The news

Registration is now open for the fifth edition of the Rock Junior, the great European youth climbing festival which will be held in Arco on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June 2006.

Scottish Dave MacLeod has climbed the direct finish to Requiem at Dumbarton Rock, Scotland, calling the climb Rhapsody and grading the route E11 7a. This makes it a strong contender for one of the hardest trad pitches in the world.

From 28 April to 1 May Croatia's Paklenica National Park will host the seventh edition of the “Big Wall Speed Climbing”.

Cesare Bugada, Simone Pedeferri and Marco Vago, establish "Le berbere et la gazelle" 7c+ on the Poisson Sacret wall, Todra gorge, Morocco

Melloblocco third edition, one can literally feel the anticipation grow. The classic and unmissable 3rd Melloblocco, or rather, the motley coloured bouldering meet in Val di Mello, is less than 40 days away and will be held on 6-7 May 2006

Rich Simpson has made the first ascent of A Muerte 8c+/9a at Siurana, Spain

Riccardo Scarian, fresh from his ascent of Bain de sang, has successfully made the first ascent of Drumtime, his 40m project at Fonzaso, N. Italy, which combines the first section of "Gladiatore" (8c+) with the second half of "Diabloluna" (8c).

At Stanage John Welford makes a rare fifth ascent of Careless Torque Fb 8a+ while Tyler Landman repeats The Ace Fb 8b. Ryan Pasquill makes an impressive flash of Curbar's End of the Affair E8 6c.

At the end of January Mauro "Bubu" Bole repeated Game over, Albert Leichtfried's M13 at Drylands, Innsbruck, Austria.

On 3/02/2006 Maurizio "Manolo" Zanolla and Riccardo "Sky" Scarian repeated Bain de Sang, 9a first ascended by Fred Nicole at Saint Loup, Switzerland.

On 17/01/2006 Markus Bendler from Austria made the first asscent of "Hells Angels Paradise - Law and Order" located beneath the Maukspitze, St. Johann, Tyrol.

At Hueco Tanks Fred Nicole makes the first ascent of "Terremer" and Dave Graham repeats "Esperanza". At Fontainebleau Michele Caminati repeats "Khéops" 8B, while at Cresciano Martin Moser repeats "The Dagger" 8B+

On 12/01/2006 Mario Prinoth made the first ascent of Albertina at the Grotta di Campitello, Dolomites.

Mauro Bubu Bole and Jenny Lavarda have won 2nd stage of Alpin Cup 2006 at Caldonazzo.

Will Gadd has made the first ascent of Steel Koan in Cineplex Cave, Alberta, Canada.

Maurizio "Manolo" Zanolla has managed to redpoint "Diaboluna" 8c at Fonzaso, N. Italy.