Emma Twyford - First British Woman To Climb The Sport Grade 9a

[Ming the Merciless]

View: https://youtu.be/IrJ5fH_rDtg

 

[Profpointy]

Isn't 9a something like climbing the pattern in wallpaper, and overhanging at that?

 

[PaulB]

Gripping stuff. That had me impressed and cheering her on. That Big Issue is a belter.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Gripping stuff. That had me impressed and cheering her on. That Big Issue is a belter.

Big Issue was first climbed by John Dunne in the 1980s. The issue was the use of bolts on trad(itional) climbs. Previously it had been bolted as a project. John removed the bolts then proved it could be climbed placing the protection as you go, on lead. Hence the name he gave the climb.

Between the 90s and about 7 years ago I was regularly rock climbing about once a fortnight. I once tried a sport 8a in the Peak District. That would be way easier than 9a. I couldn’t even get off the ground. The hardest I ever successfully managed was a sport 6c and that was on a good day.

Emma is super strong with super good technique. Me, I was only ever a punter, but I got immense joy from it. I was more of a trad climber only trying sport climbing now and again. Not so much climbing of late, but like many hobbies they wax and wane over the years. I still have all my climbing gear sitting in a box.