Michael Piccolruaz frees Helmutant 9a at Saustall

At the end of April South Tyrolean climber Michael Piccolruaz managed to free Helmutant, an old project of Helmut Haller at the Saustall crag in Val Senales. Piccolruaz has suggested 9a, a significant leap compared to his previous track record - up to 8b+ sports climbs - but not impossible seeing that the route is short and bouldery, a style that suits the 18-year-old perfectly. Piccolruaz has in fact sent 8B+ boulder and proved his worth in competitions winning the 2013 Italian Boudlering Cup and Championship and placing a startling 5th at the 2013 European Bouldering Championship. at Eindhoven. The Italian is the first to admit that he cannot really compare this line to other ascents as he has never tried anything this hard, the only thing that is certain is that to free it he had to give it everything he had, and that he had superb fun in the process.