The news

Adam Ondra (15) has made swift work of "Novena enmienda" 9a+ and "Fuck the system" 9a and on-sighted "Digital system" 8c.

James Pearson from Great Britain made the most of crisp winter conditions on 02/02/2008 to carry out the first ascent of The Groove E10 7b at the gritstone Cratcliffe Tor, Peak District.

The VTNO is urging all climbers to sign an online petition to resolve access problems in Presles, France.

An Austrian team comprised of Hansjörg Auer, Thomas Schreiber and friends have made numerous first ascents in Oman, including the 8b multi-pitch 'Al Hamar' in the Jabel Sham Canyon.

On Sunday 20.1.2008 Slovenian climbers Pavle Kozjek and Dejan Miskovic made the first ascent of Yel-la sadik on the south-east face of Jebel Misht (2090 m), Oman.

On Friday 18 January Lisa Rands made the first female ascent of The Mandala V12, one of the most famous boulder problems at the Buttermilks, Bishop, America.

Bernd Zangerl reports about his hardest boulder to-date, Anam Cara high in the Silvretta mountain chain in Austria.

On 20/01/2008 Maurizio Manolo Zanolla repeated Bimbaluna 9a/9a+ at Saint Loup, Switzerland.

Siurana in Spain: high in Catalonia close to Barcellona lies one of the most famous crags in the entire country, ideal as a winter climbing destination.

On 05/01/2008 Pete Whittaker made the first ascent of "Grandad's Slab" E7 6c on the gritstone Burbage South, England.

In December 2007 Kilian Fischhuber and Jon Cardwell repeated Dreamtime, Cresciano, Switzerland.

The International Federation of Sport Climbing has been granted provisional recognition status by the International Olympic Committee. This is the first step towards the Olympics for sports climbing. An interview with Marco Scolaris the president of the IFSC.

In October and November 2007 Albert Leichtfried traveled to Madagscar and discovered the island climbing paradise. In addition he added a further five routes in his new sector Honeymoon.

Patxi Usobiaga, on tour and on firing form, proposes the world's first 8c+ on-sight, Bizi euskara at Etxauri, Spain.

Aleksandra Taistra redpoints Geminis 8b+ at Rodellar, Spain.

Psyche by Alastair Lee has recently won two awards at the annual British Kendal Mountain Film Festival.