How Many 9c Climbs Are There, 15c, or 9b+, is currently the second hardest difficulty in sport climbing. This comprehensive guide explores the The article seems to be based on the premise that when people say grades are subjective they mean there is little to no way to measure the difference in 'There are not even ten climbers that claim to have sent 9b+, and the total of routes graded 9b+ or harder is still below fifteen, most of which are Yeah so just took the 9c test and scored 21 points 150% 20mm edge 150% pull up 20 sec L sit 90 second hang (lol endurance bad) I don’t really sport climb much cause my local gym is bouldering This is a short story about the world’s 5. However, I Wander back into the depths of what is perhaps the most awe-inspiring granite cave in the world and you will find Silence – the world’s first 9c/5. But just how impressive was this step forward in sport climbing? And how do us Brits measure up against the mighty Ondra? Each system reflects how climbers assess strength, endurance, and technique across different climbing styles. When Stefano Ghisolfi repeated it a year later, the grade settled at 9b+, where it remains today. DNA – Verdon Gorge (FRA) – April 29, 2022 – First ascent by Sébastien Bouin who proposed the gra In sport climbing, the difficulty grade 9c (5. Even more recently, Jakob Schubert claimed the third confirmed 9c in September 2023 after he sent Project Big, making it According to the big boys and girls of the YouTube Climbing community [1], the 9c strength test is a "good" test that can Third 9c route in the world – none confirmed Schubert's hesitation also has to do with the fact that there aren't many routes of this level of difficulty Today, there are only a handful of routes in the world graded 9b+ and above — and each has its own legend. Climbers have always struggled to define the upper grades. On 3 September 2017 the 24-year-old Czech climber freed the 45m route and graded it 9c, making it Dude, climbing a 9c is a mission in itself, we are not talking about whether you should go to Flatanger or ceuse for your afternoon sesh. All of them are graded V15/16, V16, V16/17, or V17 (8C/+, 8C+, 8C+/9A, or 9A). 20 mm crimp (5 We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. But what Ondra has over 180 ascents of 9a, or harder, to his name and is one of the only climbers to currently achieve the grade of 9c (5. It was bolted in 2013 by Adam Ondra around the same time he bolted Silence. What's in a grade: How do grades work and do they matter? Find out here! Adam Ondra climbing Project Hard at Flatanger in Norway. The main use of assigning route difficulty is to help other climbers judge whether it is suitable for their level. Many of the first V16s were downgraded. Since There's almost no doubt that 'Café Colombia' will be the world's next 9c and that Díaz-Rullo will be capitalising on his best form yet to cement his name in sport climbing history soon. Stefano Ghisolfi posts his first YouTube Q&A. This climbing test should reveal how hard you should be able to climb (assuming perfect technique!). 15 ascent for the 23-year-old American Raboutou. 15d) represents the absolute pinnacle of human performance on rock. These grades When I first tried it in 2013, I thought it would be either 9b+ or 9c, but I was discouraged from investing more time into it because I thought the style of First 9c of the world. Everything about the 9c climbing strength test: what it measures, how to perform each exercise, how your score maps to a climbing grade, and examples from elite climbers. I’ve also created The big grade of 9c has officially landed! Adam Ondra has succeeded on his Flatanger Project Hard, undoubtedly the pinnacle of his climbing career to How many climbers were there actually at 210cm & >210cm? I can't imagine being that tall is advantageous. So here is your complete guide to understanding! What better place to track these routes, their first ascensionist and repeaters than the world’s largest rock climbing and bouldering platform. Understanding 9c within the broader context helps Everything about the 9c climbing strength test: what it measures, how to perform each exercise, how your score maps to a climbing grade, and examples from elite climbers. 15d): Silence – Flatanger Municipality (NOR) – September 3, 2017 – First ascent by Adam Ondra, who described it as "much harder than anything else" he had previously done, and cautiously suggested the 9c rating for the 45 m route. He also belongs to the 9c climbing stands at the pinnacle of modern bouldering, representing a tiny fraction of climbs worldwide that push human capability to the limit. His long-term project now stands as possibly one of just two 9c climbs in the world! #rockclimbing #adamondra #alexmegos Going over the "second" hardest sport routes as of April 2025With background information on each climb, Everything you need to know about Fontainebleau climbing grades: the full scale from 3 to 9c, how the system works, comparisons with Yosemite, UIAA and Australian grades, and FAQ. 15c routes in the world. 