World Climbing, aka IFSC, comes with good news. ”The gross total is set to exceed €1 million, marking a significant milestone for the organisation. The increase more than doubles the €374,400 distributed in 2024, underlining the continued growth of Climbing and the shared commitment to supporting athletes at the highest level.

For the 2026 season, each individual medal event will offer €20,000 in prize money, a substantial increase from €11,700 in 2024. The overall winners will be awarded €9,000”

Below the amount for each World Cup in 2026:
1st place: 30% or € 6,000
2nd place: 20% or € 4,000
3rd place: 14% or € 2,800
4th place: 10% or € 2,000
5th place: 8% or € 1,600
6th place: 7% or € 1,400
7th place: 6% or € 1,200
8th place: 5% or € 1,000

Based on the tragic accident on Kalymnos last month, and the fact that we know of two other bolts that snapped 1.5 years ago, all of which appeared ok on the outside, we have sought expertise from David Reeve. He is a technical advisor to the UIAA, which has funded a large part of his research, and his findings have been presented in his Crag Chemistry. The bolt in the picture is from one of the two snapped bolts on Facatelendos (6b+) in Ourania in 2024.

We have presented his thoughts in previous articles over the years and here is his latest Vertical-Life article from last year. Titanium vs 316 and 304 bolts

As we have seen that many ascents have been logged the last week on routes bolted in 2004, we wanted to present this short article as quick as possible. Reeve thinks we should be much more restrictive when it comes to how old bolts we could trust.

”Age means nothing without knowing the environment. Once it is known we are dealing with a sulphate cliff, I would distrust any stainless steel older than 2 years [on a sulphate cliff].”

”There is no doubt that if you avoid climbing pre-2005 routes you'll be safe. After all if you don't climb, you can't fall. However, beware flipping that argument around to conclude climbing post-2005 climbs will be safe. This is fallacious because the greatest determinant of risk is whether you have bumbled upon a bad crag or not. ”

The 2004 bolt that broke in Ourania was sent to Reeve in 2024 and also some rock samples where he found out that two out of six crags contained high level sulphate: Iannis and Secret Garden. The broken hardware from the recent accident have also been sent to the Australian and as well as samples from more sectors. We will follow up as more details are revealed.

Here is a statement published at Kalymnos Climbing Facebook page.

”Reading between the lines, my guess is that the intention of the pre-2005 restriction is that there is a theory that divides Kalymnos bolts into those of a) good metal and those of b) bad metal. The good metal bolts are thought to have replaced bad metal bolts after 2005. This certainly makes more sense than the alternative postulate that bolts on Kalymnos suddenly go bad after 20 years.

I'm assuming that we are looking at the "304 (A2) bad: 316 (A4) good" argument here. You are not going to tell them apart at the crag, so lets use date of installation as a guide. Those who read my cragchemistryDOTcom blog will know that I have spent years working on this distinction. The matter is super-complicated and I'll leave it for now as - yes 316 does seem superior but don't count on that always being the case. The mental shift I'm advocating for is to park all such good metal, bad metal talk and instead embrace the good crag, bad crag distinction. On Kalymnos we know for sure we have 3 bad crags, and have solid reasons to suspect they may be more.

If they are bad, it is futile to repeat all the hard lessons of Tonsai or Cayman Brac and we should move to the known solution of titanium bolting. This distinction between good and bad crags has nothing to do with the vibe. It is scientifically based and if you want to learn how the distinction is made, then take a look at my post on Ourania here.

So coming back to where I came in. There is no doubt that if you avoid climbing pre-2005 routes you'll be safe. After all if you don't climb, you can't fall. However, beware flipping that argument around to conclude climbing post-2005 climbs will be safe. This is fallacious because the greatest determinant of risk is whether you have bumbled upon a bad crag or not.”

