Andrea Zanone redpoints SS26 at Gressoney, Italy

Italy is full of extremely talented climbers who don’t get the attention they perhaps deserve. One of these is certainly is Andrea Zanone from Biella who, with or without the rope (i.e. bouldering) is a force of nature.

In 2014 Zanone climbed his first 8c, Lucky Man at Gressoney. This route is the first part of SS26, the "magic line" of the crag which boasts more than 95 moves and was freed by local Alberto Gnerro in 2006 who suggested 9a. A year later Gabriele Moroni repeated the line and downgraded the route to 8c+ before freeing Elementi di disturbo 8c+ in 2010. Zanone repeated Elementi di disturbo in 2015 and now, after a dozen or so attempts this year, he has sent SS26.

"Elementi di disturbo and SS26 are both incredible climbs and despite being at the same crag they’re completely different" the 24-year-old climber told planetmountain.com "they’re both etched in my mind, I certainly won’t forget them."

SS26 is Zanone’s third 8c+ after Elementi di disturbo and Mr. Hyde, redpointed this summer at Ceüse in France where he also repeated the 8c/+ Baa baa black sheep. Earlier this year Zanone also freed two 8b’s in valle di Champorcher in Val d’Aosta, namely Frozen Flower and Room 237. "They’re both fantastic" Zanone concluded.

Link: Andrea Zanone FB, Andrea Zanone Instagram, Mammut