Enrique Beltrán Blasco does Patanics 9a (+)

Enrique Beltrán Blasco, with eight 9a’s under his belt, has done Patanics (9a+) in Rodellar, giving it a personal 9a grade. (c) Álvaro la fuente

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
After finishing the season in Margalef, I visited my hometown to see my family and friends. My body and mind urged me to return to Rodella to try Patanics. In total, it took five weeks of work. I was very close to achieving it in the second week, but the conditions weren’t the best. It took me another three weeks until I woke up at 4:00 a.m. and found the perfect conditions to do it.

How come you call it 9a?
For me in terms of difficult it is similar to No pain no gain (9a+) [which he also graded 9a]. You climb more meters (around 20 more) and ends in a final 7c part. For me in it is not enough to be 9a+. It’s only a personal opinion. You know that I like graduate hard.