Minyoung Lee ticks Jungle Boogie (9a+)

Minyoung Lee, who last year did his first 9a+, has repeated Adam Ondra's Jungle Boogie (9a+) in Céüse. In 2021, Lee was #12 in a Boulder WC but now his focus is rock climbing. (c) Marco Bergonzi

Can you tell us more about Jungle Boogie?
To explain my story. In 2019 when I first visited Céüse, I could have opted for Biographie but as a kid, I watched videos of my idol Sachi Amma doing Jungle Boogie and I fell in love the first time I tried the route. On that first trip, I fell in the last crux section, below the two-finger pocket. The second trip was last year in April. I was finally able to come back after the covid was over and I was full of confidence to send it. I could feel my growth compared to the first visit. However, past the crux, going for the jug, my foot slipped and I fell. It was very disappointing, but I was happy to think that I’d make it through the remaining climbing days. But the weather didn’t help, it rained, and then it snowed. In the end, it failed and it was mentally very difficult.

I finally came back this year feeling stronger physically. What I felt at the beginning was amazing I was shaking my hands as I climbed and chalked it up. Because it was so intense I had to push it. My fitness was more prepared than ever when I challenged this route. Even so, the situation of failure made my mind hard and made me extremely sensitive. I couldn’t help but think of the short schedule of time and money to come here from Korea. By the time halfway through the schedule, I was tired, so I took a break for two days to recover and remind myself of my skin and finally made it. It was a really tough fight and made me grow up in every way. I will do more fun and wonderful things in the future. Thank you Dad for being with me on this journey and thank you again for your attention to my success🙌

How long have you been climbing?
I'm 23years old. I started climbing in 2008. When I was a young kid I started climbing with my dad. I participated in competitions and later in international competitions until recently. Lately, I‘ve been wanting to focus more on rock climbing.