NEWS

Jakob Schubert reports on Insta that he has done Furia de Jabali (9b) and that he has flashed Jungle Speed 8c+ (9a) in Siurana. The Austrian, who just did and suggested downgrades of King Capella 9b (+) and La Capella 9b (a+) did not comment on the grades but reported that he did them quickly and during the same day. "I follow up with some more info in the next days ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป"

La Capella 9b (a+) by Alex Megos
Alex Megos reports on Insta that he has done the FA of Kulebras gemelas 9a in Margalef and repeated La Capella 9b (a+) in Siurana. "This one felt very hard to me if I'm honest. I had a lot of trouble with this undercling move on the picture and fell there quite a few days." (c) Esteban Lahoz

Megos also comments on his Insta that there is some confusion about the grades in the La Capella sector and he will later share his thoughts. Megos did not give La Capella a grade. Previously both he and Jakob Schubert have recently suggested personal downgrades there.

Dicktopia 8C by Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson has done Dicktopia (8B+) in Camp Dick. "For me this climb was a good battle and test of my strength. After my neck surgery, I began trying Dicktopia. I managed to send the right exit, little Richard, and was getting close on the full line. Then I hurt my leg and had to get surgery. When I started to train again, my goal was to get strong enough to finish off Dicktopia. I managed to get a few good days on it and then sent it! It felt really good to know I am climbing better now than before the first surgery. I am really excited to keep training and hopefully send some more hard lines this winter."

What kind of leg injury did you suffer and when?
I hurt my leg in June while working at my house. I slipped on a piece of metal and cut through the peroneal tendon. Here is the video. In total, Paul has now done more than 1 000 8A and harder, which is most in the world, out of which 23 8C's.

Last January the 33-year-old had a disc replacement surgery. "I had my discs c4/5 and c5/6 replaced. I think the reason that I had to get the surgery was partly due to my genetics as well as taking 23 years of falls from bouldering. I did the surgery because I love pushing myself in climbing. I love trying to push myself to climb some of the hardest boulders in the world and if I did not get the surgery I would never be able to climb that hard again."

IFSC has published an updated calendar for the 2022 World Cup series. In total, there will be seven competitions in all three disciplines. Only two boulder events in western Europe at the same time that only two Lead events will be outside Europe.

1-3 April โ€“ Moscow (RUS) โ€“ Boulder, Speed
8-10 April โ€“ Meiringen (SUI) โ€“ Boulder
29 April-1 May โ€“ TBD location in Japan โ€“ Boulder
6-8 May โ€“ Seoul (KOR) โ€“ Boulder, Speed
20-22 May โ€“ Salt Lake City (USA) โ€“ Boulder
27-29 May โ€“ Salt Lake City (USA) โ€“ Boulder, Speed
22-25 June โ€“ Innsbruck (AUT) โ€“ Boulder, Lead
1-3 July โ€“ Villars (SUI) โ€“ Lead, Speed
8-10 July โ€“ Chamonix (FRA) โ€“ Lead, Speed
22-23 July โ€“ Brianรงon (FRA) โ€“ Lead
2-3 September โ€“ Koper (SLO) โ€“ Lead
24-26 September โ€“ Bali (INA) โ€“ Lead, Speed
30 September-2 October โ€“ Wujiang (CHN) โ€“ Lead, Speed

First Ley 9a+ by Marcello Bombardi
Marcello Bombardi has done First Ley (9a+) in Margalef. "Now I can start dreaming about the full line!"

The 28-year-old active competition climber, who has won one World Cup, did his first 9a in 2019. During the last two years, he has done seven including two 9a+'.

How was the process taking it down?
I tried the route two years ago for two days, I felt good on it but never went back to Margalef. This year I was excited to try it again knowing I am stronger and couldn't wait to be back in Laboratori sector. It took me 4 days this year to climb the 17 moves of the hard part and turn left for the easy finish to the chain of "First ley". Now I can start dreaming about the full line, the famous "First round first minute". I already left Spain but I will come back for the new year holidays. I don't know if I will try FRFM since there are many other awesome lines around there.

How can you explain being stronger this year?
Training but nothing specific. The climbing and the holds on First Ley are very similar to competition style climbing so that was enough.

Army of the Dead 8B by Allison Vest
Allison Vest has done Army of the Dead (8B) in Joe's Valley (UT) in four sessions. "Yay! Stoked to put this one together. I really liked the moves on Ghost of War so I was psyched to start trying the link-up. A little harder maybe if you have to add moves to get into the stand instead of doing the big span. Such cool moves.

Lots of possible sequences on this one so it took a while to figure out. Plus, every move is a little harder than you want it to be at the top. I had a heartbreak attempt the try before I sent. But, I was there with Palmer Larsen and he did it just after that, so I was determined to leave with two sends between us and not just one! It was a send train to remember!"


Allison has been an active competition climber since age ten and she has just focused on outdoors for a couple of years. This was the third 8B by the 26-year-old during the last two months.

Floatin 8C+ by Ryuichi Murai
Ryuichi Murai, who previously has done two 8C+ FAs, has done one more by Launch Pad Project, which he named Floatin, after nine days of projecting. His Insta video shows the amazing start. "In the process of completion, struggled with many physical and mental factors.. severe finger skin damage from sharp granite, 0โ„ƒ cold condition, two low-probability savage cruxes..etc."

Did you do any specific och replica training?
I mainly trained for the first move (the crux). For example, campusing with beastmakers micros and pinch blocks.