Margins, momentum and major comebacks
When Pressure Turns Into Power. National titles defended, bans lifted, highballs battled, and bodies rebuilt. This week shows what happens when athletes are pushed to their limits — and decide to push back. From French Championships drama to global policy shifts, the season is accelerating fast.
Titles, Turning Points & Big Decisions
French Championships delivered emotional gold. A national champion fought through exhaustion and doubt to reclaim her crown, while the men's field proved just how thin the margins have become. Beyond the podium, a major decision reshaped the international landscape: the IFSC lifted the ban on Russian and Belarusian climbers — a move that will directly impact the upcoming World Cup season.
Oriane Bertone — French Bouldering Champion for the 4th Consecutive Time
French bouldering champion for the 4th consecutive time! Training has been going amazing these past few months. Bringing home the gold on a comp with such a dense field is always an amazing feeling, especially when the margin of error is so small.
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Natalia Grossman — The Raw Story Behind Nationals Gold
The hardest competition I have ever attended emotionally, physically, and mentally. I felt zero pressure or expectations for the first time in my career. I experienced joy again. I finally felt like 'me' on the wall.
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Mejdi Schalck at French Champs — Time to Flip the Switch
Back to competition last weekend. French Champs wasn't a goal at all this year. I felt a bit rusty after 3.5 months of rock and board climbing. Time to flip the switch and lock in for the international season.
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New British Lead Champions Crowned in Manchester
Two new British Lead Champions have been crowned in Manchester. Massive congratulations to Erin McNeill and Sam Butters.
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IFSC Lifts Ban on Russian and Belarusian Climbers
A suspension imposed in March 2022 has been lifted, allowing climbers from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutral athletes in IFSC events.
Read article →Highballs, Comebacks & Hard Rock
From Tahoe highballs to Squamish granite and El Salto endurance tests, this week's ascents combine power and persistence. V15 statements, 400-meter free pushes, and long-term projects inching closer to breakthrough. The common thread: progress — whether it's sticking a crux move again or rebuilding after injury.
Dumby Project — Progress Update
Good progress on the Dumby project. Managed to stick the 1st move again and the 2nd move is starting to feel more possible, even on the link go. Just need the rain to stop.
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El Chamán Loco 5.14b — 400m First Free Ascent
Álvaro Basich, a Guadalajara native, just nabbed the highly sought-after first free ascent of 'El Chamán Loco' (5.14b; 400m). The 14-pitch route had seen attempts from pro climbers worldwide but had not yet been freed in a continuous push.
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Rattlesnake Bite Recovery to Ropeless Roof Traverse
After a rattlesnake bite reduced him from projecting 5.14c to struggling on V0, Andrew Leich had to rebuild from the ground up. His return: 'The Voice of Rushing Waters' (5.13a), a 35-foot roof traverse at Coopers Rock with zero natural protection.
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Mejdi Schalck — Defying Gravity V15 and Meadowlark Lemon V13
When in the USA… you go big. Mejdi Schalck delivering on Defying Gravity (8C/V15) and Meadowlark Lemon (8B/V13).
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Borrowed Time — V14 Highball FA in Tahoe
Black Diamond presents: Borrowed Time — a V14 highball first ascent. Tim battles one of Tahoe's proudest and tallest projects.
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Marco Müller Scores 4th Ascent of The Story of Three Worlds (8C+)
Marco Müller conquers The Story of Three Worlds (8C+) in Cresciano, Ticino — the 4th ascent of this legendary boulder.
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Eva-Maria Hammelmüller's Fifth 9a — 'Sometimes the Best Days Are Not the Ones You Expect'
Austrian lead specialist Eva-Maria Hammelmüller has ticked her fifth 9a in Col de Castillon. Her ascent of WRC came as a complete surprise — showing that expectations don't always play the biggest role.
Read article →National Crowns & Season Switch-On
France and Great Britain crowned their champions, and the international season is about to ignite. Athletes are shifting from rock mode back into competition focus, recalibrating timing, tactics, and mindset. With new formats and stacked fields ahead, consistency — not flashiness — will define early momentum.
Erin McNeill — 4th British Lead Title
Erin McNeill wins her fourth British Lead title in Manchester.
