Ben Hanna did the second repeat of Nathaniel Coleman's Lee Majors in The Dry in January, giving it a personal 8c+ grade. In the portrait video he talks about his climbing lifestyle and struggling with anxiety. He has been competing actively since 2012 and in Meiringen last month he was #9 in the qualification and later #15 in the semi, which was his best result ever.

Courtney Arnold has done her fifth 8A+, Blimp roof in New World. The 22-year-old only needed three sessions to take it down and she is #11 in the female ranking game. Interesting is that she only started climbing in 2016 and it was not until 2019 she begun climbing outdoors.

"Blimp is probably the coolest thing I’ve done so far. Sick roof moves lead to a crazy foot lead to get onto the head wall and then there are some awesome hero moves to the top. Another all-star line by Matt. Wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support from good friends!"

What is next?
I’m not too sure what is next yet. I suppose just trying to refine my roof climbing skills this summer in Flagstaff.

Maho Normand has done L'irrévérence (8c) in Orgon. As can be seen from the picture from his Insta the 16-year-old did it during the night. Previously he has done three 8c+, out of which the first in 2020. During the last six months of 2021 he had a break because of injuries and motivation, which he explained in an article last month.

"This 8c is really good. I loved climbing in it! I put one session in it one week before. Back to Orgon Friday evening to be able to climb this 8c and in my project in 9a+ during the two days of the weekend! Arrived at the parking during the evening on the crag to be able to climb early the next morning! At 10 p.m. I hit the wall and I felt that the holds were all dry and I wanted to run! I prepared the route and arranged a spotlight on the ground and finally a frontal on the head!! Warming up on the board and then going up the route and the moves felt really well! First run in the route at 11 p.m. and did the sequence with a good fight. Great satisfaction! Now will have to do my project!"

Cathy Wagner has during the last 12 months done eight 8a+, out of which four in 2022. Her first 8a, was done in 1994! In total, the 56-year-old has done 844 routes 8a to 8b which should be most of all females and also her grade pyramid should be for the record books. It should be noted that a large part of her sends are done second go as well as she is honest with the gradings like for her latest 8b, Salsa-Burricado, which she logged as 8a+.

"A must-do! 8b in the guidebook, which makes sense if you climb this long traverse without any knee-pads! I've used them a lot right from the beginning and again before the final cruxy boulder section, for which I had to readjust the beta after falling twice. The thing is you have to recover after a 20-move section into a good knee-bar rest before that boulder. Thanks Pires for sharing your beta with me 😊. I reckon it's (a soft?) 8a+ with pads."

Chris Sharma put up Samfaina as a 9a in 2010 and then Ramon Julian Puigblanque repeated it rather quickly confirming the grade. The second repeat was done by Jorge Diaz-Rullo last year suggesting 9a+ which also Alex Megos now has done.

Dave Graham reports on Insta that he last month did La Rustica 8C in Valle Bavona. It was put up by James Webb in 2013 and all the previous handful repeaters have given it five stars and Dave comments, "potentially the most aesthetic climb in Bavona."

"After about 6 sessions trying about 200 times per session from the start I managed to do the pocket move but quickly slipped off the middle section. Over the next 4 sessions I proceeded to fall off the final move to the jug 3 times 😵‍💫 As it was intensive for my left leg I spaced my sessions about 10 days apart."

This was the 40-year-old's four 8C during the last five months and actually his last three years have been his best ever. Last month we asked him, How can you still progress after 20+ years as a pro climber?
I feel stronger honestly! 😅😅😅, 🤔🤔🤔. Not sure why?? Maybe smarter??? Healthier lifestyle. Ah just eating better, no partying, lots of good rest!! Better attitude about climbing, more patient and also less concerned with conditions. Always finding new solutions, not getting angry. In the past, I would get much more frustrated when I would fail or not do well. These days I think I'm so used to failing that I'm surprised when I succeed. I do boulders that are really my antistyle too. So I assume they should be hard but I think it really helped my mental game, to push longer and harder. Never get pissed, it is not wise!!! I am feeling strong!! But four months of trying hard has been tough, I took the last two weeks kind of easy as the weather was finally bad 😅🤣

Mateusz Haladaj has done Catxasa (9a+) in Santa Linya. "Epic journey with this one. So close last year, this time unexpected. Steep, Savage, Complex, Hard, Love it!" (c) Zac Moss

The 36-year-old reports on Insta that he was very close sending first three yeears ago and then again last year, when he did the easier variation Catxasita (9a). In total, the Pole has done some 15 routes 9a and harder.

Advertorial: Another Play in Paradise is a spicy route, one of 129 that traverse the south-facing slopes of the Lienz Dolomites in 5 sectors ranging in difficulty from 5 to 8. This pitch graded 7c in sector A, otherwise known as “Paradies”, offers wonderfully consistent climbing, on a face that becomes more exposed and technically demanding the closer you get to the top. Mid-route, an easier segment offers climbers a moment to gather reserves, before heading on to tackle the upper section.

Due to its high altitude at 1600 metres above sea level, there may be residual snow until late spring, but is generally accessible from April until October. The climb is well secured and offers a magnificent panorama. It is located below the eponymous Dolomite Hut, a great hiking and climbing destination, as well as the starting point of wonderful trails to Karlsbad Hut or Lake Laserz in the municipality of Tristach, an idyllic holiday destination near Lienz, the capital of East Tyrol. More info and a Video.

IFSC has totally changed the ranking points given in the World Cups. Previously, 100 points were given for #1 and one point for #30, followed by decimal points down to #40.

In the new IFSC ranking format, 1 000 points are given to the winner and the first 80 get points. The scale is thus less progressive and #40 gets 10 points. Interestingly, further down the list, different results get the same points, i.e. #69 - #74 get two points. It should be mentioned that Natalia Grossman had won over Janja Garnbret in Lead and Kokoro Fujii had won over Yoshiyuki Ogata in Bouldering in 2021 if the changes had been done last year.

One reason for this change is to have the starting order in Bouldering more based on the ranking points instead of just randomized for all with zero points. It should be mentioned that also the European Cup rankings points have been updated but they just give points to the Top-60 and 100 points to the winner.

1. Tomoa Narasaki JPN 1 805 - Natalia Grossman USA 1 805
2. Ogata Yoshiyuki JPN 1 495 - Oriane Bertone FRA 1 415
2/3. Kokoro Fujii JPN 1 495 - Stasa Gejo SRB 1 105
4. Paul Jenft FRA 1 220 - Janja Garnbret SLO 1 000

5. Mejdi Schalck JPN 1 145 - Brooke Raboutou USA 990
6. Keita Dohi JPN 875 - Camilla Moroni ITA 825
7. Maximillian Milne GBR 830 - Futaba Ito 785
8. Yuji Inoue JPN 695 - Cloe Coscoy USA 700

Japan has dominated the male scene for many years but actually, their start in 2022 is the best ever. At the same time, Austria and Slovenia have had a relatively weak start which partly can be explained by Jakob Schubert and Janja Garnbret have only done one event. Also, Nathaniel Coleman, has only competed in Meiringen and Sean Bailey from the US has not yet participated. The latter two are, however, registered to compete in the two upcoming events in Salt Lake City starting 20/5 and 27/5.