A Week of Big Statements
This edition brings more than hard sends. It's about benchmark flashes, bold grade proposals, lasting longevity, and the wider questions shaping climbing beyond the wall. From V15 mastery to access battles, the sport kept moving on every front.
Legacy, Limits & What Comes Next
This week's highlights span the full spectrum of climbing: Adam Ondra adding another historic V15 flash, Seb Bouin proposing a new benchmark on Le Bombé Bleu, Bill Ramsey proving age is no barrier to elite performance, and Oak Flat remaining at the center of a critical access fight. Add Janja Garnbret's birthday off the wall, and the result is a snapshot of climbing as both sport and culture.
Janja Garnbret Turns 27
27 years of becoming her. A birthday moment from the world's greatest climber.
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Seb Bouin Proposes 9b for Le Bombé Bleu
After 9 sessions and 4 falls on the final 8c+ section, Seb Bouin proposes 9b for the legendary route Le Bombé Bleu — a bold grade statement backed by detailed comparison.
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Bill Ramsey Sends 5.14 at Age 65
At 65, Las Vegas philosophy professor Bill Ramsey redpointed Ghost Meat (5.14) at the Clear Light Cave — apparently the oldest known person to send a route of this difficulty.
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Oak Flat Land Transfer to Mining Company Approved
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied an injunction blocking the transfer of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. Access Fund says the fight is not over.
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Adam Ondra Flashes Fourth V15, Will Return to Competitions
Adam Ondra's most recent V15 flash was Emotional Landscapes in Maltatal, Austria — his fourth V15 flash this season.
Read article →Benchmarks Keep Falling
The sends this week were not just hard — they were defining. Historic flashes, classic testpieces, big grade discussions, and standout performances across both bouldering and sport climbing pushed the ceiling higher once again. What stands out most is the range: young power, veteran endurance, and benchmark routes still shaping the conversation decades after their first ascents.
Adam Ondra Flashes Emotional Landscapes 8C/V15
A surreal flash of this ultra classic from 2002 by Klem Loskot. Ondra also flashed Air 8B and Wrestling with Alligator 8B in the same session.
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Daniel Woods Sends Earn Your Stripes (V11) Solo
A world-class solo put up by Keenan Takahashi — bullet sandstone edge climbing with a committing move 3/4 up the wall.
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Victor Guillermin Quick Ascent of Aloha (5.14d/9a)
That around-the-hand kneebar. Victor Guillermin with an impressive quick ascent of Aloha, 5.14d/9a.
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Stefano Ghisolfi Sends The Dagger 8B
Stefano Ghisolfi adds The Dagger 8B to his ticklist.
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Jakob Schubert & Michael Piccolruaz: Emotional Landscapes V15 Double Ascent
Opened by Klem Loskot in 2002, Emotional Landscapes is a great V15 benchmark. Sending it the same day made it special — and thinking that was almost 25 years ago is mind-blowing.
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Alberto Ginés Lopez Sends El Bon Combat (9b)
Before the World Cup season kicks off in May, 2021 Olympic champion Alberto Ginés Lopez is treating himself to a few more relaxing days on the crag.
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Alex Megos Onsights 8c+ in France
A successful short trip to France: Alexander Megos closed it out with an onsight of Nadesjda (8c+), capping an impressive ticklist.
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Austin Hoyt Fulfills Lifelong Dream: The Process V16
Hoyt says the dream of climbing the Buttermilks V16 began in childhood, when he hung a poster of Daniel Woods on the problem above his bed.
Read article →Fast Formats, National Crowns
Competition climbing kept its momentum with speed-bouldering energy, national championship results, and more signs that alternative event formats are gaining traction. The Pro Climbing League afterglow is still visible, but local and national scenes are pushing hard too. The common thread is intensity: faster formats, sharper execution, and a deeper field across the board.
Maximillian Milne Wins Tenzing Extravaganza Speed Bouldering Comp
"Slow is smooth and smooth is fast" — Maximillian Milne takes the dub for City Bloc Leeds at the Tenzing Extravaganza team speed bouldering comp, a hat-trick.
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Pro Climbing League London: Head-to-Head and Side-by-Side
Athletes going all out to get one hold further than their competitor, but also reading the boulders and celebrating together — rivalry and camaraderie both on full display at PCL London.
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New Austrian Boulder Champions Crowned
Kathi Bergmann and Jan-Luca Posch take gold at the Austrian Bouldering Championships.
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Petzl Becomes New Sponsor of DAV Expedition Team
From 2026, Petzl will become an official partner of the DAV Expedition Team, supporting athletes with high-quality mountaineering equipment, expertise, and knowledge transfer.
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German Bouldering Championship 2026 in Darmstadt
The first major highlight of the German climbing season: Germany's top athletes gather at Studio Bloc Pfungstadt on 27 and 28 March.
Read article →New to climbing?
Start with our guides
Plain English explainers on gear, grades and skills, so every edition makes sense from the first read.
All guides →New Faces, New Systems
This week in gear was less about flashy launches and more about direction. Brands introduced new athletes, modular equipment concepts, and limited spring drops aimed at climbers who want adaptable tools for specific missions. The signal is clear: climbing gear keeps moving toward specialization, flexibility, and stronger identity.
Evolv Welcomes Leo Boe to Team
Leo Boe has been developing a multipitch route in Mexico for the past 2 years that could be one of the hardest routes in the world — a 5.14d pitch on final slick surface.
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La Sportiva Modular Backpack System
One backpack, modular setups and customizable configurations for every technical tool. Choose the route, not the backpack.
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Tension Climbing Spring '26 Collection Dropping March 17
The Spring '26 Collection drops on March 17 at 10am MDT. Once they're gone, they're gone for good.
View post →Climbing Beyond Performance
Not every important story this week came from a send. Safety lessons, public land battles, film tours, and personal milestones all reminded us that climbing lives far beyond grades and podiums. It's still about movement — but also about access, storytelling, community, and what the sport chooses to protect.
Carabiner Failure on Dream Safari (5.11a) — A Safety Warning
Climber Jarred Jackman took a 40-50 ft headfirst fall on Dream Safari after the rope-side carabiner somehow unclipped. A wiregate was later found near his tie-in knot.
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The North Face Summit Series — Made for More Than Mountains
Summit Series was never just made for mountains. Finding the crux, improving the beta, and building it better.
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Tommy Caldwell on Stumped: A Film Spoof for International Women's Day
A spoof that parodies the way mainstream media makes overly inspirational stories about disabled folks — starring Tommy Caldwell and Mo Beck. Funny, impressive, and dare he say inspirational.
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Mellow Climbing Film Tour Wraps Colorado, Heads West
Colorado showed incredible support for athletes and filmmakers on the Mellow Climbing tour. West coast up next.
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