Adam Ondra admitted that his Change in Norway may not be 1st 9b+
Adam Ondra admitted that his famous route Change in Flatanger, Norway, originally rated 9b+, could have a lower difficulty rating given today's climbing methods. This was revealed in a recent interview with Adam Ondra published by Norwegian climber Leo Bøe, who was the sixth person to climb this route. Change was created in 2012 as the first ever 9b+ route.
Film mapping life of mountaineer Jan "Gusta" Havel is being made
An independent documentary film chronicling the life of Czech climber Jan "Gusta" Havel is being directed by climber and filmmaker Lukáš Černý. The film looks back at the history of Czech mountaineering and follows Gusta not only as a witness to a time without artificial walls and modern equipment, but also as an active climber who, even at the age of 75, is still fulfilling his dreams.
A Czech climber died on Breithorn (2,504 m) in Austria.
A 49-year-old Czech man died on Wednesday while climbing Breithorn (2,504 m) in Salzburg, Austria. The man apparently slipped on a difficult, snow-covered trail and fell into rocky terrain, according to media reports. According to the website horydoly.cz, he was a climber who set out alone on a route that requires climbing several short secured sections and climbing pitches with a difficulty rating of 2 U
Film Rhapsodia Corcontica is free on YouTube till Jan 1st 2026
The feature film Rhapsodia Corcontica, about two mountaineering expeditions from the Krkonoše Mountains to the mountains of Asia, is available to watch for free over the holidays on the Hudy sport YouTube channel. It will be available until January 1, 2026.
Adam Ondra's slabby 9a Niobe climbed by Gianluca Vighetti (ITA)
Adam Ondra's video about his recent first ascent of the 9a Niobe in Arco motivated 17-year-old Italian climber Gianluca Vighetti to try it himself, and he succeeded on his third attempt. Gianluca posted about it on his Instagram profile.
New route M8 6c 600 m on Rumanov Peak in the Tatra Mountains
Slovaks Adam Kaniak, Stanislav Filkor, and Czech Karel Nováček climbed a new (or partially new) route called Direkt Velké Zdi (M8 6c, 600 m) on the northeast face of Rumanový štít (2428 m) in the High Tatras on December 20-22, 2025, with two bivouacs.
Pictures from the Christmas comp on the wall Ruzyně in Prague
How was yesterday's Christmas competition at the Ruzyně climbing wall in Prague? Take a look at a few shots from the event on the wall's Facebook page. See below.
2 Czechs rescued by helicopter when rope fell from Grossglockner
Two Czech climbers were rescued by helicopter on Saturday afternoon on Grossglockner because, after climbing to the top of the Austria's highest mountain, they dropped their rope on the steep northern slope due to their carelessness. This was reported by the general media.
Film: Adam Ondra climbs probably the most slabby 9a in the world
Adam Ondra has released a new documentary film about the past, present, and future of difficult slab climbing, in which he climbs what is probably the most slabby 9a in the world, on his YouTube channel. Former climbing star Heinz Mariacher reminisces with Adam in Arco, Italy, about the style of sport climbing in the 1980s.
Adam Ondra admitted that his Change in Norway may not be 1st 9b+
Adam Ondra admitted that his famous route Change in Flatanger, Norway, originally rated 9b+, could have a lower difficulty rating given today's climbing methods. This was revealed in a recent interview with Adam Ondra published by Norwegian climber Leo Bøe, who was the sixth person to climb this route. Change was created in 2012 as the first ever 9b+ route.
Since then, Stefano Ghisolfi, Seb Bouin, Alex Megos, and Jorge Díaz-Rullo have also climbed it. All except Adam Ondra used knee pads and newer beta, with some suggesting a grade of 9b/b+.
Adam Ondra said in an interview that respect for the author often prevents climbers from suggesting a lower difficulty rating, but he also admitted that today's climbing style could justify a lower grade.
If Change's grade is indeed lowered, the title of the first 9b+ route would go to La Dura Dura in Oliana, Spain, which Adam Ondra climbed in 2013 and was later repeated by Chris Sharma. Adam's other 9b+ route, Vasil Vasil in the Moravian Karst from 2013, remains unrepeated as of January 2026, as does Zvěřinec in the Moravian Karst from 2022.
The interview with Adam Ondra begins at 5:41 in the film below:
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Adam Ondra admitted that his famous route Change in Flatanger, Norway, originally rated 9b+, could have a lower difficulty rating given today's climbing methods. This was revealed in a recent interview with Adam Ondra published by Norwegian climber Leo Bøe, who was the sixth person to climb this route. Change was created in 2012 as the first ever 9b+ route.
An independent documentary film chronicling the life of Czech climber Jan "Gusta" Havel is being directed by climber and filmmaker Lukáš Černý. The film looks back at the history of Czech mountaineering and follows Gusta not only as a witness to a time without artificial walls and modern equipment, but also as an active climber who, even at the age of 75, is still fulfilling his dreams.
A 49-year-old Czech man died on Wednesday while climbing Breithorn (2,504 m) in Salzburg, Austria. The man apparently slipped on a difficult, snow-covered trail and fell into rocky terrain, according to media reports. According to the website horydoly.cz, he was a climber who set out alone on a route that requires climbing several short secured sections and climbing pitches with a difficulty rating of 2 U
Until 2026, we wish all climbers peace, health, and good people around them.
The feature film Rhapsodia Corcontica, about two mountaineering expeditions from the Krkonoše Mountains to the mountains of Asia, is available to watch for free over the holidays on the Hudy sport YouTube channel. It will be available until January 1, 2026.
Adam Ondra's video about his recent first ascent of the 9a Niobe in Arco motivated 17-year-old Italian climber Gianluca Vighetti to try it himself, and he succeeded on his third attempt. Gianluca posted about it on his Instagram profile.
Slovaks Adam Kaniak, Stanislav Filkor, and Czech Karel Nováček climbed a new (or partially new) route called Direkt Velké Zdi (M8 6c, 600 m) on the northeast face of Rumanový štít (2428 m) in the High Tatras on December 20-22, 2025, with two bivouacs.
How was yesterday's Christmas competition at the Ruzyně climbing wall in Prague? Take a look at a few shots from the event on the wall's Facebook page. See below.
Two Czech climbers were rescued by helicopter on Saturday afternoon on Grossglockner because, after climbing to the top of the Austria's highest mountain, they dropped their rope on the steep northern slope due to their carelessness. This was reported by the general media.
Adam Ondra has released a new documentary film about the past, present, and future of difficult slab climbing, in which he climbs what is probably the most slabby 9a in the world, on his YouTube channel. Former climbing star Heinz Mariacher reminisces with Adam in Arco, Italy, about the style of sport climbing in the 1980s.
