Jakob Schubert, who already has two 9A ascents to his name, has repeated Sean Bailey’s Shaolin (9A) in Red Rocks. The send came on the penultimate day of a multi-week trip to Red Rocks, following a physically and mentally demanding process that included split-heavy movement, a small hold break, and a forced reset of already dialed sequences. © Michael Piccolruaz

The Austrian has previously established an 8c+ DWS and B.I.G. (9c). Combined with his exceptional competition résumé, the 35-year-old stands as a serious challenger to Adam Ondra for the title of greatest male climber in history.

How many sessions did it take to send the boulder?
All in all it was 10 sessions that I needed to send Shaolin. I have to say at the beginning I thought it could go down very very fast because already on my second day on it I did it in two parts and basically did some send goals already on my third day and felt like I could do it really quickly but then the process took longer than expected for various reasons. I mean one of the main reasons was that I had probably the biggest issues with splits and skin on a trip ever. I would just have like one really big split and would always try to heal it for two days. So, rest two days, climb again but then re-split again, rest two days. So, I think in my first 10 days of the trip I only did like four climbing days and that made it pretty tough to really do some good tries because I would always have tape on and also just bleed through the tape and have to quit the session earlier than I want to.

Then just before we left to Arizona, Matt Fultz broke a tiny part of one of the holds at the beginning of the boulder which also didn't help the process I would say. It definitely made the boulder a tiny bit harder, and, in the end, I was pretty lucky to even do it this trip because I got pretty stressed and only did it at the second to last day of this trip, so I was really happy to finish it in the end.

How was the process of the send?
It was six sessions I had before I left Arizona for a couple of days to check out Duality of Men. And that very last day before we left, I already had some good tries of sending it. When I came back from Arizona, I had one session, which basically I lost all my confidence because it was so bad. In the end, I found out it was just because I got so pumped in Arizona. That obviously didn't help my bouldering shape for a couple of days.

So, I had to rest a bit longer and then I had my first try where I finally stuck the crux move in the middle, which was on my eighth day then. I did it twice that session, but both times fell at the last move. And then on my ninth day, again, I only made it two times through the crux move and fell again, two times at the last move, always being really, really close. So, I knew I can send the boulder. But at the same time, yeah, I got pretty stressed because I knew I don't have like a lot of days left.

On my 10th day, again, the whole session, I couldn't stick the crux move all of a sudden anymore, although I did it so easily as a single move. I couldn't really focus or get my nerves under control. Only at my eighth try of the day, I finally stuck the crux move and then didn't let go on the last move and like barely sent the boulder. Finally.

Zach Galla has repeated Sean Bailey’s Devilution (8C+) in Buttermilks, which includes a two-move sit start to the highball Evilution Direct (8A). The 25-year-old stopped competing in 2024 and since then has had impressive outdoor progress. Last December, he sent two 9As, and in the VL ranking he is number 3. (c) Jarrid Nakata

”Hardest move I’ve done? It’s rare that something fits my size and steeze so well but feels this nails. just when I was about to call it quits, I found a new way to take the left hand start hold that unlocked the first move for me and made it all possible.

Sorting through subtleties and and finding a way has to be the most exciting moments on the sesh. Learning to appreciate those breakthrough moments more and putting less weight on sending has helped me so much this season. I can feel that I am slowly getting more consistent about maintaining a clear mind and executing without letting self imposed pressures affect how I climb.”

Gabriele Moroni, who made his first 8a/VL headline by winning bronze at the 2004 European Championship at the age of 16, has made the first ascent of Mascella Serrata (9a) in Arco. Now 38 years old, he has climbed routes up to 9b and sent several 8C boulders. (c) Crimp Films

”I tried this magnificent line on and off for a few seasons but this winter I finally managed to spend some quality days on it and surprisingly the progression was very linear and fast! I am very excited to feel my body fit again after some chill months, mostly trad climbing and a rather unfortunate two weeks trip in Yosemite(and consequent post trip depression)… Looking forward to the next months!!”

Nathan Williams has repeated Daniel Woods’ Return of the Sleepwalker (9A) in Red Rock (NV). Five years ago he sent the 8C+ stand start.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I felt like I was strong enough to send my first season trying and it still took my so long to send. My biggest crux was being numb when I got to the red point crux (the big move to the sloper). Instead of trying to figure out that issue I just tried and tried in hopes that I’d maybe get strong enough to just be able to climb it numb. This season the session before the day I did it I figured out the tech for not being numb and after that I stuck the sloper every try. I think I’ve I tried to figure this out earlier I maybe could have done it years ago haha.

What is next?
I think I’ll try Shaolin (9A) a few more sessions before heading home. Feels good and I have it in two parts, but not trying to start a full siege again quite yet haha.

Tereza Širůčková has been on a trip to Margalef where she redpointed Aitzol 8b+/c and onsighted El Fustigador (8a+). Last year, the 22-year-old opened the World Cup season with 14th- and 16-place finishes, and over the summer she sent her second 8c+.

Can you tell us more about the trip and the routes you tried?
I went to Margalef for my first time with a pretty clear plan – I wanted to push my grade on rock. I really like pockets, it was clear to me that this place could suit me well. I was really excited. I worked out the moves on my 9a project quite quickly and went for the first attempt thinking I might just try some good links. But suddenly I realized I was only two moves away from the top. Total surprise. Huge motivation, but also that classic feeling of “wow, that was really close.”

