Michael Piccolruaz ticks Companion of Change (9a+)

Michael Piccolruaz, who was 15th in the Tokyo Olympics, has completed Companion of Change (9a+) in Zillertal. This was the first 9a+ for the 30-year-old, not counting the DWS route, Es Pontas (9a+), for the Boulder specialist. (c) Sara Grippo

”Finally! Two years after losing my mind over this route, I managed to keep it together and finish it off! Glad to see I can still improve tactically and maybe also physically ??”

Can you tell us more about the improvements?
I'm not so sure what made me feel better on the route than two years ago. Ever since I stopped comepting last September I haven't followed any training plan, I climb a bit less (in terms of days a week), I try to mostly climb outside, and somehow this proves to work really well. I feel probably im my best shape ever, eventhough I can't really explain why. The best explanation I have is that through climbing on rock more I have more sessions where I try SUPER hard, which improved my max power. Indoors I rarely manage to try so hard, cause I want it less. Outside, I want to reach the top at any cost, and so I try harder, I guess. It just shows me how important spending a lot of time outside is for me!