Felix Neumärker has done the hardest route in Frankenjura, Corona 9a+ which was set up by Markus Bock in 2006. One year ago, Felix did his first 9a+, La Rambla. There exists three other routes that originally was 9a+ in Frankenjura but they have all been subject of being down graded. Felix says he spent five days last year and four days this year and that it is his style of route, "filigree/ precise power climbing on small pinches/crimps, not painful at all." Have you done any specific training? What is your next plan? Last weekend, I was there with Daniel Jung and we tried 3 days in a row, so this could be called specific training… Next plan? Mmh, what about enjoying life and climb as much as possible meanwhile finishing my studies? ;)

James Webb takes it to a new level also in redpoint by doing his fifth 8C in just over two weeks, The Story of Two World's in Cresciano. As he did the first four so quickly, he gave them all a personal grade. He has also flashed, including personal grades, five 8A+'. "Was SO wrecked on this thing today but somehow managed to climb it! Fell off the finish yesterday 4 times and really had no expectations to send.. Climbed it from the lower start like Carlo and Paul though really I think it makes no difference in difficulty. Took about 3 days of trying last year, and 3 more this year. Stoked to finish it but my real battle is on the other side of the bloc with Dreamtime!! Amuerte!!!

Stefano Ghisolfi has done Belly of the Beast in Peak District which he gives a personal grade of 8B+. Last year, he was Top-11 in the Lead WC, six times out of seven. "Did in one day after ben roof extension and keen roof, did it with kneebar, so it can be easy 8B+. Second ascent after Chris Webb Parsons I think, happy to be in peak district!

Several of the very best boulderers in the world are around 170 cm and at least 3 out of the Top-15 are below 170 cm; Daniel Woods, Dai Koyamada and Carlo Traversi. At the same time the guys with the best development the last years; Webb and Hojer are almost 185 cm. By looking at all the best teenagers coming up we can see that most are actually, or will be, around 180 cm; Caballero, Ometz, Cameroni, Sobotka, Hammer, Unuk. Comparing these centimeter figures with route climbers, we can see that beside Ondra and Sharma, most of the best are around 170 cm.

Julie Smith has done her first 8A+, Lethal Design 8A+ in Red Rocks. "Meant so much to me to have climbed this that I have decided to log it!" The long endurance problem was put up by Pete Lowe five years ago and only in 2014, it has been ticked ten times in the 8a data base including three flashes.

The history shows that almost 50 % of all the hardest boulders in most hard core areas but Fontainebleau are actually down graded. Why is it that often the FAs think hard boulders, outside Font, are harder compared to the repeaters, i.e. an 8A+ FA often becomes 8A? Which are the larger boulder areas with the lowest percentage down gradings? The Fontainebleau boulders which are very seldom down graded are often quite vertical with slooper or mantle cruxes which is like the opposite with the boulders that are down graded in like 50 %. Is the best explanation for the low proportion of down grades that the Font style is more difficult to train in the gym?

Katharina Saurwein has done Drischiebl 8A+ which is said to be one of the most beautiful hard boulder in Zillertal. "We brushed the topout, so instead of jumping down from midway, it finally goes all the way up and above the water." Nice video. Last year Katharina was #6 in the Boulder WC after having been Top-10 in all the eight WC's. The Austrian has been a successful competition climber since 2002 and in 2006 she won the Youth World Championship and in 2008, she won a Lead WC. In 2014, she will do all Boulder WC's.

Brett Lowell reports on Instagram that Ashima Shiraishi has had some remarkable days in Santa Linya. First she did a second go ascent of Digital System 8c and later Favela 8c+ and Rollito Sharma extension 8c. Ashima has previously done three 8c+, three 8B's and flashed an 8A meaning that she has the best female Tick List in the world after Josune Bereziartu. Not bad for being only 12 years old. The next year she is old enough for participating in the Youth World Championship.

Sachi Amma who has won the Lead World Cup the last two years reports on facebook that he has onsighted T 1 Full Equip 8c (b+) in Oliana. "I was thinking to have onsight a few days, and I was so motivated for trying. This feeling gave me power to fight on the wall. I could trust the feet and body. I do not know that I can climb with such a pump. I know many climber who onsight 8cs. I respect them, and I am happy to be in this level as well. Now I will have two days rest to wait the good conditions, and starts again Fight or Flight 9b!!!

Vladyslav Shevchenko who did 8c in Misja Pec last week is back home in Crimea where he has done his second 8c+, Skif Mrack in Nikita which was set up by Evgeny Krivosheytsev.