Ga-eun Kwon, who sent her first 8c+ at age 10, has repeated Chris Sharma’s iconic Era Vella (9a) during a three-week trip to Margalef.

”The first time I went climbing overseas was with just my dad when I was eight years old. Because that trip was so enjoyable and remains a great memory, the annual climbing trips are always something I look forward to and get excited about. ​Since it had been two years since I last sent an 8c+, my thirst for 9a had been growing. That’s why I was thrilled to come on this trip and finally climb the legendary Era Vella, which I had only seen in videos. ​The only really challenging part here was the cold, as the area doesn't get sun all day and is very windy.

​While adjusting to the time difference, I gradually worked out the moves, doing one or two attempts per day. After a few days, I solved all the moves, and Dad and I celebrated had a party. I was happy because I have always managed to send a route once I’ve solved the movement. ​In the end, I achieved the send after a total of six attempts over three days. ​The most memorable moment was during the fifth attempt: I passed every hard section, but just before clipping the final chain, the inside of a hold was wet. I struggled there for over 10 minutes before finally falling off. It was such an easy section, and I was frustrated and sad that I fell because the hold was wet.

My original schedule was to climb the next day, but Dad suggested we take a rest day. So, on our rest day, we had a great time walking by the sea and doing some local shopping. ​The following day, after warming up, I sent Era Vella on my very first try of the day, finally claiming my first 9a. ​The final moment was amazing; I'm so happy and still can't quite believe it.”

Her 54-year-old father, Younghye, who last year won the Ice World Cup in Korea, gives us the full background story.

”It is not easy for us, coming from an Asian country, to travel frequently to Europe. Because of this, the strength of the  "Selection and Concentration" has always been necessary for us. To ensure that she could complete her target route on each rare trip, we had to combine various pieces of information, preparing and training her for several months in advance.

As this is her last year of elementary school, I often reflect on my daughter's climbing life so far.  Since her mother and I run a climbing gym, the gym naturally became her playground from an early age.  By the time she was six, we began guiding her through more systematic training.

Ordinarily, she focuses her training on climbing competitions, only traveling for outdoor rock climbing once a year. Our goal is to let her experience the joy of climbing in nature and to use these rock climbs as opportunities to push her limits one step further. Because "Era Vella" is world-famous and has many videos available, we were able to analyze its climbing style and characteristics beforehand. I determined that the sustained endurance required for the 50-meter-long route and the angle of the steep overhang were well-suited to her climbing style. I set this route as her goal, and thankfully, she was able to solve the sequences without too much trouble.

However, due to her smaller stature, she often had to find her own unique moves—different from those used by adults—to solve various sections. Through this process, she constantly changed and refined her movements, learning ways to conserve energy even when using the tiniest holds.

Just when she had nearly solved all the movements, the weather became the critical variable. Even though it didn't rain, I suspect that the severe temperature difference caused moisture to appear on several holds. After struggling for several days with these wet holds, the wind finally picked up significantly on December 5th, returning the holds to normal condition. Not missing this crucial opportunity, she climbed calmly and steadily, clipping the rope into the chains to complete her first 9a route. And finally, we want to express our thanks to Chris Sharma for establishing this incredible line.”

Andrea Chelleris, who last month won the Euro Youth Cup in Toulouse, has done Victimes del futur (9a) in Margalef. ”3 days,6 tries. Incredible 3rd 9a of the trip!”

The 16-year-old has also during the last month onsighted six routes 8a to 8b and in the monthly ranking game, he is #4 worldwide.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I tried it for the first time probably two weeks ago, just after I wrecked my skin on Victimas Perez. It took me quite a long time to figure out the best way to do the crux, and I tried to pay a lot of attention to it because I knew I could do the first part easily and everything depended on the crux. The route has a mid/easy intro to a good rest and then the hard crux.

I gave it a try after sending Victima Perez and I fell at the crux. I came back today, and on the first try I got to the crux but I was pumped. The second try was very close, I fell going to the sloper before the jug. Then I really didn’t know if I should give it another go or rest for the next day, but I decided to go because I was feeling good. Everything worked out and I passed the crux! I was very scared to fall on the last slab, so I had a little fight before clipping the chains 😁

Arlo Rio Dutt Chandramowli has repeated Bernd Zangerl’s Premium gravity (8A) in Rakchham. His father, Dhillan, shares their climbing lifestyle including establishing close to 400 boulders in Sethan.

