Keyword: 9c

In sport climbing, the difficulty grade 9c (5.15d) represents the absolute pinnacle of human performance on rock. Worldwide, there are currently only five routes rated at this grade – Jakob Schubert repeated the first of them last week with "DNA". Who is currently part of the 9c club, and who is trying to secure a place in this elite group?

Around 180.000 spectators watched as the Tyrolean climber clipped the anchor of Seb Bouin's "DNA" in the Verdon Gorge. With his live ascent, Schubert created a climbing moment that will go down in history – as the first repeat of a 9c route, currently the highest grade in sport climbing.

Starting Friday, October 2nd, Jakob Schubert will be back live: The Austrian will attempt to send Seb Bouin's "DNA" (9c) in the Verdon Gorge and broadcast his efforts via livestream. After "BIG," this is the second 9c route that the climbing community can follow the Tyrolean in real time as he climbs the rock.

More than two years after the historic first ascent, the film is now freely available. Following an extensive festival tour, Jakob Schubert has released his documentary "BIG – A World First" on YouTube.

After more than four years of work on his life's project, Madrid native Jorge Díaz-Rullo completed the first ascent of Café Colombia in the Racó de la Finestra sector in Margalef on March 13, 2026. He now proposes a grade of 9c, placing the route at the pinnacle of sport climbing.

Sean Bailey became only the fifth climber ever to assign the highest difficulty grade of 9c to a route. The American invested four years and three seasons in his project, "Duality of Man" in Dry Canyon.

Earlier this year, Adam Ondra tried out Seb Bouin's Masterpiece DNA in the Verdon Gorge. How the Czech climbing pro fared on the 9c line...

With DNA, Seb Bouin was the second climber to rate a route 2c. You can watch the Reel Rock episode of his ascent for free.