The news

The Red Bull Snowthrill Monterosa is fast approaching, the most important freeride event which will vibrate Monte Rosa's slopes from 10 - 16 March

At the end of January Mauro "Bubu" Bole repeated Game over, Albert Leichtfried's M13 at Drylands, Innsbruck, Austria.

A strong young Belgian team comprised of Nicolas Favresse, Olivier Favresse, Seán Villanueva, Mike Lecomte and Philippe Ceulemans has made a rare repeat of Riders on the Storm, situated in the Torres del Paine and undoubtedly one of the crown...

All participants of the Red Bull Snowthrill Monterosa, the most important freeride skiing competition which will vibrate the slopes of Monterosa from 26 February to 4 March.

At the start of January two Swiss climbers, 19-year old Gabriel Grünenwald and 23-year old Simon Oswald, made the first and second full repeat of The Flying Circus, Robert Jasper’s multi-pitch M10 at the Breitwangfluh, Kandersteg

Ines Papert from Germany and Markus Bendler from Austria have won the third stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup 2006, held in Saas Fee, Switzerland, last weekend. Jenny Lavarda and Petra Muller, Simon Wandler and Jack Müller placed second...

On 24 January Albert Leichtfried made the first ascent of "Illuminati", a 5 pitch mixed outing located in Val Lunga, close to Selva Gardena (South Tyrol) N. Italy . The 30 year old Austrian has put forward the impressive grade...

Ueli Steck: first solo, repeat and winter ascent of The Young Spider on the North Face of the Eiger

On 28/01 at Spicak (Czech Republic) the second stage of the UIIA Ice Climbing World Cup was won by Simon Wandeler and Ines Papertahead of Markus Bendler (2), Harald Berger (3) and Ksenia Sdobnikova (2), Anna Torretta (3).

For 6 days no one has heard anything from Jean-Christophe Lafaille, currently engaged in the difficult first winter ascent (and, above all, solo) of Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world.

On 17/01/2006 Markus Bendler from Austria made the first asscent of "Hells Angels Paradise - Law and Order" located beneath the Maukspitze, St. Johann, Tyrol.

At Hueco Tanks Fred Nicole makes the first ascent of "Terremer" and Dave Graham repeats "Esperanza". At Fontainebleau Michele Caminati repeats "Khéops" 8B, while at Cresciano Martin Moser repeats "The Dagger" 8B+

On 12 January Yuri Parimbelli made the first repeat of Damocle, the superb ice drip first ascended by Simone Moro in 2000 in Valleve, Valle Brembana, N. Italy. Simone Moro has made the first ascent of Open Day.

On 12/01/2006 Mario Prinoth made the first ascent of Albertina at the Grotta di Campitello, Dolomites.

Will Gadd has made the first ascent of Steel Koan in Cineplex Cave, Alberta, Canada.

Maurizio "Manolo" Zanolla has managed to redpoint "Diaboluna" 8c at Fonzaso, N. Italy.