Watch Send of 5.12+ Big Wall in Patagonia; Highball V16 Repeated; World Championships Begin Today

This article originally appeared on Climbing

In an attempt to make space for the newsworthy ascents that occur with ever-increasing regularity, our weekly news roundup tries to celebrate a few outstanding climbs (or interesting events) that for one reason or another caught our attention. We hope you enjoy it. --The editors

New video of the South African Route (5.12c) in Torres del Paine

In January 2023 Tyler Karow, Imanol Amundarian, and Cedar Christensen snagged an impressive team free ascent of the Central Tower of Paine's South African Route (5.12c; 4,000ft) in Patagonia. Theirs was just the second free ascent, after Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll, Nico Favresse, and Ben Ditto, in 2009, and third overall ascent of the stunning spire.

Karow has released an excellent 37-minute film, which takes us from glacier to summit over the course of 12 days, highlighting the tip-thrashing cracks, portaledge cook-offs, and poopy travails of living on the wall. His battle with a 5.11+ offwidth on his way down from the summit was a standout moment for me.

By creating this lighthearted film, Karow has simultaneously--and inadvertently, I think--continued to live out the laissez faire standard of big-wall free climbing that the first-free-ascent party was known for: living on alpine walls, not merely surviving.

I mean, they brought a cast-iron oven and baked empanadas and muffins and pizzas on a daily basis. The steely-eyed "sufferers" among us would do well to take note. --Anthony Walsh

Ryuichi Murai does Livin' Large

Ryuichi Murai has slapped his way up Nalle Hukkataival's fearsome highball Livin’ Large (V16) in Rocklands, South Africa. The 26-foot-tall boulder is logistically complicated, requiring cool conditions, many pads, and a strong head. After all, Livin' Large's final move is actually the redpoint crux.

Writing on Instagram, Murai described the first half of the problem as compression moves with friction slopers, and the second half as a mental battle requiring delicate footwork. "It was only possible to try in perfect conditions in the early morning [before 9 a.m.], the evening [after 5 p.m.] or on a cloudy day."

"The conditions were great on this day and every move worked perfectly on the second try. I just focused on each hold in front of me, and didn’t feel any fear of heights. ... I’m glad I climbed, but more than that I’m glad I didn’t fall." --AW

The World Championships Begin--10 Athletes Will Qualify for Paris 2024

The first round of the 2023 World Championships began today in Bern, Switzerland. Following the twelve days of competition, three men and three women will ultimately qualify for the Combined Boulder and Lead discipline of the Paris 2024 Olympics, and likewise two per gender will qualify for the Speed discipline. Like we saw in the 2019 World Championships, athletes will have to qualify for the combined Boulder and Lead portion of the competition, with the top 20 advancing. Find the full schedule here. Stay tuned for coverage of results and analysis. --Delaney Miller

Also Read:

• I broke my neck. Then I broke my relationship.

• The Key to Power Training? Take it Off the Wall (Part 2)

• My Big Plans For Sending 5.14

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