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