Andrea Chelleris (12) climbs 9a, Pure Dreaming at Massone in Arco, Italy
A few days ago 52-year-old climber Alfredo Webber repeated the 9a Pure Dreaming at Massone, Arco, and on that occasion he hinted that the next repeat could easily come very soon, and from a climber 40 years younger than him.
Webber had observed things correctly because the news from a few hours ago is that Andrea Chelleris has also managed to redpoint this ultra overhanging testpiece! Sending 9a is always an important achievement, being able to do so at just 12 years of age is something absolutely out of the ordinary.
The young Italian sent his summer project after having redpointed his first 8c, La super nera at the crag Baratro juts outside Trieste last autumn, and the 8b+ Super Maratona at Massone in just five attempts, before completely skipping the grade 8c+.
While Pure Dreaming was Chelleris' summer project, it's worth highlighting his winter one: he happens to be a highly promising skier and in March he earned a splendid gold medal in the nationals.