Stefano Ghisolfi sends 8c+!

Stefano Ghisolfi is certainly one of the most promising young Italian climbers and his ascents, with and without a rope, are impressive to say the least. After sending his first 8B+ boulder in January (Gandalf il grigo at Varazze), the 19-year-old from Turin has now redpointed his first 8c+, confirming this form a week later by sending another route of the same grade. The climbs are L'extrema cura plus located at the crag Gravere, sent on 12 May, and the L'Avaro at the Tetto di Sarre, redpointed on 20 May.

Ghisolfi told planetmountain.com "L'extrema cura plus is the extension of a route I sent two years ago and I think it hasn't been repeated much. I managed to climb it first go of the day after having tried it about a year ago, and I still remembered the sequence well. Gravare is a crag which suits my style, overhanging and crimpy, and it's close to home." With regards to the route L'Avaro, Ghisolfi stated "when the weather is bad Tetto di Sarre is one of the few crags where you can climb in the rain. I first tried L'Avaro a month ago and fell just beneath the chain on my 5th attempt. In the end I needed 10 goes to make the send!"

It is worth remembering that L'Avaro was freed by Alberto Gnerro back in 1998. We say this not to diminish in any way the performance of Ghisolfi who, we are certain, is on the right track for other even more impressive climbs, but to remind everyone of what was being achieved 14 years ago.