Tough boulders repeated and first ascended

Sam Weir is able to repeat the Raboutou testpiece Fuck the System (8C+) in Fionnay under challenging conditions. Elias Iagnemma opens Afrodite in Piedmont, an 8B+ boulder with two extreme moves right at the beginning.

Sam Weir needed a long breath until he Fionnay the trains of Fuck the System (8C+). But the hard work of the past few months was worth it: a few days ago, the strong Frenchman was able to celebrate his repetition of the famous line.

Fuck the System: A real test of patience

To complete this boulder, he really had to step up his game and think long-term, says Sam Weir. "Since last September, I've finally focused on my weaknesses and done a lot of basic work over the last 9 months instead of just climbing."

This hard work paid off on Shawn Raboutou's test piece and also motivated him beyond that: "I raised the bar a little higher and this opened the door to dream a little bigger."

Hard summer project found and first ascent: Afrodite (8B+)

The strong Italian Elias Iagnemma was looking for new challenges in the mountains of Piedmont to escape the rising temperatures. He found many potential routes, but one in particular caught his eye: Afrodite (8B+).

The hardest moves are right at the beginning: "The difficulty lies in generating an incredible amount of force on the shoulders while maintaining maximum pressure on the left foot, which is standing on a tiny vertical step."

Afrodite (8B+) is one of the most beautiful lines he has ever climbed, enthuses Elias Iagnemma. And the potential in this area is far from exhausted: "Before the evening session, I spent some time researching new projects and found another bouldering area near my home with many new projects for next winter. The concentration of rock in this place is incredible."

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Credits: Cover picture @steppph_dove