Andrea Maruna and the surprising climbs at Schwarzau

"There are days when life gives you almost nothing, and others when life gives you almost everything!" Andrea Maruna, the Vienna-based Austrian climber knows this full-well; in early 2006 she miraculously survived a 30m fall off a sport climb and has since celebrated a return to climbing and life itself which is remarkable and an inspiration to us all.

Despite sustaining serious neck, leg and hand injuries, Maruna's road to recovery has been startling and after her stay in hospital, after small successes such as learning how to clean her teeth and put on a T-shirt once again, she even managed to improve on her personal best and redpoint an 8b+ just two years after the accident.

Now the 34 year-old sports teacher and physiotherapist checks in with the first female ascent of Sponsored by family at the crag Schwarzau in Lower Austria. Due to the powerful style of climbing Maruna believes this is her hardest to date and she sent the route in a light drizzle. Although her opening comment refers to these adverse conditions and her unexpected success that day, we're certain it has a far greater, deeper meaning too!