Jakob Schubert can look forward to a successful climbing end in this year. He sends the first Repetition of the Chris Sharma Route „Neanderthal “ (9b) in the Spanish climbing crag of Santa Linya. Chris Sharma’s powerful monster line of over 100 moves was first ascented in 2009 and has not been repeated so far and was one of the first 9b routes in the world. Jacob needed „only“ six days for the successful ascent.

Only at the beginning of the month Jakob Schubert was able to climb the first repetition of the Chris Sharma Route „El Bon Combat “ (9a+) in the Spanish Cova de l ‚ocell, which he downgraded from 9b/+ to 9a+.

Jakob is one of the leading competitive climbers in the world and won the title in both the lead and combination at the home World Cup in Innsbruck this year. The 27-year-old Austrian was able to climb his fourth 9b route with „Neanderthal .“

Jakob dazu bei Instagram: „I stuck the dyno!! 2nd ascent of Neanderthal [9b] in Santa Linya. A king line opened by @chris_sharma in 2009
On my first day working this 115 moves (!!) monster I thought it will take a while to be able to send. But I quickly made a lot of progress and today (my 6th day on the route) I stuck the crux move and kept it together until the top. Such a sick route!! Long routes like this take a lot of psychological effort but make the feeling of reaching the victory jug even more rewarding
I have to add that I used one kneepad for my ascent, actually the first time I ever send something hard with such a thing on, but it felt really useful. I did two knee bars on the route both would be more painful without it so I decided it‘s time.“

A short clip from his ascent:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Br8ZYCPBEet/

Photo: (c) John Campbell