Jonatan Flor, who previously this summer has done a 9a+ and two 9a's, has done the FA of Ali Hulk extension total sit start 9b in Rodellar. it is a link-up including a sit start of 15 moves into a new 9a+ extension. (c) Javi Pec

Andrea Gennari Daneri from Pareti reports that Alfredo Webber (50) has done the FA of Solitary souls 8c+/9a in Arco. Originally it was a Nico Favresse project which later Lorenzo De Bonis rebolted. It is 35 m tall and 20 m overhanging with a 10+ m run-out. Video Two years ago the 159 cm tall did his first 9a commenting. "I’m close to 50 years and now I work full time in a quarry, five days a week, 8 hrs a day. I wake up at 7am, breakfast, then 20 kms drive to the quarry. Back home at 6pm. Two days a week I have training on my wall at home. It’s a 1h 30’ work, basically long sequences, with intervals of some harder moves; then some hangs on crimps. When I’m projecting something hard for Sunday I have to rest on Friday and Saturday, otherwise I get weak. I’m less powerful than 20 years ago, but now I know myself better and I manage better my energies."

The Olympic impact on the Lead World Cup is really bad. Only 50 % of the Top-7 ranked make and female participated in Briancon. In reality, this means that the Lead World Cup 2019 has significantly dropped in importance, which is really sad but also according to what we earlier have said. During the Boulder WC, the show up rate of the best was pretty good although Shauna Coxey did just go for two events. The obvious reason for the drop out is of course that doing too many comps in three disciplines will reduce the chances to qualify and getting a good result for Tokyo 2020. In one month time, the Combined WCH final will take place in Tokyo giving out Olympic ticket to the Top-7. There is a big risk that the ones who have qualified or know that they have made it to Toulouse will continue to skip the Lead World Cups. In the end, this means that there is a risk that the winners of the Lead WC will not participate in Tokyo 2020.

As there are many more female Speed specialist, in comparison to the male, participating in Combined in the World Championship, the female Speed performance will have less importance in the qualification. The reason for this is the multiplication system. Miho Nonaka and Mickael Mawem will probably win among the Lead/Boulder specialist and they will probably be ranked around #8 respectively #3 in Combined. In theory, this could make the female Speed Combined winner qualifying to the Top-8 final if she is lucky in bouldering at the same time as the male winner will not have a chance. The ones benefiting the most for this are the relatively slower female Speed climbers like Chaehyon Seo and most of the Slovenians as well as the Americans. In practice, it also means that the recommendation for the female is not to focus to much on Speed training the last weeks if the primary goal is to qualify to the Olympics.

The three male Japanese who got all the three medals in Briancon, in their first Lead WC in 2019, have not been selected to participate in the World Championship in Tokyo. Instead they send another six more qualified male which suggest that Japan, with the best boulderers in the world, will dominate at their home turf. Among the female, Japan is also one of the best nations and we predict we will see a new record Japanese domination in the Tokyo World Championship 11-21 August. Out of the 24 medals, the prediction is 9 medals and that they will get at least double as many country points as the runner up (Slovenia). The Top-7 in the Combined will qualify to the Olympics with a max 2 country quota, beside Japan who only have one as they will select their second person later. Here are the Top-10 who also will quality to the Olympics beside the Japan country quota. 1. Tomoa Narasaki JPN - Janja Garnbret SLO 2. Adam Ondra CZE - Miho Nonaka JPN 3. Jakob Schubert AUT - Chaehyon Seo KOR 4. Yoshiyuki Ogata* JPN - Akiyo Noguchi JPN 5. Kokoro Fujii JPN - Ai Mori JPN 6. Alex Megos GER - Jessica Pilz AUT 7. Kai Harada JPN - Shauna Coxey GBR 8. YuFei Pan CAN - YueTong Zhang CHI 9. Jernej Kruder SLO - Futaba Ito JPN 0. Jan Hojer GER - Mia Krampl SLO * Ogata has said on Insta that he has not been selected to participate on all three disciplines which is strange as he is in the official starting list.

Ben Burkhalter, who did his first 8B one year ago, has done Blade Runner 8C (B+) in RMNP in just three sessions. The 17 year old started climbing at age 12 and he is #3 in the junior ranking game. (c) Sam Weir ”WOW! Can’t believe it! Felt pretty good on the stand last month when I was here but wanted to save skin for Jade. This go around I came back to the boulder hoping to do the stand and possibly put in some work into the full line. The temps were much warmer this time forcing Sam and I to have to get up at 4:30 in the morning just to get some half decent temps! Managed it in just 3 sessions; 1 day for the stand, 2nd day I linked the bottom into the stand but got absolutely shut down on the 1st move of the stand, then took two days rest and did it 3rd day! Temps were pretty freak for July and the rock felt sticky. I felt strong on it and luckily the first time I stuck the gaston crux move I sent! Still in disbelief at the moment!! Easily my hardest boulder to date and fits me pretty well too. I think very upper end v14 or lower end v15 so for now, until more people give it a try 14/15 seems right to me. *One more note* it is a little bit harder now because the last hard move from the gaston pulling through to the jug is now a good bit harder because the full hand jug has broken off to a sharp full pad crimp making that move pretty tough from the bottom!”

James Webb has done his third 8C in Rocklands during the last three weeks, Parzival. " 2nd ascent. One of the best new hard lines in Rocklands. 20+ moves revolving around all styles. Another stunner from Dave (Graham)!" (c) Keenan Takahashi Jimmy is #1 in the ranking game and as a matter of a fact his 12 150 point is a new All Time High record in the 8a 20 year history.

karoline sinnhuber has done her fifth and sixth 8B, Ray of Light and Ubuntu (personal 8A+ grade) in Rocklands. (c) Zeno In the 8a ranking game, Karo is #4 but without personal grades, she would have been #3. How can you explain being in your best shape in life? I am happy about my shape cause I trained really a lot for the trip so I am glad it paid off. I had a long ticklist with hard boulders and I knew I can‘t do all of them. The first 2 weeks I did not send anything which was bad for my ego and motivation. Aa soon as I sent my first boulder the send train started!

Vadim Timonov and Irina Kuzmenko have finished their trip to Rocklands in great style. Irina did Tail of The Caracal 8A+ and Vadim did Noise vs beauty 8C as well as The Book Club 8B+, pictured by Nikita Tsarev Vadim is #7 in the ranking game and Irina is #10. Now they are back in Russia for a three weeks preparation for the World Championship in Tokyo.