, Young blood and the FA of Mammoth rub. In total the 153 cm tall has now done 76 boulder 8A+ to 8B+. (c) Robin O'Leary "I guess my second FA ever, but really this seems like the first. Really fun line on West Mt. that starts far down and left of a classic v4 called “Could have been Ty’s.” Bomber rock, fun movement and slippery small feet. Also has some power moves in it. :) Matt Fultz and I figured out the moves and then it worked, just slightly different foot beta for the both of us was the key."

Alex Puccio has had a great start of her Hueco Tanks trip although saying she was out of shape on Insta one week ago. During the last five days she has done three 8A+' including The Tax Gatherer. (c) Robin O'Leary "3rd try. Thought the holds were going to feel worse so had a power push through them for the first try and then second try I pulled on and then stepped off because foot was not in the correct spot. Pulled on again for a third go and sent. Definitely should have flashed this one." Alex have had many injuries during the last years including some surgeries. Since almost a year she has also been plagued with double elbow tendonitis. During December she was almost not able to climb at all and on top of that 153 cm tall had increased from 54 kg to 58 kg. "I know that we all have our own peaks and valleys, but this one has honestly been one of the hardest for me, arguably harder than my major surgeries. Since last summer of 2018 I have gone through some BIG life changes, knee surgery again and then had a break from training/ climbing and so on." In 2009, Alex won her first World Cup and in 2018 she did just participate in one, which she won. One month ago, during her last climbing break, she announced on Insta that she will not try to qualify to Tokyo as she did not want to give up outdoors.

Matt Fultz has had an amazing first day in Hueco Tanks where he did Esperanza 8B+, Diabolique 8B and two 8A (+) "second go", Barefoot on Sacred Ground and Tequila Sunrise. The latter two he had tried once 13 years ago when he was 14 years old so some could have called it flashes. Ethical discussion and comments on his Insta. It should be mentioned that the two "flashes" most consider 8A+ but Matt put it up as 8A's. In the 8a ranking game Matt is #11 but he would have been #6 if he had not been so conservative. Further comments in the right column.

Thilo Jeldrik Schröter has done his second 8B flash, Nagual in Hueco Tanks. "Last day best day. Two rest days leading up to this." Full story at his Insta. During his five weeks in Hueco Tanks, which started rather slowly due to finger problems, the Norweigian did 28 boulders 8A and harder out of which nine flashes.