NEWS

Jorge Diaz-Rullo completes Change (9b+)
Jorge Diaz-Rullo has repeated Adam Ondraโ€™s Change (9b+) in Flatanger. The Spaniard has been up there in Norway well over a month first projecting Move (9b) coming close. Then he started working Change focusing on the second part. The Spaniard has previously sent nine 9bโ€™s as well as done the FA of Mejorando la samfaina (9b+) and repeated Bibliographie (9b+). (c) Leo Bรธe

Here is part of what he says on Instagram. โ€I still canโ€™t believe it happened. Being able to pass the boulder problem [pictured] at the beginning from the ground for the first time and then climbing the 50 meter complete line was a physical and mental fight that I will never forget. I gave everything I had, my arms and body couldnโ€™t do more, but in the end I managed to clip the chain.โ€

Thilo Schrรถter strikes in Rocklands
Thilo Schrรถter has had a great trip to Rocklands where he over ten amazing days sent Get Railed (8B+), Reverse Cowgirl (8B+), Bloody Mary (8B+), Noise vs Beauty (8B+) and Monkey Wedding (8C). (c) Anders Vest - Get Railed

Can you tell us more about those ten days and what lead to the peak performance?
In the first two weeks of the trip I tried all of the 8B+ for one session, which laid the foundation for the streak. Monkey Wedding I had tried for close to ten sessions over two trips. Ultimately I just caught a good wave, made some smart decisions and got lucky that the skin didnโ€™t capitulate. Sometimes things go your way! :)

What is the plan for the autumn?
The plan for this fall is to develop more boulders in Norway, and hopefully finish off an old project in Lofoten. After that I will work, and train for a trip to southern US around new years.

Chris Cosser does two 8C's in Rocklands
Christopher Cosser, who participated in the Tokyo Olympics for South Africa, has sent Monkey Wedding (8C) and Spray of Light (8C) in Rocklands. (c) Daniel Gajda

Can you tell us more about doing your first two 8Cโ€™s?
For the past five years, I have been solely focused on indoor/competition climbing, rarely giving much time to outdoor climbing to test my limits. However, during an impromptu trip back home to South Africa, I had the chance to climb my two hardest boulders with a great crew of friends.

Climbing both โ€œMonkey Weddingโ€ and โ€œSpray of Lightโ€ (8C/V15) within 24 hours of each other was surreal. I had to balance expectation and execution to give myself the best odds. Both sends went on the second attempt of each session and almost felt effortless. It was the perfect example of fine-tuning beta and executing when the time was right.

This experience has been a great learning curve in pushing my limits on outdoor bouldering, and it has made me even more motivated for the future.

Siara Fabbri does The Arch (8B)
Siara Fabbri, with two 8B+โ€™ under her belt, has sent Law and Order (8A+) and The Arch (8B) in Rocklands. โ€ Last day send day! Even better to send with Simo :) Amazing line complete with crimping tension in a roof then mantling it out. Difficulty influenced by height/beta with it.โ€

Can you tell us more about The Arch and your trip?
The Arch is a special line because of the beautiful rock textures on it and the setting. It has a big stream running under it, which goes into a little waterfall, and above there are nice rock pools. The climbing is super fun and breaks into two parts, the bottom which is technical roof climbing with some hard crimping and heel hooking, then you have to come into a difficult mantle on these slopers reminiscent of Font. There are two small pebbles on two of the higher slopers, these are like gold once you get them! Especially because you are numb after crimping super hard in the lower part. I came back to it my last day of the trip with Simo, (Simone Tentori). and could send almost back to back with him flashing it, so that made it extra sweet! We celebrated with a swim in the rock pools ๐Ÿ˜„.

The trip overall was incredible and of course flew by too fast. It was my first time in Rocklands so I wanted to try a lot of lines, and I have a lot to come back for! I was blown away by the beauty and wildlife, we are already planning a longer trip next year for those amazing lines and to do exploration beyond climbing to appreciate the wildlife.

Orrin Coley FAโ€™s The Wizard King (9a)
Orrin Coley, with 8b and 8C as his route and boulder personal best, has done the FA of The Wizard King (9a) in Forest rock. โ€œ8 sessions this summer. Itโ€™s been fun being back on a rope and adding a new type of challenge to this little crag.โ€

Can you tell us more about the ascent and the process behind?
It takes a central line through the middle of the cave from the lowest point all the way to the top, involving a very unique mix of climbing styles. Starting with horizontal roof climbing, it then breaks out into a very burly board style section before a technical headwall leads you to top out. It's about 40 moves from start to finish and became a more physical battle than I anticipated. I'd expected it to just pump me out a bit and that's it, I'd slowly progress until I succeeded. But the pump was unlike anything I've experienced before - not only did my forearms box out as expected, but due to the steep nature of it and tension required my whole core and legs would fatigue as well just as much. After failed redpoint attempts, I'd lower off and just be unable to catch my breath for a while because it was so hard to keep breathing while on route.

