Laura Rogora and Anak Verhoeven score Sperlonga and Santa Linya first ascents

The growing number of female first ascents provides a clear indication about the healthy state of this sport and how much it has developed over the years. Two climbers who’ve made a name for themselves in the past, namely 16-year-old Laura Rogora from Rome and 21-year-old Anak Verhoeven, are back in action now with climbs that promise to be testing to say the least.

Rogora used her home advantage to free a logical linkup in the steep Grotta dell'Arenauta Sperlonga cave. Established after various attempts spread out of the last months, this connects the routes Invidia and Grandi gesti before finishing up Viaggio=infinito and the new route, It segid narg, has tentatively been graded 8c+. Slightly easier therefore than Grandi gesti which she repeated in February 2016; later that year her first 9a had earned her a nomination for the prestigious Arco Rock Legends award.

Verhoeven, after having redpointed Ciudad de Dios 9a/+ at Santa Linya in Spain, found the time and above all the power to free Ciudad de Dios pa la Enmienda through the same cave. As the name suggests, this combines Ciudad de Dios with La Novena Enmienda. Suggested grade: an outstanding 9a/+.


Link: FB Laura Rogora, Instagram Laura Rogora, Instagram Anak Verhoeven, anakverhoeven.be