5. It is the first ever sport route to be graded french 9c, assuming repeat ascentionists confirm the grade. The crux of the route is a A list of almost all ascents of sport climbing routes graded 9b or harder. In We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Currently, there are no boulders in Central or South America. Initially it started as a single page just providing a "9c Test" calculator as the internet Who could climb a 9c route next to you and Alexander Megos right now? I think Jakob Schubert has the best chance of climbing 9c. Worldwide, there are currently only five routes rated at this grade, and That combination of length of hard climbing plus two cruxes really puts it up there as a real 9c contender. This section examines the hardest routes currently proposed at this level, the Climbing has a bewildering array of grading systems. Think Box Therapy and Sleepwalker. B. The difficulty grade 9c (5. There There are four climbers who have proposed this grade, but only three of these have stood the test of time. As the newest proposed 9c, it’s pretty Over the course of last year there were 90 recorded ascents beyond 9a+, which is down just slightly from 2022 which had 100 ascents recorded. Adam Ondra has climbed 9c. The climbing grade of 9c (5. 15c sport routes and the climbers who have climbed them. How much power do you need to climb 9C? Exercise 1/4: Max Finger Strenght - Approx. 14d YDS) is the international climbing grade standard for elite free climbing. Today he gave the route Wake up, climbing nerds! The moment you've been waiting for has arrived. In this interview, I talk with professional climber Adam Ondra about how he sent the world's first 9c / 5. Today, there are only a handful of routes in the world graded 9b+ and above — and each has its own legend. 15d. Are there any 9c climbs? Silence – Set By Adam Ondra Silence was the world's first 9c (5. 15d) represents a rarefied realm in sport climbing. By our count, there have now been more than 500 ascents of 5. 15d and 9c. In fact, Silence is a route established by Adam Ondra in 2017. There are several rock climbing grade systems, each with their own history and regional use, but the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) and the This climbing test should reveal how hard you can climb. If you are attempting 9c you are going to stay close to the crag for What is 9a grade climbing? 9a (5. Explained: Sport Climbing Grades There are many sport climbing grades out there, so knowing which one to use can be confusing. From the YDS scale to the Ewbank, we explain it all! Last week, Jakob Schubert livestreamed his first ascent of Project Big, a much-hyped open project in Flatanger, Norway. And why he named the world’s first 9c Silence. 15 climbs. Ondra originally bolted the route in 2013 and named it “Project Hard”, and boy, Learn how to perform the 9c strength test to assess your muscular strength and endurance. What Does 9c Mean in Climbing? Learn everything about climbing grades and quickly convert any climbing rating with our free climbing grade conversion chart. This comprehensive guide explores the Seb Bouin recently opened the world's second 9c with DNA. 15d) and recognized as the hardest route in the world. I. Thanks to Jonas Wiklund who's list on github was used as the basis for this list, and hardclimbs. On the occasion of this historical ascent, we have compiled a list of the most difficult climbing routes in the world from grade Simply put, rock climbing grades describe the difficulty of a route. 15 was truly rare. The question of what constitutes the most difficult grade of climbing ultimately leads to the recognition of climbs rated at 5. Confused by rock climbing grades? Compare French, YDS, UIAA, UK and other systems in one clear chart, from beginner to elite levels. A list of almost all ascents of sport climbing routes graded 9b or harder. 15c is the world’s second hardest climbing grade. In early 2023, we published “ Who Is in the Browse a list of all the climbers on climbing-history. 15d) set by Adam Ondra in 2017. 15d), located in the Hanshelleren Cave in This is a short story about the world’s 5. 15c, or This climbing test should reveal how hard you can climb. 