Sever the Wicked Hand (9a) by Pepa Šindel, 15

Pepa Šindel, who last autumn sent his first 9a+, has done Sever The Wicked Hand (9a) in Frankenjura. (c) Petr Piechowicz

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I first tried Sever the Wicked Hand a year ago, but I wasn't tall and strong enough to get over the opening 8A boulder. This year I returned to business with 5 centimetres extra and a little more strength and started giving the first sharp attempts. After 5 climbing days, the condition improved and despite a big fight at the top of the route I sent it there! I climbed the route in 16 attempts.

Pepa’s father has previously commented on his son's ascents. "All members of our family climb and climbing is our lifestyle, motivation and love for us. Pepa trains on the home bouldering wall in the barn and goes to the rocks as often as possible. Ideally every weekend plus the whole school holiday. Although he does not specifically prepare extra, he trains a lot. At least 3 to 4 times a week, power bouldering - old school wall, ideal conditions :-)."