Lucija Tarkuš ticks Martin Krpan (9a)

Lucija Tarkuš, who last week sent Kingslayer (8c), has done Martin Krpan (9a) in Mišja Peč. In September the 22-year-old Slovenian was number eight in a World Cup and the last four weeks she has done five routes 8c and harder. (c) Mateusz Haladaj, who comments.

”As a witness of her attempts on Martin Krpan (that I also climbed in 2010) I must admit she climbs with incredible control and precision, worth mentioning without kneepads.”

Can you tell us more about you joining the 9a club?
After I did Konec mira (8c), I knew Martin Krpan was possible, because I had already done all the moves. But coming to Konec Mira feeling more tired, I wasn’t sure how it would go, since it already felt hard. Then I gave it a couple of tries over two days in bad conditions, and even though I always fell in the middle of the crux, I knew I had it in me.

So I came back last weekend, and the weather was great. I felt super happy to send it on my fourth go of the day. Climbing 9a has been my childhood dream, so I’m flattered and stoked to finally be part of the 9a club.