Then the weather got worse. And that’s when the sentence was born that followed me for the rest of the trip: “It will be dry in two days.” In the end, I didn’t come back to the project, and choosing routes started to look something like this: “Hey, this one is dry… so maybe we’ll try this.”

Eventually, I managed to climb my first 8a+ onsight. I have to say I was pretty lucky there. I read the route well, everything came together, and suddenly I was clipping the chains. Then came Aitzol. That was a different story. I didn’t have that much luck there. The route wasn’t in condition at all and was quite damp. When I climbed through the main boulder and reached the “rest,” I realized the headwall was more like a stream of water. At that moment, I thought it was unclimbable.

But I tried anyway. I catch the first pocket, which was more like a pool than a hold. Luckily, two slightly better ones followed, where it didn’t bother me as much that they were wet. From there, I chalked up the footholds properly so I could at least stand on them, and just hoped I wouldn’t slip. And somehow, it worked. Honestly, in those conditions the route felt insanely hard, and I feel like I probably had more luck than sense.

Hayley McKinney sent Night's Watch (7c+) last summer. ”13a – my first 5.13!! After four big back-to-back injuries and many, many months off, it felt SO damn good to clip the chains on this thing. Thoroughly enjoyed figuring out all the pieces of the (very intricate) puzzle. Took nine sessions in total, including two on TR solo. Sent fourth redpoint go, on a perfect – and rare – cold and windy July day.”

Can you tell us more about your climbing background and the video?
I started climbing when I was 28. Back then, I didn’t think sending 5.13 was something I’d ever experience (or 5.12, for that matter). But seven years later, I managed to do just that: send 5.13. And it felt… really big. But maybe not in the ways you’d expect. It wasn’t the send, or the grade, or even the route: it was all the things I learned along the way. So I made this video essay to try and capture a small piece of that. I hope it’s inspiring. Turns out passion, persistence, and hard work can actually take you pretty far – even without exceptional genetics or an early start.

Domen Škofic, overall World Cup winner in 2016 and famous for climbing around the wings of a flying airplane with a parachute, just dropped a video of his send of Boj za užitek (8c+).

”3rd ascent in total and 1st ascent after almost 20 years. I don’t get it because the route is one of the best routes I ever climbed :) First ascended by Srečo Rehberger in 1990 and graded as 8b+. I spoke with many climbers that tried the route and apparently the main crux hold broke. The first and the only repeat happened after the breakage by Klemen Bečan in 2007. He said that 8b+ is ok for this route :)

I respect Klemen that he basically doesn’t give a sh.t about the grades. We both agree that this route is an absolute gem but I think we at least need to get the climbers with the right level to try this route to really start appreciating it. Of course it’s hard to grade it since it’s a slightly overhanging slab but I believe it ranges somewhere between 8c and 9a.

It took me two days to figure out a good sequence before starting good tries. Now with the video and beta I believe it will be much easier on the first day but still… Let’s see, I’m curious what the next climbers will say. Just for the reference most of Srečo’s routes got upgraded for more than two grades (example from 7b to 8a) and with no apparent breakages ;)”

Katherine Choong, with seven routes 8c+ and 9a’s under her belt, has climbed Guère d'usure (8c) in Claret. (c) Severin Domela

The 34-year-old, who is considered one of the best female multi-pitch climbers, became the Youth World Champion in 2009 and competed actively until 2021.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
Guère d’usure 8c in Claret, a classic French route on a stunning prow bolted by Hugues Beauzile and Pierre Rouzo. It’s one of those climbs that goes from “this is impossible” to total flow once every tiny detail clicks. I actually came here ten years ago and didn’t really appreciate it, but coming back with a fresh mindset, great vibes, and supportive climbers at the base completely changed my experience. Nothing crazy grade-wise these days, but it was a send that filled me with pure joy.

What are your 2026 plans?
For 2026, I’m planning to hit a few projects I’m excited about:
• Yeah man! (8b+) (300m)
• A return to Esclatamasters (9a) at Peres, if the route dries

World Climbing, formerly known as IFSC, has revealed the qualification system for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Climbers can qualify through the following events:

European Games, Istanbul, Turkey – June 2027
Pan American Games, Lima, Peru – July 2027
World Climbing Championship, Brno, Czechia – August 2027
World Climbing Africa Qualifier
World Climbing Asia Qualifier
World Climbing Oceania Qualifier

Winners of these events earn an Olympic spot. Additional spots (at least four) will come from the Olympic Qualifier Series in 2028.

If let us say Janja Garnbret wins in both Lead and Boulder in both the European Games and the World Championships, the Olympic spots from the latter will go to the next highest-ranked athlete.

Boulder and Lead will feature at least 12 men and 12 women each, while Speed is capped at 14 per gender. This can be compared with the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, where there were 20 men and 20 women competing in Combined. Each country can enter up to two climbers per gender and discipline, with a total athlete limit of 76 across all climbing events.

A host country spot is reserved if no U.S. athlete qualifies, and one universality spot per gender is available for athletes from underrepresented countries who meet the ranking criteria.

In practice, probably five or six Olympic spots will come from the 2028 Qualifier Series. How climbers qualify for that series will likely depend on 2027 World Cup results. The exact allocation of the 13th or even the 14th spots in any discipline, if athletes qualify in multiple disciplines, has not yet been finalized.

Pietro Vidi, who finished 2025 by doing an 8b big wall and two 8c+ trad routes in Yosemite, has repeated Dave Graham’s From Dirt Grows The Flowers (8C) in Chironico. ”One of the best, mantle felt desperate at first but somehow managed to never drop there!”