Christian Leitner, who four weeks ago sent his fourth 9a, has done the FA of Der rote Baron (9a+) in Zigeunerloch. (c) Mario Leitner

Last year the 16-year-old Austrian was 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 in the Lead European Cup/Championship he participated in.

Can you tell us more about the process behind the FA?
The route starts on Public enemy (8c) until reaching a good rest before the hard part begins. Every move requires a lot of body tension, with a lot of moves on underclings. Just before linking into Zigeunerbaron (8b), nearly at the end of the hard part, the absolute crux is waiting there. The true difficulty lies in doing the crux after all the demanding climbing that comes before it. At this point, you’re already deep into the route, and putting everything together requires every last bit of power. After the crux, the rest of the climb is pure enjoyment, with no more major difficulties standing in the way. The rock face is actually my homecrag, so I have tried the route on and off about three to four years before truly committing to it as a project. The dream of sending it has always been there.

In the end I have approximately projected it serious for about one year—Just about from the point on where I first found a potential solution for the crux. From that moment, I tried it regularly, even through the winter. To stay familiar with the moves I kept at it despite the bad conditions. Soon, I was able to climb all the way to the crux but I fell there every time. Not once I have had an attempt where I got super close to actually sending it. On the day of the send, we originally went to the crag because my brother Julian (14) wanted to send his second 8c, Public Enemy, which he eventually did. Afterwards I wanted to try my project for fun and I didn’t really have any expectations But somehow, everything went just perfect. I fought my way through the crux and could barely reach the next rest. Sometimes, everything just falls into place, and the climb flows like magic.

What are your 2025 comp plans, any senior World Cups?
For the comps I think I will mostly focus on international lead comps. This year unfortunately only youth cups, because IFSC changed the rules. Next year I am allowed to climb with adults.

William Bosi, who last month sent Excalibur (9b+), has done the FA of El Dorado Sit (8C) in Sintra. In total, the 26-year-old has done 30 boulders 8C and beyond including four 9A’s, making his ticklist a contendor for being the #1 in the world. (c) Teresa Coimbra

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
El Dorado is another incredible Sintra line, I was completely blown away by when I was shown it. It has an obvious stand start which was one of the oldest projects in the area.

The stand is a very hard two move crimp bloc which needs a lot of foot tension. It’s hard to say on the grade but I guessed around 8A+. Then the sit adds just 4 moves but you cover a lot of ground and makes the line full complete and really rewarding!

Each sit move is hard but not desperate. However it climbs quite slowly and every move feels like it almost adds a grade to the stand. As by the time you get there you feel like you are lacking the maximum crimp strength or body tension needed to stick the crux move.

What is coming up next?
I’m planning to head to Switzerland soon and check out some futuristic projects. Currently I’ve been working on some long term projects close to Sheffield, one still feels very far away but I had a breakthrough session on the other one yesterday and I’m hopeful it’s not too far away now.

Bruce Zou, who last week did his first 8C, has completed The Game (8C) in Boulder Canyon, and both of them barefoot. In total, it took the 37-year-old 80+ session to repeat the Daniel Woods classical testpiece from 2010. (c) Xinyang Zhou

Can you tell us more about the process taking it down?
The Game took me 4 years of serious work. It caught my eye in 2018 but I couldn’t do any of the hard moves until 2020. I figured out that shoes were blocking my progress. End of 2020, I tried barefoot and did two crux moves in one session. I believe this is my way. However barefoot making the rest of moves way harder…

I start serious in Jan 2021 and made big progress till June 2021. I almost did it but failed at the end on the jug… thing just got into my mind and I was mentally not good.

I realize it’s because my toes were not strong enough to handle the “easier” move which is the sacrifice. Also my fingers are not strong enough to hold the tiny crimp for longer than 10 seconds.

I had to move to WA for my job June 2021, and it became extremely difficult for me to come back. Every night I envision myself sending it. All these memories by recalling the details of the holds, how I grabbed them… I still couldn’t do it for the next 2 seasons… but at the same time I train my fingers and toes every day and climb barefoot outdoors on purpose.

This season it only took me one day to send and I got all the moves back in less than 2hours. Everything feels like yesterday since I had envisioned for over 800+ time in 4 years. It was my longest battle and the most satisfied thing ever in my life.

Katie Lamb reports on Instagram that she has repeated Carlo Traversi’s The Rookery (8B+) in Yosemite (CA). ”The Rookery took me many sessions and was harder for me than the grade reflects. You don’t always need to rock by the book yall.” (c) Eric Bissell

Over the last two years, the 27-year-old has climbed three 8C’s and five 8B+ boulders, solidifying her position as the top female boulderer in the world.

Evan Hau, who did his first 9a+ in 2020, has repeated Death of Villains (9a+) in Hurricave. ”Super stoked to find the magic today! I came on this trip with a single purpose, to try this masterpiece of a route by Joe Kinder. I've had a lot of success in the Hurricave and I knew DoV would suit me well and be a joy to project. Even though I had done Life of Villains previously, I had to spend a lot of time learning new subtle intricacies to make the moves much more efficient before I could fathom building the necessary power endurance to send DoV. I've never spent so much time training in the gym and taking rest days on a climbing trip before.” (c) Grzegorz Tos.