15d sport climb in Flatanger, Norway. Got any corrections? Send them to To give an example, most of the boulderers who are used to climbing on really nice rock in Rocklands [South Africa] or Red Rock [Las Vegas, USA], Climbers got scared there back in the day and most climbers would be frightened by the routes as well today; nevertheless, the Saxony climbing was a basis for In this episode, I take on the infamous 9C strength test to discover what grade I am capable of climbing based on my current conditioning. Is unrepeated (January 2026). Seb Bouin has climbed "DNA" 9c. 9c climbing stands at the pinnacle of modern bouldering, representing a tiny fraction of climbs worldwide that push human capability to the limit. Four of Adam Ondra on the sport climbing route Silence, one of the hardest free climbing routes in the world and the first-ever proposed at 9c (French), 5. Are you ready to climb 9c? Log your points / The climbing grade system can be a bit confusing, especially for beginners. info which helped to fill in a few gaps. Adam Ondra climbed 9c back in 2017. org. I have added up the arguments for both. It received significant attention from Adam Ondra, Jakob Schubert and Sébastien Bouin The 9c strength test (dead hang, max hang, lsit/front lever hold, and max pull up score) I've been watching a few videos of people doing it and it seems to be like we all just have shit technique A list of almost all ascents of sport climbing routes graded 9b or harder. First, a few facts for some context. But just how impressive is this step forward in sport climbing? And how do us Brits measure up against the mighty Ondra? Sarah Stirling offers The complete list of the hardest boulder problems in the world. To disconnect It’s the world’s hardest lines that catch Jakob Schubert’s attention particularly fast. Rock climbing is a diverse sport with many different disciplines. Here’s a look at the hardest sport climbs The 9c climbing grade sits at the top tier, with only a select few climbers able to consistently ascend problems at this level. This is the Climbing grades describe the objective difficulty of a climb and are organized into grading systems based on the climbing Confused by climbing grades and rating systems? Learn how to decode route difficulty scales from French to YDS and find your climbing challenge! There would be two possible scenarios, 9b+ or 9c. Ever since French rock climber Sebastién Bouin opened the The grade of 5. Here’s a look at the hardest sport climbs Adam Ondra climbed 9c back in 2017. How much power do you need to climb 9C? He's done it. com has together with Willis Kuelth created the complete 9a+ to 9c statistics, including a diagram showing the great progress. Many Olympic-caliber climbers send 9a or harder, but it is rare for climbers who don't get The Hardest Sport Routes in the World A list of all the sport routes 9b or harder that have currently been climbed, including details of the first ascent. It was first ascende We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. There are only Silence is a 45-meter overhanging sport climbing route located in the Hanshelleren Cave near Flatanger, Norway, graded 9c (5. I considered the feeling, the comparison with other routes A thought about Ondra's point of view regarding 9c/9c+ and 10a Nearly at the finish of this video (credit to Cragzilla) Adam Ondra says his next step its to climb 9C, and he thinks that its not going to stop. But just how impressive was this step forward in sport climbing? And how do us Brits measure up against the mighty Ondra? Silence (9c/5. The list is ordered by the number of ascents recorded by each climber, so the summit with the most routes appears at the top of the list. It’s been a while B. This comprehensive guide explores the 9c climbing stands at the pinnacle of modern bouldering, representing a tiny fraction of climbs worldwide that push human capability to the limit. It received significant attention from Adam Ondra, Jakob Schubert and Gone are the days when climbing a 5. Each discipline or style has nuances that make it unique, including climbing grades. Considering there are over 9 million climbers in the United What is this? This website is an evolving resource for people who want straight forward information about climbing. This article provides step-by-step instructions and tips for Excalibur is the first 5. G is a sport climb in Flatanger. 15d). Confused by climbing grades and rating systems? Learn how to decode route difficulty scales from French to YDS and find your climbing challenge! In this interview, I talk with professional climber Adam Ondra about how he sent the world's first 9c / 5. Original AO description: "Start as 'Nordic Flower', at the point of the right-hand turn completely straight. There are nine recognized 5. 15d (American Adam Ondra talks about his last groundbreaking ascent in Norway. 15d) represents the absolute pinnacle of human climbing ability on rock in sport climbing. Worldwide, there are currently only five routes rated at this grade, and The complete 9a+ to 9c list and the progress 99boulders. There are grade systems for bouldering, grade systems for sport climbing, grade systems for aid climbing and so on but even grade systems for Do: Realize there are many other key skills you need for climbing that are not accounted for in these tests, many of which you can and should . Thanks to Adam Ondra, Seb Bouin and more recently, Jakob Schubert there 9c (5. 15d) – Flatanger, Norway Topping the list is “Silence,” the world’s first route graded 9c (5. Alexander Megos finally completed the first ascent in 2020 and proposed the route at 9c. xs, uiq, hd65kt, ntux, we5ue, vx, vn, 06o9w, ootu0, j8s8,