Andrea Chelleris, 16, ticks 20 Años Después (9a)

Andrea Chelleris, fresh off winning the Euro Youth Cup last month, just sent 20 años después (9a) in Siurana. The 16-year-old climbed his first 9a in 2022 and his first 9a+ last year. Since turning 13, the Italian U-14 Slalom Champion has also onsighted 20 routes 8a+ to 8b+.

Can you tell us more about the highlights of your trip?
After the European cup in Toulouse, I went straight to Spain with my dad. The plan was to stay mainly in Margalef, but after the first week I started to split my skin and I had to tape my fingers. I couldn’t climb well, so we went to Siurana, where I could climb even with the tapes because it’s mainly crimps. I could fast send Pati noso (8c+) and Directa Cornualles (8c) on my 3rd go. Later, I sent Sin Ácido Clorhídrico (8c+/9a) which fits my style very well, so I took only 2 days and 5 tries.

After, I tried 20 Años Después, and from the first try I thought that it was gonna be a fast send, but later it turned out to take a bit longer. To me, it felt like a hard 9a, so I tried to get some info about the route and I got to know that a hold broke (probably an undercling) in the first part. Now you have to grab a mono with the left hand and go to an undercling with the right hand, which at first was quite a hard move for me. After I started falling on the last crux, I knew I was Very close, I fell another time but then when I got there the third time I could send the route.

I have time until the 5th of December so I will try to go back to margalef and see if I can send the project!

Which project do you refer to?
In margalef I fell on the last crux of Victimas Perez (9a) probably five times or more but one try I was really close.

How much schooling and work on a trip like this for you and your father?
I do homeschooling so on rest day I can study but my dad had to take a break from his work, he does tree climbing (he cut trees).