”Arlo has been climbing with me since he was...very young. For the past 9-10 years, I've been developing the bouldering in Sethan, India. He's been around the process since the beginning. Gradually, he got more involved in the sport. As a family, we travel together for about 6 months in a year - 3 months in Sethan, 3 months off/training season in Bangalore and then, the same cycle for Autumn.

He absolutely LOVES exploration, cleaning new lines and just...looking for rock. So, in terms of a background, I'd say it's something he shared a deep and emotionally solid relationship with.

For the first 9 years, we had completely homeschooled Arlo, so that gave us a lot of liberty with his schedule. Since 2024, he's been part of an amazing project-based learning school called Stay Qrious. His classes are online, and his school is super supportive of his climbing.

In fact, whenever he takes the day off to hit a project, his teachers call in to wish him luck and always ask how his session went. Very atypical to the normal situation, where you build a life around a traditional schooling schedule. In fact, one of the first people he called after sending his project was his school teacher/coach. That's how involved they are!

I'm in the process of writing a guidebook for Sethan. Been working on it, for the past few years. It should be out either next year or the year after.

The area is at an altitude of 2800 meters (and above); it sits in full view of the Dhauladhar Himalayas. The village of Sethan itself is a quaint settlement of nomadic horse herders, who have now turned to agriculture. There are lots of variations within the rock here, but it is, in essence, a very compact gneissic granite (similar to Maltatal, Squamish, Chironico, Val Bavona, Magic Woods, Brione, etc.) To reach Sethan, you have to take a flight to either New Delhi or Chandigarh and then an overnight bus to the mountain town of Manali. From Manali, Sethan is only 40-45 mins away by taxi. Manali is a very well stocked town, where you can get everything from beer to phones to outdoor gear to excellent coffee. Sethan has two main climbing seasons, summer and autumn. The summer season is from mid-April to late June. Autumn is from early October to mid/late December. As is the case everywhere, days are longer during the summer but the temperatures are amazing during autumn.”

Jorge ToteLegu, who sent his first 7C boulder at age 31, has completed Street Fighter (8C) in Santa María del Espino / Alcolea.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
It was first climbed by Juan Alonso Mancera in March of this year. He had already done the stand start, an 8A+ single move, a few years ago, and it hadn’t been repeated. Then, less than a month ago, it was repeated by Guillermo Peinado, video. That repeat appears on Jorge Díaz-Rullo’s YouTube channel, since both climbers try the boulder there. And well, I liked the boulder. It’s in the Hidrofix sector. In March I gave it two sessions with good conditions, and now in November, with the cold arriving, I gave it three more and in the end it went down.

What is your climbing background?
Well, I started climbing in a casual and very on-and-off way, mixed with lots of other sports, around 2002—I don’t really remember, haha. I used to do rope routes, no bouldering at all. I actually started focusing more on bouldering and training a bit more consistently around 2017, when I joined a very small climbing gym we called La Gruta. Since then, I’ve been discovering more Spanish and international bouldering areas with friends and training in a more structured way up to now. These days I try to train twice a week and get out on real rock as much as my daughter and partner allow me, haha. And that’s about it, really…

Rakchham is a groundbreaking new guidebook by professional climber Bernd Zangerl, showcasing the remote Himalayan village of Rakchham in Himachal Pradesh, India. Zangerl was one of the bouldering pioneers of Magic Wood and he has put up classics up to 8C around the globe.

Featuring over 560 boulder problems across 14 sectors, Rakchham has quietly emerged as one of the world’s most breathtaking and diverse granite climbing destinations—a true paradise for both beginners and elite climbers. To ensure that Rakchham doesn't suffer the same fate as other climbing hotspots, the professional climber has relied on a sustainable concept from the very beginning – an approach that could set a precedent.

The guidebook is the result of a lifelong journey. It brings together a decade and a half of exploration—detailed topos, maps, and practical informations. Additional this book is packed with wonderful photos and stories, a testament to a climber’s love affair with a hidden Himalayan valley. More info about the guidebook.

When did you first vist Rakchham and how much time have you spent there exploring?
I visited Rakchham for the first time in 2010 and returned every year since then. More or less I spent 5 years in this village already....( every year 3-4 months exploring, brushing, preparing & doing FA`s :-) Even after 15 years development, I would say: the potential is still "untouched" ! There is still so much rock around the village & the valley.