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Pro Climbing League — Meet the Setters
For the world's best boulderers, we needed the world's best setters. The PCL setters talk about themselves and the new format ahead of the upcoming London event.
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Start with our guides
Plain English explainers on gear, grades and skills, so every edition makes sense from the first read.
All guides →Innovation, Experiments & Safety First
Performance meets creativity this week. Avalanche tech goes digital, beloved shoes get reworked, and brands experiment at the intersection of climbing culture and design. Behind the marketing is a clear pattern: smarter tools, safer systems, and constant refinement — because marginal gains matter.
Scarpa Boostic Returns — Climbers Revolted, Brand Listened
For climbers who love high-end edging, the original model was essentially perfect. After a five-year wait, that magic is back. Scarpa finally set things right with the new Boostic.
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Petzl Foundation — Digital Avalanche Safety Tools
The future of mountain safety is here. The Petzl Foundation is committed to your safety by supporting a new generation of digital tools to better anticipate avalanche risks and provide ski tourers with practical, accessible decision-making tools.
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Evolv x Jordan — The World's First Jordan Climbing Shoe
Yes, we actually did it. A size 18 Jordan 1 resoled with climbing rubber. A special project between LBR, Evolv, and Yosemite Bum.
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Product Test: Which One Is GP1?
GP1 is a solid competitor. But the viral moments that made it famous were the result of heating rubber in a way that makes any climbing shoe stick to a wall. The answer may surprise you.
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New Metolius Stick Clip Quickdraw Makes Stick-Clipping Safer
The Stick Clip Quickdraw is a clever innovation to increase the safety of sport climbing, making the first bolt protection easier and more reliable.
Read article →Beyond the Send
From a ropeless skyscraper ascent watched by millions to alpine panoramas in Patagonia, climbing continues to stretch beyond grades. Recovery stories, family life, film projects, and winter venue stats all remind us: this sport is bigger than podiums. It's culture, risk, craft — and constant reinvention.
Alex Honnold — Taipei 101, Fatherhood, and What's Next
6 million people watched Netflix's live broadcast of Alex Honnold's ropeless ascent of Taiwan's Taipei 101. Now home in Las Vegas with his wife Sanni, Honnold says he's pumped to be tackling another adventure: fatherhood.
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Janja Garnbret — Current Camera Roll Energy
Current camera roll energy. Janja Garnbret shares a glimpse into her life between seasons.
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Natalia Grossman — First Time Not Thinking About Her Knee
For one of the first times since surgery, I didn't think about my knee once while climbing! But wow, my whole body has never felt so sore. A rest week has never felt so good.
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Festerville — Climbing Aguja Standardt in Patagonia
The definition of panorama. BD Ambassador Chris Deuto's last climb in El Chaltén this season: rime-ice to the summit of Aguja Standardt, climbing Festerville along the spire's north ridge. The Torre mountains have a sort of unimaginable beauty.
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Jakob Schubert — Two Days on Squamish Granite
Finally got to visit Canada and climb on famous Squamish granite. Time was limited and conditions marginal, but managed to tick Room Service Low (V14), Frontside (V12 Flash), Backside Blowout (V13), Encore Un Fois (V11 Flash), and The Method (V12 Flash).
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Tommy Caldwell — Something Big Is Coming
Something big is coming. 8 days to go. Tommy Caldwell teases a new film project with Edelrid — #TheAssistant.
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Top 5 Most Popular Scottish Winter Venues
According to UKClimbing Logbooks, the top 5 most popular venues during the Scottish Winter: Ben Nevis, Cairn Gorm (Stob Coire an t-Sneachda), Bidean nam Bian, Cairn Lochan, and Aonach Mor.
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CWIF 2026 — One Last Time at Climbing Works International Festival
CWIF 2026 in Sheffield — the last edition of the legendary Climbing Works International Festival with world-class bouldering, parties, costume competitions and livestreaming.
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Ice Climbing — Cool, But a Little Crazy?
When snow and ice cover the mountains, many climbers flee south. Others pack ice axes and crampons and head into the ice. A small but passionate community — tried at the Eis Total Ice Climbing Festival.
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