Tereza Širůčková does Follow the River (8c)

Tereza Širůčková, who was 14th and 16th in the two first World Cups in 2025, has done Follow the River (8c) in Krkavka.

Can you tell us more about your climbing summer and the ascent?
After my last comps, I felt completely drained — both mentally and physically. I didn’t feel like myself while climbing. Everything was a fight, and climbing didn’t feel so much fun anymore. I packed up and headed to the rocks. No expectations, just the hope to reconnect with why I love climbing in the first place.

We started off trying to flash some routes at my home crag, but nothing really clicked. The conditions weren’t great, the flow was off, and it just felt… meh. But at least I climbed a few easier routes — twice 8a+, an 8b — and felt nothing but pure joy just being there with that magical piece of rock and climbing. Because of the conditions we spontaneously drove to a different crag next day.

There, I got back on a route I had tried earlier this year: Follow the River. Back then, it felt impossible. The route begins with a short boulder problem around 7C/+, which leads straight into an 8b+ route I already knew. But I couldn’t even do the boulder the first time — the holds are small, require a locked-off position I struggle with, and the key move is a dynamic catch into a micro edge. With my height, it just feel so hard.

The route used to be graded around 8b+/c, but a rest jug before second boulder broke off some time ago, which changed the character a bit. Still, the real difficulty for me was that boulder at the start — it felt totally out of reach.

Conditions weren’t ideal — humid, bad friction. I was on my second climbing day in a row, but in my warm-up I send 8a+. I remember thinking, “Huh, I actually feel decent today…” Still, I didn’t expect what came next.

So when I pulled on this time, with no pressure, no expectations, and kinda tired from the day before, I had zero plans to send. But somehow, I stuck the move that had shut me down — on my very first try. I didn’t quite get the shoulder position for the next move and fell, but after a rest, I sent the entire boulder. I couldn’t believe it. The move that once felt impossible was suddenly mine. I was nervous, especially after the boulder — I knew I could’t fall now. But somehow, I kept it together and clipped the chains. My first 8c. 🥹 [She has done two 8c+’] ⸻ Sometimes the best sends come when you’re not chasing them — just showing up, doing what you love, and letting it surprise you.

What is coming up next?
Now it’s time to rest a bit, recharge, and then jump back into serious training for the World Championships. Maybe even sneak a look at some 9a projects.