Yuji Hirayama repeats Noia 8c+

Yuji  Hirajama repeated "Noia" 8c+ on a brief visit to Andonno before  the Rock Master 2000. Widely recognised as one of the hardest sport routes  in Italy, Hirayama considers it to be one of the best routes of its grade.

 Hirajama sent the route on his second attempt, but had previously spent  two days working the route this winter. At the time he had been forced  to give up due to the route being damp.

 On this most recent trip Hirajama also made the first ascent of "Tecno  metal", which he reckons to be 8c+. This former Severino Scassa project  links two existing routes. Scassa congratulated Hirajama on his ascent  and stated that this was the first time someone had manged to free one  of his projects before he did.

 Yuji Hirajama - photo R. Fioravanti