Team Geared Up

WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND (Team Geared Up) - Ever-reliable and ever-enthusiastic Dave Graham has sent Realization (9a+/5.15a) in Céuse, France. He’s now the 4th person to repeat the world’s first natural 9a+ (any other routes of this grade at the time had been chipped). Having tried it on and off for a few years (I remember sitting underneath the route watching him on it in 2003), it’s definitely earned it’s grade. Now if only, I could climb 5.13’s the way he climbed it…..

First ascensionist, Chris Sharma, is also in Céuse at present and after bolting another line along side (”futuristic but possible.”). Could be some more news here in the coming weeks, although reports are that he’s just ‘playing on it to stay strong’ for another route in the States (a route that will “redefine hard sport climbing like Realization did in 2002″) - stories of “100 foot falls” abound as the holds are too small to clip any of the bolts from!

- Neal :) -