Dreamtime 8B+/C by Christof Rauch

Christof Rauch, who previously has sent a dozen 8C's, has done Dreamtime 8B+/8C in Cresciano. In total, the 27-year-old has done some 850 boulder 8A and harder, in spite of working full time and having suffered from different injuries the last few years.

"Worldclass! Hard 8B+ or low-end 8C, who cares, it‘s Dreamtime! Can‘t describe how satisfying it was to top this Fred Nicole masterpiece after it became kind of a mindgame! It‘s always hard if you know you can do it but somehow you keep struggling with conditions, skin and bad days. The pressure I put on myself is gone! Onto the next!"

Can you tell us a little more about the process and your ascent?
I spent a session on the stand some years ago but couldn’t do it. Then, I did the stand last season and figured out the lower moves. I got really close to sending it, but then it snowed and didn't dry up until I had to leave. After that, it wasn‘t possible to come back due to Covid restrictions. This season I spent another four sessions on the boulder. So all together maybe ~9 sessions but it feels like I could have done it much faster.

Have you recovered from your previous injuries?
Still not fully recovered, I still struggle with my left elbow. I can‘t do a one-arm pullup with my left arm but it is getting better.