Prune Martinoty has sent Stay kratom stay safe (8c) in Saint Léger. In 2023, she sent her first 8b+ and since, she has focused mainly on Stay… which she took down after some 35 sessions. (c) Clement Bustel

Can you tell us more about the ascent and the process behind?
I started thinking about climbing 8c three years ago. When I first tried Stay (Stay Kratom Stay Safe), it felt impossible to send because the hard moves seemed extreme, and even the “easy” sections were hard for me. So I trained, and little by little the project started to feel possible. Last winter I was really close to sending, but I broke a pulley.

It felt like my dream was falling apart, so every day since then I’ve worked hard to get my level back. In the fall I returned to the route, but the rain interrupted attempts for the whole winter. I came back to the route about ten days ago, and every day I was falling higher. On Sunday I fell almost at the top, and I was so sad to fail.

On Tuesday, my first run was difficult because the rain had once again soaked the key hold for the first crux. I had decided to go home, but I didn’t want to come all the way to the crag for just one attempt, so I got myself ready again.

I fell twice in a row at the second quickdraw. I told my friends, “if I fall again, I’m done, I’m leaving.” And then I passed the section, even though the hold was completely wet, all the way to the good rest. And I knew that from there I could send, because I had already done it two days before. But to avoid pressure and not mess it up, I pretended that I hadn’t just done the bottom and that I was only trying for practice.

I felt good on every move, super focused. I took my time on every rest, even though they’re not great… When I reached the last rest, I felt the emotion rising because I knew it was done. Then came a few meters of very easy climbing, just to enjoy what you’ve achieved.

When I pulled the rope, it was crazy. The moment the rope started to clip into the carabiner, I exploded with joy. It was incredible to realize how far I had come. For some people, climbing 8c isn’t a big deal. But for me, I had just achieved my dream. It was extraordinary. Even this morning, I still can’t quite believe it.

What is next?
Now I want to do some easier route like 8a-8b for the rest of holiday and after go back for another 8c. Two in one season would be amazing.

Next dream it’s probably 9a but not sure it’s possible if you’re not professionnal climber and not ready to go through this process again. I need to enjoy my victory, and then I’ll get back to training for do other 8c and maybe harder routes.

Connor Herson repeated James Pearson’s Bon Voyage (9a) in Annot last year, keeping the ascent under wraps until the video release. With a tick list spanning several additional trad climbs from 8c to 9a+, the American has built probably the most impressive traditional climbing résumés in the world. Herson first drew attention in 2018 when, at just 14 years old, he climbed an 8c+ route on only his second attempt. That same year, he also repeated The Nose (8b+ MP) and finished 11th at the Youth World Championship.

Stefano Carnati and Pepa Šindel have sent Biologico (9a) in Arco. Adam Ondra did the first ascent in 2012 and in total it has been logged 16 times in the database.

Carnati: “Tried a few days some 8/10 years ago and 6 more tries this weekend. Didn’t pre-clip the third bolt. Placed a longer sling and clipped it from the jug, which still kept the jump safe. It doesn’t add much in terms of difficulty, but it does interrupt the flow into the first boulder. A better rebolting with the third bolt placed lower down should be considered.”

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
Biologico was one of those projects I left unfinished about 8–10 years ago, sitting in a long list of “to do someday” climbs. So it felt really special to finally go back to it after so long. I’m currently recovering from a small tendon issue in my ring finger (nothing serious), but my last trip to Margalef was pretty tough on it, so I ended up just climbing easier stuff instead of really projecting.

What is next?
I’d love to get to Céüse as soon as possible. I don’t have any real plans for the summer yet. I finished my PhD last month, so I’m enjoying some free time while figuring out my next steps.

Leo Cea, with five 9a’s in under his belt, has spent the Easter holiday in Arco where he sent Underground (9a) and Pungitopo (8c+). Back home in Frankenjura the 13-year-old quickly climbed Kawaschuwu (8c+).

