Alma Bestvater does four 8A’s in Silvretta

Alma Bestvater, with ten 8A+' under her belt, has sent four 8A’s in Silvretta; Shining (8A), British Airways (8A) (pictured), Welcome to Jamrock Stand right (8A) and Diamond Nuts (8A).

The 28-year-old climber has been competing in World Cup events since 2013, achieving her best results in 2018 with 5th and 6th place finishes. After suffering a severe shoulder injury in 2022, she took a break from competitions. However, she made a strong comeback in 2024, with her lowest finish across three World Cups being 22nd place.

Can you tell us more about your great trip to Silvretta?

My trip to Silvretta was quite spontaneous, largely because I’ve been focusing more on comps this year. It had been quite a while since I last visited Silvretta, so I was excited to return and see how I would perform on some old projects. On the first few days, I decided to attempt two of my previous projects: British Airways and Diamond Nuts. To my surprise, I was able to climb both of them relatively quickly. This was especially meaningful because the last time I tried these climbs was before my shoulder surgeries.

This time, I felt stronger and fitter, moving through the sequences with a newfound confidence. The feeling of sending these boulders after such a difficult period of recovery was incredibly fulfilling.

What made this trip particularly special was the realization that I didn’t just feel as strong as I was before my injuries—I actually felt stronger. This was a huge milestone for me, especially considering it has taken almost two years to reach this point after my last shoulder surgery. It’s something that makes me really proud.

Encouraged by these successes, I decided to try something new: flashing an 8A boulder. I’d never seriously attempted to flash a boulder of that grade before, and I chose Shining as my challenge

The attempt was incredibly close—I almost succeeded on my first try, but in the end, I managed to send it on the second attempt. Although it would have been amazing to flash it, I’m still thrilled with the result.

This trip to Silvretta wasn’t just about ticking off projects or chasing grades; it was more about taking a break from competition training and recognizing the progress I’ve made since my injuries and I’m eager to get back to Silvretta and continue pushing my limits.