Angela Eiter soars Skyline 8b on-sight

Angela Eiter on-sigh's Skyline 8b at Bürs, Austria and redpoints Pietramurata (8b+), Halebob (8b+), Supermaratona (8b/8b+), Maratona (8b), Tropo Schwar (8b) and Fuego (8a+) at Massone, Arco.

PlanetMountain

September 2006

Angela Eiter, better known for her nigh-on complete domination of the competiton circuit (read World Champion 2005 and winner of the World Cups 2004/05), has been spending more time than usual this year climbing outdoors. The result, unsurprisingly, is a host of fast 8b and 8b+ redpoints at Arco in May 2006 and an impressive 8b on-sight of Skyline at BÃ¼rs, Austria.

The cutting-edge of female on-sights currently stands at 8b+, Hidrofobia at Montsant in April 2006 by Josune Bereziartu, Eiter's stage companion at the Arco Rock Legends Award, while other female 8b on-sighters include Caroline Ciavaldini (A bout de souffle, Peillon 06/2006) and Charlotte Durif (Quelle Ã©tait verte ma vallÃ©e, 8b Gorges du Tarn).

Eiter's report is published below. With more time on her hands, who knows what she might get up!

Climbing rock by Angela Eiter
"It all started last year in September 2005 in Balzola (Spain) at the DimaÂ´s Rock Master, where I discovered my passion for climbing rock. At this competition the athletes had the oppurtunity to climb outdoors: all competitors went to a big cave for training, and I managed to climb my first 8b (Ongi et Torri) after some attempts and on-sight an 8a+ (TropofÃ¼hrer).

My motivation for climbing rock increased and that was the reason why I waited impatiently for winter to come to an end. In May when the weather improved again I decided to check out Massone at Arco. I went there three times in a row, one weekend with my father and the two following times with my boyfriend. I tried a number of different routes and during the stay I was very successful. The hardest route I climbed there was "Pietramurata" (8b+), a very long endurance route. Luckily I managed to climb it on my third attempt and I was very happy that I didnÂ´t fall at the last difficult section near the top, because I really didn't want to climb the whole lot again! I also climbed Halebob (8b+), Supermaratona (8b/8b+), Maratona (8b), Tropo Schwar (8b) and Fuego (8a+).

In summer I had lots of competitions. I therefore decided to make a short trip to a climbing spot not too far from home and we landed in BÃ¼rs. My boyfriend belayed me up the long endurance route route Skyline (8b). After approximately 45 minutes I reached the top - my hardest on-sight ever!"