Tereza Širůčková, who two weeks ago did the 145 moves La Rubia (8c+) , has logged her first boulder, Forever More sit (8A+) in Brione.

Can you tell us more about sending your first hard boulder?
For me, this trip to Brione was my first bouldering trip ever. Until now, I had occasionally gone to my local crags, but those were mostly one-day trips where I just climbed whatever others were climbing. Maybe it’s because I mostly climb on a rope, so I get really scared on outdoor boulders. It’s still pretty unfamiliar for me.

On the first day we arrived, I realized it was going to be really cold for me. I was afraid I wouldn’t even be able to climb. I thought, “Maybe bouldering isn’t for me; I’m cold, and I’m scared.” But the next day was a bit better, and for the first time, I had a boulder problem I really wanted to try: Forever More Sit. I got a recommendation for it from Jana Švecová, so I knew height wouldn’t limit me too much. That day, I managed to figure out all the moves, so I had a feeling it might work. And on the next climbing day, after a rest day, I sent it! So now I guess I’m officially a boulderer. 😆

Gergő Vályi is three weeks into his one-month trip to the Lleida region, where he has climbed two 9a routes in Santa Linya.

Can you tell us more about the two ascents?
Fabela pa la enmienda (9a): I didn't expect to send it in only two days. It was really cool to come back to Santa Linya after a short Margalef trip (where 8a-s are harder for me than a 9a here). The 45 meters long route was 130 moves with my beta, and I spent 70 minutes on the wall. So big thanks @gypanni for the belaying.

At the send go, "La Fabela" 8c+ felt easy, and my arms were fresh at the good rest, so I hoped for the best. From here there is a 20 meters long 8b left, where the most of the holds good, you are at a really steep overhang, and there are some cruxes between the good rests. I almost fell from the middle part, and was so pumped when I got the last rest. Then I felt fresh again, but was afraid, that the pump will come back after 3 moves, but it doesn't happen, so I was able to go trough the last crux easily right before the chain.

Seleccio Natural (9a): It was about 7-8 tries. I knew the upper part from last year, from Digital Extension. Now I only fell before the crux, and from the really last move, as the Digital Ext. last year. It was really fustrating, mostly because of the weather. The sun wasn't really shining, because of the fog, and the temperatur was about 5 C°. Today, not just the weather, but everything was against me. The little pinch and the right hand pocket was super wet, even though I dried them up before the cilmb. And something happend with my skin on my right ring finger, so after the rest I was just slipping on my own blood. Personally a hard 9a in these conditions.

What is next?
I would like to climb some 8a-8c during the last week and maybe check the moves something harder for the next trip.

Siara Fabbri, with two 8B+’ under her belt, has done La Proue (8B) in Cresciano “ Such a beautiful block! Very happy to do it. Sunny cold day with wind, ideal send conditions and vibes!! For the bros writing '1 pad for the start', you are forgetting the rest of that statement which is your height 🤭.” (c) Alisha Wetherill

Can you tell us more about the ascent and your stand start?
I'm super happy to tick this one off!! It's an amazing climb with just the essential holds, that put you out of balance with bad feet.

I struggled a few sessions with the 2nd move (the cross move), then one session with some warmer temps I checked the holds carefully (I changed how I took the left crimp slightly) and did it first try easily. It was such a good feeling! Soon after with good conditions, vibes and try-hard and I could send.

There is a bit of controversy around this boulder because the first move is very difficult and can be influenced by your height + the number of pads you stand on. Historically in logbooks and occasionally people directly imply using only one pad is allowed, but none mention their height (often they are tall males) so of course this doesn't make sense. I think if you state the number of pads you use, at least state your height. As for the allowable number of pads it is height/landing-dependent, maybe determining that through experimentantion such that the move is still difficult. But let's just all be nice about it and aware of changing landings and different sized people.

When I sent I used 2 pads, I'm 162 cm tall, 167 ape.

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Elias Iagnemma, who last year sent Burden of Dreams (9A), reports on Instagram that he has done the FA of The Big Slamm (9A). "It is incredible how it is a precise climb where every part of the body, shoe and flap of skin must deform perfectly in those minimal sandstone holds." (c) Stefania Colomba

There are now a dozen boulders graded 9A, out of which five have been done during the last year. The first 9A was Burden of Dreams which was put up by Nalle Hukkataival in 2016. Ir was first repeated in 2023 by Will Bosi and later also Simon Lorenzi and Elias Iagnemma.

Nicolai Užnik, who just needed max 1.5 sessions for his latest three 8C’s, has on his second go done Forgotten Gem (8C) in Chironico. “Very close on the flash, did it second go… soft for the grade but one of the best for sure.”

Can you tell us more about the flash attempt?
I of course wanted to flash it but unfortunately I didn‘t get the first crimp right and it kinda hurt my finger so for the next move I wasn‘t in a good position. When I did it right after it felt really solid though so it‘s a bit of a shame… 😅

Any more specific thoughts about the grade?
Hm, I think I’m pretty good on this sort of boulder as it suits my style well, but I would still say it‘s rather soft for 8C. Even though again if it hadn‘t worked out super well straight away it might have felt different.

