Ben Burkhalter, who did his first 8A+ in 2017 after just having climbed for three years, has done his first 8B+, Jade in RMNP. (c) Sam Weir "Wow! Did “the move” 3rd try.. should have finished it my 1st session, but due to a total fluke I split my left pointer finger on the start hold while giving it bottom goes. Went back up 4 days later on the last day of my trip with 2 fingers still split and real humid weather. I super glued my skin and somehow managed it! So psyched and I’m truly honored to send this finger strength testpiece at age 17! Total Hail Mary on the last day!"

Peru Pt. 2 || A World Less Traveled from Cold House Media on Vimeo.

France dominated the first European Youth Cup in 2019, which took place in Ostermundigern in Switzerland, with three golds and two more medals. Oriane Bertone, who has totally dominated in the Bouldering events this season, was the only one to top all three routes. Updated results 00: Alistair Duval FRA - Chiara Schafferer AUT 02: Alberto Gines ESP - Camille Pouget FRA 04: Gergö Valyi HUN - Oriane Bertone FRA

Based on the registered athletes in Villars and the Boulder WC's Top-70 results, it seems like there are only some 50 male and female trying to make it to the Combined Top-20 qualifying event in Toulouse. If we exclude the ones who did not make semis in the Boulder WC's 2019 and in the Lead WC's in 2018, we are down to some 35 athletes per gender. Then, with seven male qualifying through the World Championship, it seems four Top-20, or equivalent (1), as well as quite good result in Speed will be good enough for Toulouse. This also opens up for the very best speed climbers to make it to Toulouse even with very poor result in Lead and Boulder. The twist of this analyses is that the last Boulder World Cup in Vail, with just 57 and 55 female male participating, out of which only half of field will probably get a Combined ranking, was a free card to keep the Olympic dream alive. In the end of the season, some will use the calculator and find out that if they only had traveled to Vail they would have made it to Toulouse. Others might mathematically find out that if they only had traveled to Vail, they would be much more secure to qualify before the last events. Another twist is that many of the ones that have secured a ticked to Tokyo or to Toulouse might skip the last Lead/Speed events in Japan, opening up another free card to the Olympic dream. (1) Only the relative ranking counts meaning that four Top-20 might be 14 * 14 * 15 * 15 = 44 100 (equivalent to) 6 * 6 * 35 * 35 = 44 100

Fanatic Climbing reports that Cedric Lachat has done the first repeat of Anak Verhoeven's Sweet neuf 9a+ in Pierrot Beach. (c) Simon Destombes "I did 7 sessions before the send. It was all the time a little bit wet and it caused me troubles. But I knew if I could send the 9a I will not fall in the second part in 8b. I climbed only 3 times in the extension and I knew it will be ok. It’s big moves on chipped holds, a stamina effort and I’m used to deal with these kind of routes." Cedric has previously done three 9a+ and some 20 routes graded 9a. The 35 year old has won two Lead WC's and in 2007 he was #3 in both the Lead and Boulder World Championship.

James Webb, the #1 in the ranking game who has recorded 1 515 climbs in his scorecard, has done the FA of The Healing 8B+ in Cederberg. "Maybe the best line I've ever climbed? Massive thanks to Arjan and Keen for the support!" (c) Keenan Takahashi More info on Jimmy's latest Insta, starting with, "Finally back in my favorite place on earth. ZA" He has also already have had time to do Black Eagle assis in Rocklands giving it a personal 8B+ grade. Jimmy is the top boulderer in the world, like Adam Ondra for routes, that gives most personal grades and some of his FAs have been upgraded.

Matt Fultz has done his third 8C Delirium in Lincoln Lake in "two short attempts", said by Sam Weir who made the video. Until three months ago, the 28 year old had not done any 8C and clearly his trend diagram is very promising to say the least.