Can you tell us more about the trip and the process taking it down?
I don't generally track the number of attempts on projects but because we haven't climbed at any other sectors this trip, looking back I counted 27 days on Death of Villains. However I already had an understanding of almost the entire route before arriving on this trip. Death of Villains starts of Life of Villains, a 9a that I had done previously having tried it over 2 trips. Then there are 3 bolts of new climbing before linking into The Activator, another hard 9a that I have not sent but I spent a trip working on it previously and knew it pretty well. I also have a lot of cave fitness coming in from our trip to Rodellar last fall.

What is next?
This summer will be back home in The Bow Valley to keep trying Fight Club (9a+) and maybe looking for some new routes to develop as well.

Bruce Zou, with four 8B+’ under his belt, has done Pegasus (8C) in Joe's Valley (UT). ”Barefoot feels great on this one.”

How come you ended up doing it barefoot?
I sprained my ankle in the mid of the trip and was not able to put a climbing shoe on the right foot. The other day I got my left heel swollen too because of Achilles heal. So there was no option other than barefoot. But I have been training my toes all the time for “The Game” in Colorado. So it’s not too bad for me to figure out all the barefoot beta on Pegasus. And I thought this could be a perfect pre test before trying hard on Game so I stick to send barefoot.

Can you tell us more about your project process on The Game (8C)?
I started working on Game 2018 after I did my first 8B, a bit unrealistic but still managed to do some easy moves on that. 2019 and 2020 I was just projecting more 8Bs and 8B+ but keep thinking about how I can improve my self on the game. However even after I did my second 8B+ I still couldn’t do the crux on the game and that’s because I was using shoes…

I got this idea and thought maybe barefoot will help with the tension since shoes are limiting my lower body. And Game is so hard that shoes don’t play too much importance in this case.

I took shoes off and immediately did two crux moves that day. And then it took me one whole year to figure out all the barefoot moves. They make the crux possible but the easy move much harder. So I trained my toes for years… only for this boulder. I have had about 80+ session on The Game starting from 2021.

What is your climbing background?
I am just an amateur climber though…no athletic background. Simply love outdoor climbing.

Nolwen Berthier has the last year done five 8A’ and two 8A+’ in Targasonne and now she has put together a great video based on multiple trips. ”Targasonne is a fantastic bouldering area near the Spanish border, known for its beautiful granite, technical crimps and laid-back atmosphere. Here are 13 must-try boulders I had the chance to climb, from 6C to 8A+. Hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did!”

Jun Shibanuma, who last year did five 8C’s and a 9a, has completed Sleepwalker (8C+) in Red Rock (NV). Interestingly, the 34-year-old did not start climbing until he entered the University and until 2023 he had just done one 8C.

Can you tell us more about the ascent and the process behind?
It was a long-awaited dream line for me. At first impression, each move suited me well because I like physical moves like compression, underclings, and body swings. However, I was anxious about the crux move—slapping the sloper. My wingspan (168 cm) is shorter than average, even in Japan. Finally, I could tell it was possible when I checked the hold in Red Rocks, but it still felt really far for me.

I had three weeks to stay in Las Vegas, but I had to work a few days a week because I’m a remote office worker. I could try a total of eight days, but on some of them, I could only try in the morning.

During the first week of the tour, I had back pain and couldn’t do the crux moves. It was a bad start. But each move became more stable day by day. Even in the last week, it still felt far from an RP. Then, the moment came suddenly—just 30 minutes before leaving for the airport. For the first time from the start, I could hold the slot crimp. My body and fingers were giving out, and I was really about to fall until I stood up on the lip. I couldn’t understand what had happened. That was the best moment ever.

How can you best explain your great progress the last year?
It is really hard to explain because ascent of Sleepwalker is almost miracle. But I can say few things. So many climbers, friends, helped me a lot. I’m office worker but I the company allows me to work remotely and to adjust amount of work to challenge my dream. So many climbers cheered me a lot, and did fun session with me. Thanks to them, I can keep my motivation to push the limit. Add to that, I’m already 34 years old. Sometimes I felt being too old. But so many climbers, who are same generation with me , like Daniel woods, Melissa le neve, still keep on pushing their limits. They stimulated me a lot. So that I can never give up.

Dylan Chuat, with 21 routes 9a or 9a+ under his belt, has done the FA of Prou’esse (9a) in Bas-Valais. ”One of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful line of Valais in this level. Another find of Sam [Ometz] but I was the one who took care of releasing her. A perfect bow with only right hand plates, left hand micro-cracks, and no foot in the middle, which imposes a demanding and quite striking gesture. For the level, I was rather going on an 8c+, but apparently, at the moment, I'm not too bad, so I'm trying to propose 9a... to be confirmed!

Especially since a week before, I chained L'oeuvre (9a) in three tries and the style is quite similar. So, it would not make sense to value this easier way if L'Œuvre remains at 9a. In short, at least, it will bring people, because the way is really worth the detour! Thanks again, Sam, for this umpteenth find!”

Mejdi Schalck repeated Chris Sharma’s Es Pontas (9a+) in October. ”The first sessions were not easy as it was my first-time deep water soloing. I wasn’t able to climb completely relaxed, but after a few days on the island, I was feeling way better! I did the jump on my 4th sesh and then I sent the route on my 6th sesh, I fell many times on the very last crux of the route which gave me some trouble but after a big fight and a really good go I was able to send the route!

I chose to jump with 2 hands at the end because it felt way easier for me, this was I think one of the biggest keys for my send.