Paul Robinson, who did his first 8C, out of 26, almost 18 years ago, has sent Sound of Violence (8C) in Left Fork and Turpentine (Post Break) (8C) in Coal Creek Canyon. In 2021, he had two discs replaced. ”I think the reason that I had to get the surgery was partly due to my genetics as well as taking 23 years of falls from bouldering. I did the surgery because I love pushing myself in climbing. I love trying to push myself to climb some of the hardest boulders in the world and if I did not get the surgery I would never be able to climb that hard again."

Can you tell us more about those 8C ascents?
When I came up with my list of climbs for my “Final Project,” video series, two of the most important climbs to me were, “Sound of Violence,” and “Turpentine.” Both of these climbs I had tried many many times before and had become epics over the years. Having come agonizingly close to both, I felt this absolute need to send them!

After a good training block in September and early October, I set my first objective on “Sound of Violence,” in Joe’s Valley. As per annual tradition, I set out for Utah over Halloween and on day 1 was pleasantly surprised to do the full upper sequence very quickly. I packed up my shoes and decided to rest the remainder of the day and come back the next day for send burns.

The following day, I warmed up and sent the line on my second try. Knowing my training had paid off felt so good and also had me itching to head home to start trying “Turpentine.”

As the weather cooled at home, I began trying “Turpentine,” agin. My first session went really well and my second session back I nearly sent! The weather however quickly changed and the temps dropped to below freezing for a week straight. I tried in the freezing cold but couldn’t get the friction I needed to send. After Thanksgiving, I saw a day on the forecast that reached 34° f [1 degree] at the boulder. Even though it was too cold, my psyche was too high to not try. I warmed up at home and as soon as I got to the boulder, I started trying it so as to not numb out. After a few mishaps, I made it to the crux and stared down the final move. Bam! I stuck it. I couldn’t believe it and climbed it to the easy top out.

I feel very happy for the momentum I have now and can’t wait for the next project on the list. Once this big storm passes and the snow melts, I think I will set my sights on “Freak Show,” another V15 in the same area as “Turpentine,” my backyard of Coal Creek Canyon.

How come you think you are peaking again? How do you train nowadays?
I think good training and concentration on my diet. I am not 25 anymore so I need to be careful with what I eat. I am almost exclusively training on the tb2. That board is incredible. I switched my home wall to a spray wall to try and mimic outdoor climbing more. Trying to build finger strength!

Andrea Chelleris, who a couple days ago did his eleventh 9a and harder, has completed Victimas Perez (9a) in Margalef. ”Wow it felt so good to send this, After the send of 20 años despues 9a in siurana I gained an amazing shape that for sure helped in today’s send!”

Can you tell us more about the ascent and the process behind?
I started trying Victímas Pérez last year, where I invested probably 4–5 days, but I couldn’t make any progress because my skin kept splitting. I came back this year and already on my third try I started falling on the last crux, but after 2–3 days my skin started opening again, so I had to go to Siurana. I came back again after maybe five days and got very close on one try, so I was really looking forward to the next day, but then I split my finger again. So back to Siurana for one week, and today I came here, did a perfect warm-up, and sent it on my first try of the day. I think the route wasn’t very hard because it’s my style (endurance on pockets), but what made it so hard were the sharp pockets that kept tearing my skin and not letting me make much progress.

Manon Hily, who six weeks ago sent her first 9a, has done Punt’X (9a/+) in Gorges du Loup. The 31-year-old was 13th in the World Championship in September, and her worst result in four World Cups this season was 12th. Two years ago, she made the podium in Briançon, and in 2022 the qualified nurse won the bronze in the European Championship.

On Instagram , she comments: ”Last day, last run 🫡 In sync with punt X but mostly with myself, if only for a short moment. The flow.”

Lucy Mitchell, with five 8c’s under her belt, has sent José pine le gardien dans la cave (8c+) in Lourmarin.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
It was a bit of a dream come true really. I had tried the route last year, but failed to put the top section together, even though it is not meant to be the hardest part. This year I went with no expectations, just a short trip and just wanted to climb after a busy year of work. I got on the route on day 3 of the trip and the moves felt easier than last year, but I didn’t think I would be fit enough. I still couldn’t unlock the top section clean.

A tried it on a more humid / wet day and it felt much worse, but I did all the moves (which I think really helped me believe in good conditions I had a chance). I had 2 days of it all just feeling hard! But on my last go I managed to climb through the top section clean … finally. Just the cave at the start and I had a chance.

I watched Antoine Marie climb it as his warm down that evening … which put things in perspective :) It was inspiring to watch. The following day I got through the cave and somehow managed to hold it together and keep going to the top! Such an incredible route, with such incredible climbing.