The news

After 11 days on the wall Nicolas Favresse, Sean Villanueva amd Ben Ditto have carried out the first free ascent of the South African route on the East Face of the Central Tower of Paine, Patagonia.

Thirteen year old David Firnenburg from Germany has climbed his first 8c, L'espiedimonis at Margalef, Spain.

On 31/01/09 Russians Maria Tolokonina and Pavel Batushev won the third stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup Speed 2009 held in Mojstrana (Slovenia)

On 11 January Gainluca Daniele made the first ascent of "Grandi Gesti", proposing 9a for this long route which climbs through the massive roof at the Grotta dell'Areonauta and combines a series of exiting lines.

Last weekend Gabriele Moroni visited the historic Lumignano Classica in N. Italy and returned home with a climbing sweep-stake: flash ascents of Boomerang 8a+ and Atomic Café 8a, and a fantastic 2nd go ascent of Mare Allucinante 8b+.

Bogdan Rokosz establishes 'Sprawa Honoru' 9a at the Mamutowa Cave in Poland.

Ryan Pasquill has made the first ascent of the impressive gritstone line to the left of The New Statesman at Ilkley, England. The route has been called Gerty Berwick.

Kevin Jorgeson from America has made the first ascent of the super highball 'Ambrosia' at the Buttermilks, Bishop and the first repeat of Luminance V11.

Dave Macleod has carried out the first repeat of The Walk of Life at Dyer's Lookout, North Devon, England, downgrading the route to E9 6c.

In September 2008 Martin and Florian Riegler made the first ascent of "Pandora" (8 pitches, max 8b) on the Mandrea wall at Arco, Italy. In October the two South Tyroleans redpointed all pitches individually, but the route still awaits its...

Fonzaso, the beautiful small crag at the foot of the Dolomites, with 40 routes up to 8c+ ideal for winter climbing

Albert Leichtfried, one of the best ice climbers of his generation, examines the state of drytooling in Austria and reports about his new route 'Encore' M13 at the Dryland above Innsbruck

Mark Glaister, author of the recently published El Chorro guidebook, reveals why the area in general, and Las Encantadas in particular, is sport climbing heaven in Andalusia, southern Spain.

Chris Shama has made the first ascent of Golpe De Estado at Siurana, Spain.

At Santa Linya, Spain, Ramon Julian Puigblanque makes the first ascent of Open your mind Directa and climbs La Fabelita 9a and La novena Enmienda 9a in a day

Rock climbing on Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, or Cloggy, one of the best mountain crags in Britain.