”During the Christmas holidays of 2025, I visited Arco for the first time — a place I had heard so much about, with a deep climbing history, and somewhere I had always wanted to experience. Now that I live in Germany, it’s relatively close, which makes projecting there a real possibility.

My first goal was to try Pure Dreaming (8c+/9a) in the Massone Pueblo sector. It’s a variation of the classic Reini’s Vibes, first ascended by Adam Ondra in 2018. I was also really inspired knowing that Andrea Chelleris sent it at just 12 years old. Even though I only spent four days there over Christmas, it went quite quickly: I sent it in 3 sessions and a total of 6 attempts. It became my last hard project of 2025.

But my projects in Arco didn’t end there. Together with my family and my coach, I chose Pure Dreaming also because it has an extension that adds the first section of Underground, turning it into a 9a+. That motivated me a lot, since one of my main goals for 2026 is to push my grade further. During that same Christmas trip, I started trying Underground. Although the wall isn’t completely natural — as it’s an old quarry — over time it has become a place full of history and incredible lines. Underground is a very special route. I read in an article from Desnivel that, according to Javi Cano, it was the first 9a in Italy, which made it even more motivating for me.

The route is an impressive roof: over 20 meters of steep, very physical climbing with three well-defined crux sections. The first one — the hardest — was the most challenging for me: powerful but also extremely precise. Finding my beta wasn’t easy, since the methods most adults use didn’t work well for me because of my height. Still, I was fascinated by the route from the very beginning.

I came back in February to keep working on it, but the conditions didn’t help at all. There was humidity, and several key holds in the crux were wet. Even so, the trip was very valuable: I was able to refine the moves, better understand the line, and go back home motivated to train specifically for the route — both in the gym and on rock in Frankenjura.

This Easter break felt like the perfect moment to return. The conditions were good, and I felt very well prepared — both for Underground and Pure Dreaming Plus. And it was incredible… right after getting out of the car and walking to the crag, I sent Underground on my second attempt of the day. Regarding the grade, while some suggest 8c+/9a, I personally agree more with the original 9a, as also proposed by climbers like Laura Rogora, whose height is closer to mine (144.5 cm tall, 150.5 cm wingspan). During that same trip, I also managed to send two classic routes in the sector that were in good condition: Super Maratona (8b+) on my second go, and X-Large (8c) on my third.

The next day I started trying Pure Dreaming Plus, and it went really well — I reached the upper crux twice. I felt that, with the days I had left, sending it could be possible, and I was really enjoying climbing this beautiful ~50-meter line. I took a rest day, and when I came back, an Italian climber told me that a key hold had broken at that crux, and that the route had become almost impossible.

I felt a bit frustrated, but after talking it through with my dad and my coach, I decided to change projects and try Pungitopo (8c+), an incredible natural slab in the Red Point Wall sector, first ascended by Adam Ondra in 2022. I was also really motivated knowing that climbers like Laura Rogora and Michaela Kirsch had sent it. I was excited to try something completely different: moving from a powerful, explosive roof to a technical slab on a fully natural line. That made it really fun.

So I dedicated the last days of the trip to Pungitopo. I had read that Ondra described it as one of the most beautiful lines in the area, and it truly is. The grey rock is amazing, very aesthetic, and the moves are extremely precise, requiring balance and full-body tension. A really beautiful route. With that, I completed what I had planned for Arco. It was a very fun and challenging process. Rock climbing is like that — you have to adapt to circumstances, like the weather or even the possibility of a key hold breaking on your main project. But that’s exactly what makes it more alive, more uncertain, and also more exciting. I’m very happy to be achieving what I set out to do together with my family and my coach: building consistency on routes between 8c and 9a across very different styles and rock types — endurance on classic lines (Era Vella), tufas (Trip Tik Tonik), steep pocket climbing (Víctimas Pérez), physical roofs (Underground), powerful finger-intensive routes (Wallstreet), and fully technical slabs (Pungitopo). All of this is helping me develop into a more complete sport climber. Now I’m really motivated to keep climbing in Frankenjura, and I’m also planning a trip to Spain this autumn.”

