25 April 2023

Babsi Zangerl ticks Pure Imagination (8c+)

Barbara Zangerl, who previously has done four routes 8c+/9a and harder, has sent Pure Imagination (8c+) in Red River Gorge, after projecting it for seven days. During her three week trip she also did Fifty words for pump (8c) and The Tube (8b+). Here is her full report from the trip with Lara Neumeier. (c) Francois Lebeau

Can you tell us more about your trip and sends in the Red?
Pure Imagination was a line I always wanted to try. Super cool sustained climbing on small holds. Such an awesome classic line. I really liked the different styles of climbing on the routes I did. At the Bob Marley cave, you have steep athletic climbing on bigger holds. (50 words for pump, ultra perm) „the Tube“ was a hidden gem somewhere in the woods which was the most technical one.

What are your next and upcoming 2023 plans?
Plans are climbing around home and in Val di Mello. We will go to this year's Melloblocco and stay a bit longer to climb on Qualido, an amazing big wall in the valley. In the fall I will go back to Yosemite valley with Lara Neumeier, climbing a classic line there El Corazon (8a) maybe. It will be Lara‘s first experience on El Cap. Excited! And I would be psyched to go back to Meltdown (8c+ trad) as well.

How is it possible to focus on so many disciplines at the same time?
For me personally this is the best way to stay motivated all the time. I can‘t really imagine focusing just on one style all the time. Maybe I would be stronger then but it would be less fun, I guess. I love all the different styles of climbing. For me, it is not all about climbing hard. I love the mental challenge in trad climbing and the adventures in big wall climbing. Climbing an easier graded route which is hard to protect can be a harder challenge compared to climbing a hard-graded sport climbing route. So it is all relative. I just really like the learning process of trying out something new.

0 comments
Most commented
Jernej Kruder sends Martin Krpan (9a) sans knee pads

Jernej Kruder, who won the Boulder World Cup in 2018, has done Martin Krpan (9a) in Mišja Peč. “I would like to expose something here: I spent many tries on t…

Updated: Alex Megos comments doing Change (9b+) in 5 sessions

Alex Megos reports on Instagram that after a disappointing performance at the Olympics, he traveled to Flatanger and in just five sessions he was able to compl…

Welcome to Vertical-Life Web

Six years after partnering with 8a.nu, we’re excited to announce the unification of the 8a.nu website and the Vertical-Life app into a single platform: Vertical…

Related
Maya Ene, 13, sends Southern Smoke (8c+)

Maya Ene, who did her first 8b+ at age 11, has sent Southern Smoke (8c+) in the Red River Gorge (KY), video on her Insta. Earlier this spring she did, Lethal De…

Jesse Grupper flashes Pure Imagination (8c+)

Jesse Grupper, who six weeks ago secured an Olympic ticket, reports on Instagram that he has flashed Pure Imagination (8c+) in Red River Gorge (KY). The beta he…

Jesse Grupper ticks Full Metal Brisket (9a+)

Jesse Grupper reports on Instagram that he has repeated Jonathan Siegrist's Full Metal Brisket (9a+) in New River Gorge (WV). The redpoint took five sessions an…