28-3-2012
You could feel it coming, and he could feel it too! After sending two 8c+’s last year (Hulk Extension and Blud und Honig) and climbing his first 8B boulder early March, Micha Vanhoudt climbed Erfog ist trainierbar reclimbed in Adlitzgraben, Austria. This 9a of 35 meters was opened by Berni Fiedler. The grade was confirmed by Adam Ondra. There is no doubt about it: Micha is the first Belgian to top a 9th grade route. In the end, what mattered most was not the number of tries (not so many) and the ideal weather conditions (10°C with light wind), but all the hard work. The 27-year-old climber, who moved to Austria two years ago, trained mostly power this winter in view of his project. The route consists of a six-meter climb to a hard 8A+ Fb boulder sequence followed by a solid 8b+ route.
Micha can sit back and relax, because Erfolg is tranierbar reclimbed was his project for 2012 and there are quite some months left before the year is over. Well done!