Leo Ketil Bøe repeats Change (9b+) at Flatanger in Norway

25-year-old Norwegian climber Leo Ketil Bøe has climbed his hardest route to date, the 9b+ Change at Flatanger in Norway. Put up by Adam Ondra in October 2012, the steep outing through the Hanshelleren cave broke new barriers and, at the time, checked in as the world's first 9b+. In the ensuing years it has become, by all accounts, the world's most repeated 9b+: Stefano Ghisolfi confirmed the grade in 2020, followed by Seb Bouin (2022), Alex Megos (2024) and Jorge Díaz-Rullo (2024).

Change is a mammoth, 55m outing split into two distinct sections. The first section leads to an anchor and is graded 9a+, while the extension bumps the grade up to 9b+. Bøe sent the first pitch last year, and also briefly tried the top pitch but this seemed too hard at the time. He persevered nevertheless, investing around 2.5 months on the route in total, before sending the line on the 4th of October.

As mentioned, Change is Bøe's hardest redpoint to date. His previous best was a mere 3 weeks ago, when he freed a line he had bolted and cleaned on a small island opposite Flatanger. Hafgúfa, the colossal sea monster from Norse mythology, checks in at 9a+. The multiple national lead climbing champion has bouldered up to 8B+.

Writing to planetmountain after sendinf Change, Bøe explained "my girlfriend Johanna was with me through the whole process. Countless hours on belay, cheering for me. It was definitely a team effort and I can't thank her enough!"