Great Guggenheim 9a+ by Iker Pou (44)

Iker Pou has done the FA of Great Guggenheim 9a+ in Mallorca, which is the island's second 9a+ after his Big Men FA in 2015. (c) Juan A. Balaguer Santiago

"The last year I bolted and I redpoint the first pitch to the half of the cave "Guggenheim" 9a. This year I added the second pitch to the top, which is about 8b+. Not so hard but you arrive destroyed from the first part and it is hard to link everything, especially for the head. The route is very steep and with about 110 moves it is challenging the endurance after the first hard 9a pitch."

Iker has been making headlines since 2000 when he did Action Directe 9a. In total, the 44-year-old has done some 30 routes 9a to 9b (+), and as a matter of a fact his most productive years have been since 2015. Also setting up several big walls around the globe, Iker has been one of the world's very best rock climbers for the last 20 years.

How do you train to continue being in peak performance?
Jejeje, I don't know! I think that it is motivation. I love climbing outdoors. I like to always push me to the fullest. Vert little indoor training. I directly get in shape by climbing as much as I can on rock.