Domen Skofic repeats Underground at Arco

Making the most of the invitation to the Rock Master and a mere two days before competing in the Lead event, the young Slovenian climber managed to repeat the legendary 9a at Massone. The 20-year-old sent the route, first climbed in 1998 by South Tyrolean strongman Manfred Stuffer, in no time at all, namely a mere four attempts. The first last year, the second upon arrival at Arco this year but the holds were wet, and the final two yesterday.

"The route is really strange" Škofic told Planetmountain "although it's long, it always feels strange because you're never more than 5 metres off the ground. At the start yesterday I got frustrated because although I had no problems with the crux moves right at the end, I had difficulty with some moves at the start. But then Gabriele Moroni arrived and he explained the beta and I sent it immediately."

Underground is Škofic's sixth 9a, after Martin Krpan and Halupca at Ospo, Sanjski Par at Misja Pec, Estado Critico at Siurana and Era Vella at Margalef. Seeing the speed with which he sent it, we half-joked that the time had come for something harder. Škofic laughed and replied "Yes, certainly the time has come but for that I need more time. In fact I was really pleased with being invited to take part in the Rock Master, like that I had two days free to try it, I simply had to do it! Also because I've always dreamt of climbing it, ever since I was a young boy. And now I've done it!"

Domen Škofic thanks Edelrid, Scarpa, Red Bull