""We believe in our athletes. We support their vision with our products, tracing the path of evolution and innovation in the outdoor world. Each team member has a personal story of experience, passion and dedication as well as values which La Sportiva echoes. Each story is a reality of its own, every success comes from work and application. Our athletes explore the boudaries of the World looking for the next step in the evolution of their disciplines, with the inevitable consequence of being ambassadors of the growth of their community”."

Edu Marin has done Cosi se Arete 9a in Rodellar and comments on Facebook. - One of the most beautiful routes in the area with almost 60 meters in total with an inconsiderable and demanding finish. A master piece by Sergio Casteran y Dani Andrada. After a long summer in the mountains I am more motivated than ever and with a nice feeling, already thinking about my next goal. (c) David Munilla

Nalle Hukkataival reports on Facebook that he has done the FA of The Stepping Stone 8C in Grampians and here is the video from his previous tries. "There are moments in life that are hard to write down in words. Yesterday was one of those moments. The last month of my life has completely revolved around climbing this one incredible project. Yesterday was just one more day trying the project and it wasn't going so well. All expectations were finally out the window and it was down to one last ditch effort. The sun was dipping down behind the horizon and painting the rock red. This would be my last try. The wind kicked up. I chalked my hands about a dozen times, like I do when I'm nervous, and pulled on the rock. I was climbing on total autopilot like I have many times through the sections. A series of screams of surprise and relief lead to the sight of my right hand grabbing onto the finishing hold! I climbed the V0 topout like it was V13. Right there, standing on top of that boulder watching the bright orange sunset could be the most memorable climbing experience of my life! Surely one of the very best lines I've ever opened; The Stepping Stone, somewhere around V15. Who even knows with the upper numbers anymore. Looking forward, I couldn't have asked for a better trainer for the Lappnor project! No time to waste, I'm flying to Finland in the morning to attack it full force again! Let's see if this was the extra kick I needed to finally get the Lappnor project done! Amazing times in Australia!! SWOOOPPP!!!

EPIC TV is the biggest video climbing media and their webshop is growing with low prices, and that includes the biggest brands. Solution (in the picture) is Euro 109 including free shipping. In fact, once you become a member you get 5 euro for free and then 10% lower prices. This means that new members pay euro 93.50 for Solution and then you get a 5 euro coupon. You can also buy ropes for under 100 euro, a Mammut harness for 45 euro, a Grigri for 69 euro and even get a quick draw from Climbing Technology for Euro 6.95! And do not forget that the prices are 10% lower for members. It seems, pretty much all brands are at sale there so check it out and start saving some money.

Neil Gresham, one of the leading UK trad and sport climbers of the last 20 years, has made the FA of Premonition 8b+ at Kilnsey. It starts at the previous mixed Deja Vu E5 (in between the trees in the picture by Neil) established by Ron Fawcett and was protected with three threads in the start. There are 32 routes on the crag out of which almost all are bolted. Having been given the OK from the FA, Neil replaced the threads with two bolts and also placed another bolt higher up, just to the side of the original line. For this Neil has been criticized by some, out of which the former UKC employee Mick Ryan was harshest, saying that he should chop the bolts. Neil called Mick asking for an explanation for his critical stand point, seeing as Mick himself did exactly the same thing on two routes 25 years ago, replacing threads with bolts. The only difference was that Mick had not been given an OK from the FA. Until now, there have been 304 posts in the UKC forum and Mick Ryan has been banned. 8a contacted Mick to get an opinion on why he was so critical towards Neil as he had done a worse thing 25 years ago. "Whether a bolt is placed, or taken out is always down to an individual action, an individual decision to act. Some may agree or disagree with the action. Some retrobolts stay in, some come out and that is decided by individuals. Anyone is free to do as they wish, just as Neil has done recently. He placed retrobolts. Some people disagree with that, some agree. He didn't ask the BMC for permission. When it comes to placing bolts or taking them out we only have our own authority. There is no-one telling you what to do, or not what to do.' Neil Gresham: 'The aim of the new bolts was to strike a compromise between the requirements of those climbing the original line and those wishing to climb the new Extension. These things are always difficult to resolve and it's impossible to please everyone. However, I firmly believe that the majority support this type of evolution. The way it's always been in the UK is that first ascentionists decide about any alterations to the fixed protection on a route, although in this case the critics have tried to claim otherwise simply because they disagree with what we've done.'

- I had thought about making a digital version of the guidebook for a long time. Many climbers approached me over the years for collaboration, but at the time I felt it was premature to make an app, while I also was afraid an app would take sales away from the print guidebook which I worked so hard for. But now I think the time is right to make an app that will complement the print guidebook. When Vertical Life approached me we had very good rapport, I liked the quality of their work, and other guidebook authors I respect had already collaborated with them, so my decision was made. Here you can preorder it for 40 + 8 Euro including freight It should be noted that the last guide book from 2010 had 1 700 routes and the 2015 version 2 700.

Sachi Amma, who has a goal of doing ten routes 9a and harder in 2015, just did his ninth, Jungle Boogie 9a+ in Céüse. (c) Luka Fonda From Facebook: "I send Jungle Boogie!!!!! Finally... I still can not believe it happened. It is raining heavily right now. Tomorrow I go to Germany. I got a last chance. It was a miracle!" Sachi stopped competing in 2014 after having been on the podium in 14 out of the last 15 Lead World Cups.

Isabelle Faus, who did her first 8B+ last month, continues to deliver with The Shining 8B in RMNP. In the female ranking game, she was #2 after Alex Puccio for quite some time and now she is the tied #1 and actually #35 among the male. (c) Chad Greedy "Really psyched! first try from the start yesterday, tried it the last few years tho, can't really remember anything ever, but probably more than 5 days, and less than 10 haha. great boulder, super steep, powerful, sustained, pretty perfect, props to my hommie Jimmy Webb for putting it up!"