I also recognise the grade may seem a surprise to some, or like I pulled it out of nowhere. I don't exactly have much experience sport climbing these days, at least not at this level. My previous best redpoint was 8b and that was so short it was basically a boulder anyway, so it's a bit of a jump. After many conversations with peers it sounded like this route could certainly sit in the 8c+/9a region for sure. So why did I settle on 9a? After so many years climbing in this cave it's become increasingly apparent my opinion on difficulty here is flawed due to over exposure, so it's proved more accurate to lean towards the higher grades for better accuracy. If it gets downgraded, I don't really care, nor does it matter. It's a great bit of climbing that I'm pleased to have put up regardless of difficulty.

Hareru Nagamori wins fourth gold for Japan
Hareru Nagamori, who was #7 in Lead, was the only one topping out three boulders in the boy's final U-18 category. The runner-up was Beomjin Park from Korea and Corentin Laporte from Belgium won the bronze. Complete results

Nagamori said to IFSC: "I got the top on the first boulder, and I was feeling great, so I threw a kiss to the crowd. I got another top on boulder four but I was too focussed at that stage and I was just thinking about the climbing, I didnโ€™t have any headspace to throw another kiss.

I have been focussing more on Lead climbing for this competition so to win the Boulder title is a bit of a shock for me. But Iโ€™m happy, just so happy."

Jennifer Eucharia Buckley wins her second gold
Jennifer Eucharia Buckley from Slovenia, superior in the Lead event in the Youth World Championship, got another victory by a big margin in Boulder topping all 14 boulders. Kaho Murakoshi from Japan sent two boulders in the final meanwhile Geila Macia Martin from Spain topped one. Complete results

Buckley, runner-up in Innsbruck after Janja Garnbret comments to IFSC: "I feel great. I achieved what my main goal of the year was. I think in the World Cupโ€™s I went for a different reason; it was more of an experience and learning, but here I came with a mission and a goal, and Iโ€™m really content I could make it come true."

Maรฏa Souveton ticks Amadeus (8c)
Maรฏa Souveton has done Amadeus (8c) in Sabart and Fanatic climbing has made an interview with the 18-year-old, video.

"Iโ€™ve been spending my weekends and vacations at the crag for several years now, itโ€™s a bit like the family lifestyle with the camper van. On the other hand, I didnโ€™t really get in touch with the world of competition and Iโ€™ve always preferred to be out in nature with my family."

Isabelle Faus does Mirta (8B+)
Isabelle Faus, with a dozen 8B+' under her belt, has sent Mirta (8B+) at Topside. (c) Yaqub Dollie

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
First tried it in 2016, got close, but didnโ€™t really get a good chance to try again till this trip. Took three sessions this time. Really psyched to have done this iconic line!

โ€Not my hardestโ€ฆโ€ you said on Instagram. What were the other harder boulders you did during your six weeks trip?
I did this boulder Violater sit that Nalle [Hukkataival] said was 8A.. but the crux is harder than Mirta crux, haha. Doesnโ€™t have the same endurance factor tho. I said it was v12 [8A+], but idk grades get confusing the more things I do. It was hard for me and took as many sessions as Mirta did.

I put up a couple v10 first ascents, possibly harder but I go low end for grades, cause it doesnโ€™t really matter. One is called Daisy Domergue and the other is Twins of Ares. The latter is very cool, both have videos on my Insta. I also did a bunch of classics in the v10/v11 range. Barracuda, Mask Off, Eye of Sauron, War and Peace, Extraterrestrial, and Cytokine. I think thatโ€™s it!

Strangely, Violater is not in the database or on internet?
Possibly I did the first repetition.

So silly, some climbers seem to opt for grades rather than quality?
Climbers just donโ€™t know who to use their eyes, over the guide book. Itโ€™s learned skill maybe tho. I just walked up to it and was psychedโ€ฆ I had no idea what it was or what the grade was.

I went home and then looked the area up to see what it was, turned out it was Nalleโ€™s. Iโ€™m not sure when he did. I think like 2017 ish, I could be wrong tho.

Alizee Dufraisse completes Ikarus (8B)
Alizee Dufraisse has ticked Ikarus (8B) in Sustenpass. This was the second 8B in 2024 for the 37-year-old who previously also has done three 9a routes.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
Well, I'm working on the extension [Highlander (8B+)] that goes to the left, which is my main project this season. Still super motivated to try to make the ascent of this one haha. The wall of โ€œTraumlandโ€ suits me pretty well, long boulders with a lot of tricks. It's also pretty rewarding as you can see improvement in resistance that shows progression during the process.

What is next?
Back to route climbing ๐Ÿค“๐ŸŒŸ I am very motivated to get back on some projects I have left in Rodellar and Siurana!