Bernd Zangerl frees Normopath and repeats Ragtime

At Murgtal in Switzerland Bernd Zangerl has freed the traverse Normopath and also made the first repeat of Ragtime ay Amden. Both boulder problems are graded 8B+.

A few days ago the Austrian boulderer Bernd Zangerl freed Normopath, a combination of two existing problems located in the Murgtal close to Lake Walensee in Switzerland. "As you know I usually prefer boulder problems which are very short and intense" Zangerl explained to Planetmountain.com "but this latest climb is very different: 11 hard moves, followed by another 9 easier ones on conglomerate which requires great footwork and body tension. It's a traverse but it finishes by topping out on an existing problem and the combination could be 8B+"

There's little point in underlining the fact that Zangerl knows a thing or two about 8B+ (and 8C for that matter) - examples include the first repeat of the famous Dreamtime established in 2001 by Fred Nicole, as well as first ascents of Viva la Evolution, Anam Cara and Memento to name but three. And, just the other day, Zangerl also managed to send Ragtime at the Swiss bouldering spot Amden. Up until now this "great problem" had never been repeated. Date of birth? 2007. First ascent? Obvioulsy Fred Nicole.