The news

The first stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup 2018 got underway in Saas Fee, Switzerland today. The Speed finals take place the evening, tomorrow hosts the Lead semifinals and Finals. All stages transmitted in live streaming.

A climbing video by Sara Oviglia and the information about Piazzetta Sottovento, a new sector at the splendid crag Cala Usai at Villasimìus in Southern Sardinia.

At the crag Monte Sordo in Finale Ligure, Italy, Giorgia Tesio made the first female ascent of Hyaena. First climbed in 1986 by Andrea Gallo, this sport climb has remained a reference point for top end sport climbing.

On 7 January 2018 Vivian Bruchez, Jonathan Felisaz, Thomas Guerin skied a new line on Perrons de Vallorcine in the Aiguilles Rouges massif in France.

Greg Boswell and Guy Robertson have climbed a significant new route on Buachaille in Scotland called The Holy Grail IX/10.

27-year-old Austrian climber Jakob Schubert has flashed the 8B+ boulder problem Catalan Witness the Fitness at Cova de Ocell in Spain.

At the Spanish crag Siurana Stefano Ghisolfi has pulled off the second ascent of the 9b sports climb La Capella, freed by Adam Ondra in 2011. This is the 24-year-old Italian’s fourth climb of this difficulty.

Simon Chatelan, Jeff Mercier and Ron Koller have made the first ascent of two new ice and mixed climbs at the Oeschinenwald sector above Kandersteg in Switzerland.

Two climbing videos documenting the 'A World Less Traveled’ trip of climbers Charlotte Durif and Josh Larson as they discover the lesser-known climbing areas of 18 countries sprinkled across 6 continents.

Maurizio Oviglia introduces Astroman on the East Face of Washington Column, one of the most famous rock climbs in Yosemite Valley and the world.

At Santa Linya in Spain Janja Garnbret has climbed her second 9a sports climb, while Jakob Schubert has redpointed another 9a+.

On the Singlin rock face in Valtournenche (Valle d’Aosta, Italy) François Cazzanelli and Nicolò Buongiorno have established a new mixed climb called Il Sole di Mezzogiorno (150m, M5, 6a)

At Mt Buffalo in Australia Logan Barber has made the first ascent of Japanese Deep Freeze, a route hat might well be the hardest crack climb in the country.

The short film Curvas Peligrosas directed by Yannick Boissenot is now online. 12 minutes documenting a month in steep skiing Peru with Frederic Gentet and Stéphane Roguet, down iconic lines such as steep Artesonraju, Huascaran and Tocllaraju.

At Santa Linya in Spain Austria’s Jakob Schubert has redpointed Stoking the Fire, his third sports climb graded 9b.

During a brief visit to the Grotta dell’Areonauta crag at Gaeta in Italy Adam Ondra made the first ascent of the 9a sports climb La Teoria del Gesto.