The New Yorker presents a full length article about Ashima Shiraishi including the family background and the fact that her mother was 51 years old when gave birth to Ashima - The most talented climber in the world.

By analysing Similarweb, we can see that 8a.nu is the leading global climbing website as all competitors get most of their traffic from their country of origin. The 8a visitors are, on the contrary, evenly spread out around the globe. Furthermore, the most interesting fact is that 85% of 8a visitors come "direct" instead of just clicking on a link on Facebook or Google etc. The four main competitors to 8a get most of their visitors through links at Google and Facebook etc. 85% 8a.nu 45% UKC (32% from "Google" & 67% from UK) 33% PlanetM (42% from "Google") 24% R&I (50% come from social media) 23% Climbing (38% from "Google") In practice, in the Google and Social media era, getting 85% of the traffic direct, is extremely high and unique for a global social community like 8a.nu. This also shows a great potential to grow. To have such a high figure is also very interesting for the advertisers. If you only visit a certain domain because of a Facebook link, you are probably less interested to look around :)

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!

Niccolo Ceria, the winner of the 8a Boulder ranking game 2015, has as usual put together his Top-10 list of boulders 2015 including superb pictures. Stefan Kuerzi has taken five of them including this one of The Big Island 8C in Fontainebleau.

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.

Klemen Becan summarizes 2015 and in onsight, he has probably been Top-5 in the world. (c) Anja Becan "The year is over and looking back on what I climbed I think it was not that bad at all. In 2015 I did: 8b On Sight 11x (2x FA) 8b+ On Sight 8x 8c On Sight 1x 8c+ Red point 4x (3x FA) I bolted 33 new routes in 6 different countries graded from 6b to 9b? (16 of them still waiting for the FA).

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!!!"