Solveig Korherr, with two 9a’s under her belt, has onsighted Panem et Circensis (8b) in Arco. It was the last route she tried on her eleven days trip. The picture by Emile Pino is from Terra Piatta (8b+).

Can you tell us more about your onsight experience?
It was a very spontaneous decision to jump on this route. It was my last climbing day of the trip and when I already sent the route I came for (I Riflessi del Rosso (1st pitch) (8b+)), I just wanted to squeeze in a few more pitches before heading home. When I saw that the quickdraws were already hanging on the 8b, I decided to check it out without any expectations.

I quickly got into a great flow. The climbing felt quite straight forward following the crimp line. As I moved upward, I started to realize: wow, this might actually go. I focused on staying calm and kept it together all the way to the top. Those are some of my favorite sends. The ones where I surprise myself and go in with no expectations.

Martin Švec, husband to Jana Svecova, who just did her second 8C FA, has completed Drift (8C) in Moravský kras. ”Such a mental battle, fell 15times from the top slab… finaly broke through The plateau and years of injuries.”

Can you tell us more about the process behind the ascent including the injury problems?
This might sound as a proper grind but it was actually a great multiyear experience for me with much bigger perspective than just sending 8C I started trying Drift late summer 2023. I got close during the winter, but then I ruptured my A2 pulley, along with some serious joint inflammation from a two-finger pocket undercut (but the FA that came out of it is one of the best Czech V12, “comp style SD”) . It took forever to recover. December 2024, I got to the last hard move… and then tore another A2 in January 2025. 2025 was probably the worst climbing year for both me and Jane. I had just one session on Drift that year. We were both out of the game for almost 6 months.

By the end of summer, I felt like I could climb a bit again, and for the first time I started working with a climbing coach. All the injuries I had basically came from overtraining, lack of rest, and not enough variety in my training. I got into the best shape of my life in like 4months. By the end of December, I was already stronger than ever. Inbetween trying other hard boulders I kept going through the training cycles, and by mid-March I got back on Drift. On my third session, I fell in the final 7B+ slab. And I thought, “Yeah, it’s easy, I’ll just cruise it next session.” And I already started thinking what is going to be the next project. But climbing never was about being just physically strong enough. It turned into a crazy mental battle 😁 I underestimated the mantle, and it gave me a proper lesson 😁

In the end it took me 9 sessions this year (close to 40 in total) and about 15 falls from the final mantle 🙏 I’m actually glad it went this way — it means much more to me now than if I had sent it in the 3rd or 4th session

The mayor of Kalymnos has announced that ten crags are temporarily closed; Saint Photis, Monastery, Austrians, Sympligades, Spartacus, Jurassic Park, Galatiani, Cave, Ourania and Kreissaal.

Rebolt Kalymnos, who have spent the past year attempting to engage with the municipality without success, will soon publish a list of an additional 15 crags that should be avoided.

As a general guideline, by Rebolt Kalymnos, routes established before 2006 should be avoided. The newer the hardware is, the more safe it is. There are more than 2.500 routes established after 2015.

Vertical-Life will publish a more detailed article within the next two weeks, following their visit to the island to investigate the bolting issues. We are also just finishing a new feature to the database where you will be able to add specific bad bolts etc to your logbook.

Stefano Ghisolfi has, in just one session, sent Mascella Serrata (9a) in Arco. Last month also Silvio Reffo repeated the Gabri Moroni’s future classic.
Can you take us through the session including how much you rested in between the attempts?
I warmed up at home, and rested 30 minutes between the goes, maybe 45. I focused on the moves on my first go and on some sections on my second go. Third go I gave an attempt but I broke a hold at the beginning so I did it in few parts, and sent it 4th go.