Domen Škofic repeats Chilam Balam at Villanueva del Rosario

Slovenia's Domen Škofic has added his name to the short but illustrious list of climbers who have repeated Chilam Balam, the 200 move stamina testpiece at Villanueva del Rosario put up by Bernabé Fernandez in 2003. At the time the Spaniard caused a considerable stir by suggesting the unprecedented grade of 9b+, and in 2011 Adam Ondra made the long-awaited first repeat and downgraded the route to 9b.

After the discovery of numerous knee-bars and no-hands rests the grade has settled in at 9a+/b, but, as Škofic quite rightly explains, the wish to repeat the line isn't dictated by the number: "It’s probably my hardest route to date but my opinion is that this route doesn’t even need a grade because it’s so legendary. I believe that every climber who did and will do this beast in the future will feel something incredible. The last slab is a killer but that’s why the whole journey is so special. Nothing is granted until the very end."

Škofic has been dreaming about this 80+ meter monster ever since he heard of it and when he finally started trying it last month, he "enjoyed every single move on it but the journey to success was far from easy."

In 2016 Škofic won the Lead World Cup and after retiring from competitions he concentrated much of his efforts on building and running his amazing Climbing Ranch gym close to the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. He has previously redpointed up to 9a+, and this recent ascent at Villanueva del Rosario is indication that, when he sets his mind to things, he is capable of climbing very hard indeed.