Anak Verhoeven doing Rainshadow (9a)

Anak Verhoeven sent Rainshadow (9a) in May and now a video has been released. The Belgian is among the most accomplished female lead competition climbers in history. Over her career, she reached the finals in 36 consecutive World Cup events and claimed 19 podium finishes. In 2019, injuries forced her to step away from the competitive scene. After fully recovering in 2021, she decided to focus exclusively on outdoor rock climbing. By the end of her competition years, she had completed roughly a dozen routes graded between 8c+ and 9a+. Since her retirement from comps, the now 28-year-old has matched that tally with another dozen ascents in the 9a to 9b range.