Ashima Shiraishi (14) reports on Instagram that she was very close to repeat Dai Koyamada's Horizon, 8C at Mount Hiei. Japan. In fact, Dai has said it is either a hard 8C or possibly even an 8C+. (c) Yoshiko Saito - This is the project I spent a few days on but fell 3 times from the last hold that was wet. I definitely cried myself to sleep on my last night. I hope to finish projects like these in #2016!!!!

Mina Markovic finishes her Catalonia trip by sending Ingravids extension total 8c+ in Santa Linya. In practice, this means that during her two weeks the Lead World Cup 2015 winner set some kind of a record by doing; one 9a, two 8c+'s and two 8c's. Imagine Mina's tick list if she just focused on rock climbing for one year. (c) Luka Fonda

Alex Megos started up the first day of 2016 by doing First Ley 9a+, which begins at First round, first minute 9b - a route he he did on the last day of 2015. The young German also did a new 9a variation, La Ley indignanta. An interview by our Spanish editor, who is at the scene, is to come soon. 2015 was the best year ever for Alex Megos as well as for the whole climbing community and now the bar has been set for 2016. Enjoy the new year and keep pushing!

Alex Megos strikes again and today he reported on facebook, enclosing a photo by Daniela Ebler, "First ascent of today at Margalef! "Hostia, no PUC" 8c+! Bolted by Jörg Andreas one year ago. Name by @_felixfelicius_ meaning "Damn, I CAN'T" in Catalan.

Luka Fonda comes with another superb picture of Janja Garnbret, who flashed her second 8c yesterday in Santa Linya, La Fabelita. The 16-year-old got the beta from Mina Markovic, who belayed her and explained the moves. The Slovenian onsighted also one 8a+ and La Ruta del Sol 8b. Having been in Top-3 in all the three World Cups and #2 in the Euro Championship last year, Janja is #6 in the 8a Climber of the year list, where her Slovenian teammates, Mina and Domen Skofic are #2 and #9 accordingly.

Alex Megos reports on Instagram that he has done the second repeat (after Adam Ondra) of Chris Sharma's First round, first minute 9b in Margalef, "My first highlight of 2015 was "Lucid Dreaming" my first ever 8C (V15). With "Supernova" 9a+/b I did my HARDEST first ascent ever. TODAY! On my LAST GO of the year, I did my HARDEST route ever with "FIRST ROUND FIRST MINUTE" 9b!!!"

Ruben Firnenburg, who did his first 9a when he was 16 years old, has done his third one, A Muerte in Siurana. The picture is from a 9a project in Santa Linya. "Have been working on it with Gabri Moroni 3 years ago but felt really hard. In this year's Spain trip it felt much better although this bouldery beast is rather my anti-style. On my second day I came already close to send it falling off the last hard move. Then the day after I somehow couldn't seal the deal and fell three times in a row on the last move. To me it felt like a soft 9a. Maybe it's 8c+/9a. But grades are individual and this route took me a lot of time and effort to complete."