What is your project status on Alphane?
For Alphane (9A), it‘s going pretty well. I started to do send go‘s, but unfortunately the last couple of days it felt much worse and the middle / crux sequence felt almost impossible as it was somehow super greasy. I’m taking a little break now as I’m very psyched on some other things as well and I want to return back to alphane with more motivation and better conditions again!

I am just trying to stay patient and at the same time also do other cool boulders that I enjoy more, since alphane for me is not the most fun thing to try or at least not my favorite style. So it‘s also important to have that balance I think.

Isabel Albores has done Lethal Design (8A+) in Red Rock (NV). "This was my first trip to Red Rocks and I was excited to try Lethal design because it seemed to fit my style well, especially as someone who primarily sport climbs outside. I tried it on the second day of the trip and decided to stick with it as a project. We were only there for 10 days so I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to piece it all together within the time constraint of the trip, but I learned a lot about managing skin and conditions throughout the process and I was very excited to send during my 4th session!"

What is your climbing background?
I started as a youth competition climber when I was 11. When I went to college, I started climbing outside and have been prioritizing getting outside when I can since then!

Esteban Daligault, with five 9a’s under his belt, has done Ça chauffe (9a) in Seynes .

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
So, I’d already tried and did few attempts on this route 4 years ago. This year I went back to Seynes for a friend’s birthday and I decided to try again. It took me 5 sessions this winter. And I succeeded at the last test of the weekend after a great mental battle.

What are your next plans?
I do a lot of mountaineering, so I’m going to try some hard mountaineering routes for the time being. I’ll be climbing again in the spring, and I’d like to do a 9a+, Bon Voyage (9a) and I have multipich projects, like Historie sans fin [8 pitches 8b+ in Switzerland] and others.

Simone Tentori has had his best week ever sending two 8C’s in Cresciano; The Story Of 2 Worlds (8C) and Crystal Ship (8C). Previously the 26-year-old has done five 8C’s since 2021.

Can you tell us more about those two ascents?
Crystal ship was definitely the main goal. Pretty easy intro and then basically 2 move crux that make the problem. On my first session I flashed the last move to the juggy-lip but I was stuck on the high foot lock off to get the slopy sidepull for two more sessions. The tiny holds are sharp and allowed me less than 10 tries each session. On my 4th session I finally realized that was better for me to commit to the low foot beta that make the reach to the sidepull way easier but harder to set up the last move with the crux probably on a foot move😂. 5th session I was abale to send with the support of my girlfriend who was there filming, spotting and moving the light for me (special thanks!)

Story was a completely different story. After my ascent of the dagger in 2017 I came back there multiple times and once a year I found myself practicing the moves again with friends and checking the low start for curiosity, but never with a strong intent to make it a real project. This year was not different, I was there playing on the moves with friends but this time I felt so strong on the moves straight away. After 30 min I gave a try from the start and I fell in the middle of the Dagger still with no clear beta and clumsy climbing. So I decided it was time to close this chapter and 2 more sessions I was on top.

How can you explain your peak performance?
In the last few years I focus on quality rather than quantity, and I choose to try a lot of different hard boulders around my limit. That meant fewer ticks on the list but more experience on different difficult moves. Combined with structured training, it was the key!

Can you give us some details about your structured training?
Fundamental weightlifting exercises, finger board, legs training, board sessions, campus climbing. With on-the-wall training 70 to 90% of my volume depends on the phase.

I'm a professional climbing coach (@compass_coaching_climbing) and I dedicated a lot of time studying training but also training myself too. My training varies a lot through the year and the rock climbing phase. However, I can say that I'll keep things simple and try to be consistent, and a training plan definitely helps with that!

Alex Megos, who five days ago did the FA of Iker Pou’s On Egin (8c+) after only three tries, has made the FA of Tuareg Blanco (9b/+) in Margalef, bolted by Adrien Boulon. (c) Rainer Eder

The 31-year-old double Olympian has completed ten routes graded 9b or 9b+ and over 100 graded 9a or harder, including achieving the world’s first 9a onsight in 2012.

Can you tell us more about the trip and Tuareg Blanco?
Good start to the year. The trip paid off now 😅 I started working the route when we came to Margalef after Christmas and have pretty much been focusing only on that route. I didn't do anything else really and for about 10 days only worked the moves and sections.

Unfortunately that route required me to rest quite a bit, because it peeled off my skin so quickly that I couldn't hold on anymore. In the end I think I was giving it tries for 5 days until it happened today on the second try of the day. With a few beta changes along the way.

The challenge were small and sharp holds, no rest and no good holds for 20 moves and the crux at the end of the 20 moves. Tricky with the weather too. It's in full sun for the whole day to it was often too warm.

What is coming up next and what about World Cups in 2025?
Some training camps with the German team and some workshops at our gym 😅😂. I'll only do the European ones, if anything. I'll not fly to China or Japan or anywhere else.