Ainhize Belar Barrutia ticks her first 9a+, Iñi Ameriketan at Baltzola

After sending her first 9a last year, Begi Puntuan at Etxauri, 18-year-old Spanish climber Ainhize Belar has now upped her game to send her first 9a+, Iñi Ameriketan. This ultra-steep sport climb on the Cueva de Baltzola cave was put up by Rikardo Otegi in 2002 and initially graded 9a, but now the grade seems to have settled in at 9a+.

Belar first started trying the route in February and almost succeeded in the redpoint in May, but then it started to rain and the holds got wet. She waited patiently and returned after the summer holidays to grab the first female ascent.

In addition to hard redpoints, Belar is also excellent at onsighting and towards the end of August she managed to onsight her first 8b+, Txirrin txirran at Cueva de La Leze in Egino.