Behind the Scenes: Jakob Schubert on his exploration of »SHAOLIN« (9A)

Torn fingers, fails, and doubts – the path to a successful ascent doesn't always go according to plan, even for professional climbers. In his new YouTube video, Jakob Schubert gives honest insights into his work on "SHAOLIN," his third 9A.

“I fell in love with it immediately” – that’s what Schubert said about the Boulder.SHAOLIN"...after he successfully completed the ascent in February 2026. The line is located in Red Rocks, Nevada, and was Schubert's third 9A after "Alphane" and "Mount Doom." It was first climbed in February 2024 by the American..." Sean bailey.

The 35-year-old Austrian is the fourth climber to successfully complete the "SHAOLIN" route. Previously, also Zach Galla, Noah Wheeler and Simon Lorenzi He repeated the boulder problem. On YouTube, Schubert shows the unfiltered path to his successful ascent – ​​including glimpses of his vacation and the occasional minor outburst.

"SHAOLIN": Maximum challenge for body & mind

Anyone watching the video will quickly realize that Jakob Schubert's love for the line wasn't always reciprocated by "SHAOLIN." Schubert repeatedly tore the skin on his fingertips and had to take a forced break. A minor grip failure then added another layer of drama. "I had to rebuild the movements I'd learned," the Austrian explained. "That made it a bit harder physically, but even harder mentally."

The unique character of "SHAOLIN" distinguishes Schubert's ascent from his previous successes in the 9A grade. Instead of strength endurance as in "Alphane" or "Mount Doom," here... few, but extremely powerful moves on the program, which demands absolute precision.

The eight moves before the exit focus on the two toughest key sequences: an iconic jump where the feet come in, and another to a narrow edge. Schubert called them "Two of the coolest moves I've ever made."

^{Jakob Schubert during his project »SHAOLIN« | Photos: Michael Piccolruaz}

Video: Jakob Schubert on the move in the Red Rocks

During his trip to Red Rocks, Schubert also put in work on the other 9A boulders in the region, "Return of the Sleepwalker"How it all went and what side quests he pursued away from the rock in the USA can be seen in his new video.

That might interest you

• Jakob Schubert achieves the first repeat of »Mount Doom« (9A)
• Jakob Schubert's BIG film is finally on YouTube

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Credits Cover image: Michael Piccolruaz