Michaela Kiersch climbs her first 8b+ boulder with Hailstorm

The fact that Michaela Kiersch is a strong climber has been known since her ascent of the Sharma route Dreamcatcher near Squamish. In Ogden, Utah, she recently underlined that the American is also at the forefront of bouldering. There she climbed her first boulder of this difficulty with Hailstorm (8b +).

By American standards, Ogden is one of the smaller bouldering areas. However, the challenges in the primarily upper eighth French degree regularly attract strong climbers. Below, for example Allison Vestthat in early February Show Your Scars (8b+) drew.

Video: Michaela Kiersch climbs Hailstorm (8b +)

More sessions than ever before

With the boulder problem hail storm (8b+) connects Michaela Kiersch special memories. The American was there, as a compatriot Drew Ruana the line climbed first. She experienced the eponymous hailstorm from which she had to seek shelter under the block shortly after the first ascent. And now she has managed to boulder her first 8b+ by repeating Hailstorm.

"I'm really proud of this moment and, to be honest, a little surprised."

Michaela Kiersch

Michaela Kiersch writes that she spent more sessions on Hailstorm than ever on any other block. "I'm really proud of this moment and, to be honest, a little surprised." Kiersch is surprised because she managed to climb her hardest boulder and her hardest sport climbing route (Dreamcatcher, 9a) and do a doctorate at the same time.

michaela-kiersch-dreamcatcher
Michaela Kiersch in Dreamcatcher (9a), her most difficult sport climbing route so far. image @thefoxes 

Girl power in the Red Rocks

In the past few weeks, Michaela Kiersch has been involved Alex Puccio credentials for Red Rocks unsure. Among other things, she drew Power Save (8a+), a very heavy boulder. Or Happy happy hippos, also at the level of difficulty 8a+.

Michaela Kiersch and Alex Puccio in Happy Happy Hippos

That might interest you

+ + +

Credit Cover Photo: Michaela Kiersch

News

Alpine Club on the climate law: Ineffective without consequences

While young people in Salzburg take to the streets for the climate strike, the Austrian Alpine Club stands behind its youth: The planned climate law needs binding consequences, otherwise it will remain ineffective.

New member of the 9A Club: Ritsu Kayotani reprises “No One Mourns the Wicked”

The 20-year-old Japanese climber has now achieved the fifth ascent of the line in Colorado. For Kayotani, it is his first boulder problem graded 9A – although this grade has been under discussion since Yannick Flohé's proposal to downgrade it to 8C+.

Season finale: Last Lead & Speed ​​World Cup in Santiago de Chile

This weekend in Santiago, Chile, climbers will compete for medals – and the overall ranking – for the last time this World Cup season. It is only the second World Cup event to be held in South America.

Why Adam Ondra downgrades “Exodia” from 9A+ to 9A

Adam Ondra has achieved the first repeat of Elias Iagnemma's "Exodia" (9A+) in Val Pellice, Italy. The exceptional Czech climber considers the grade 9A more appropriate – likely also because he only needed four days for the route, compared to 212 days for the first ascensionists.

Alpine Club on the climate law: Ineffective without consequences

While young people in Salzburg take to the streets for the climate strike, the Austrian Alpine Club stands behind its youth: The planned climate law needs binding consequences, otherwise it will remain ineffective.

New member of the 9A Club: Ritsu Kayotani reprises “No One Mourns the Wicked”

The 20-year-old Japanese climber has now achieved the fifth ascent of the line in Colorado. For Kayotani, it is his first boulder problem graded 9A – although this grade has been under discussion since Yannick Flohé's proposal to downgrade it to 8C+.

Season finale: Last Lead & Speed ​​World Cup in Santiago de Chile

This weekend in Santiago, Chile, climbers will compete for medals – and the overall ranking – for the last time this World Cup season. It is only the second World Cup event to be held in South America.