The American succeeds in becoming the first woman to climb a route of this grade with Stefano Ghisolfi's testpiece Excalibur (9b+) in Arco.
Brooke Raboutou has once again pushed the boundaries of climbing. With her ascent of Excalibur She is the first female climber to reach the difficulty level 9b+, which previously had only been climbed by male climbers.
Raboutou also solves Laura Rogora which will be launched in 2021 erebor (9b/+) was the most difficult female ascent. Meanwhile, Erebor, after a downgrade from Adam Ondra at 9b.
Thank you to everyone who supported me in this ambitious goal. I am infinitely grateful for the people and relationships this route has brought into my life.
Brooke Raboutou
Only 9 people climb grade 9b+ worldwide
Brooke Raboutou had Stefano Ghisolfi's route Excalibur (9b+) since the end of last year and tackled the route again this March. Olympic Vice Champion of Paris is also among the absolute world elite in bouldering and caused a sensation in 2023 when she Box Therapy downgraded from 8C+ to 8C.
With her repeat of Excalibur, the 23-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, now belongs to a small group of only nine elite climbers worldwide to have climbed a confirmed 9b+ route. The first was in 2012. Adam Ondra with Change succeeded in climbing the world's first 9b+.
Excalibur, thank you for all the lessons. You pushed me like no other route before.
Brooke Raboutou
Excalibur: "Without a doubt 9b+"
Excalibur in Drena near Arco was opened in 2023 by Stefano Ghisolfi and rated it 9b+ «without a doubt». Since then, only Will Bosi and Brooke Raboutou repeated the approximately 45-degree overhanging route. As Italy's most difficult sport climbing route, Excalibur is particularly known for its microcrimps and a high right heel hook in the crux.
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Credits cover photo: Crimp films