8c+ by Katherine Choong in RRG

Choong Katherine has been on a seven month road trip during which she managed to do her first 8c, Chinaclimb in Yangshuo, last December. Now, she has done the famous Southern Smoke 8c+ in Red River Gorge. © Michael Lim, MLIM Photo "I did train a lot on plastic before we left Switzerland in November 2014 for a climbing trip around the world and since we have climb a lot on the rock. I was afraid to loose my power so but sometimes we went to a climbing gym and the most important I think that improved my climbing, is that I work a lot on hard route and have plenty of time to do that, without pressure nor stress. That's the difference with last year when I was in Law university. I return back to Switzerland on 11 June, before the Swiss championship which is a selection for the next world cup. I'm really excited to be back on competition and I will compete as much as the coaches will let me do." In 2009, Katherine was the Youth World Champion and her best result in the Senior World Cup is #13.