Author: Klemen Vodlan

As we wrap up 2024, the Istrian climbing scene has once again proven itself a hotspot for some of the most impressive and best ascents and events in the climbing world. From groundbreaking sends by top climbers to community-driven initiatives, here’s a look at the best highlights of the year. Top female climbers of 2024 Laura Rogora made an extraordinary mark in Mišja peč, sending a series

The Christmas and New Year holidays brought incredible energy to Istria, with climbers from all over Europe delivering inspiring performances across the region. While Laura Rogora's exceptional ticklist has already made headlines, many other climbers seized the festive season to leave their mark on the walls of Istria. Highlights from the Croatian part of Istria At Kompanj and Medveja, notable achievements included a blend of first ascents,

The New Year holidays in Istria have been nothing short of spectacular, thanks to Italian climbing prodigy Laura Rogora. During a one-week climbing trip to the iconic crag of Mišja peč, Rogora delivered a jaw-dropping performance, ticking off the majority of hardest routes in the area. Rogora’s week-long spree included three 9a’s, all claimed as the first female ascents, alongside three 8c+’s and two 8c’s—a staggering

The past weeks at Mišja peč have been nothing short of extraordinary, with climbers pushing their limits and ticking off impressive ascents. Here’s the latest roundup: Notable Ascents Jakob Bizjak sent the powerhouse route Ekstaza (8c+/9a), describing it as "not much easier than Xaxid hostel (9a)," and shared his dramatic journey to the top: "Had the fight of my life in the upper section, even messed up

Slovenian climber Matjaž Zorko, who impressively sent three 9a routes in 2022, has once again demonstrated his prowess by redpointing Xaxid Hostel (9a) in Mišja peč. After approximately 20 determined sessions, Zorko finally completed this challenging route. Reflecting on the climb, he shared on 8a.nu:"I started projecting Xaxid this spring, but unfortunately ran out of time to finish it before summer. This endurance masterpiece suits

Autumn in Istria is undeniably one of the finest times of the year for climbing, offering perfect conditions for pushing limits on the rock. This season has been no exception, with an abundance of impressive ascents across the region. Compiling all the achievements has been a challenge, but here’s a roundup of the highlights—apologies in advance if we’ve missed any monumental sends! The rising rockstars Aurelia Matros,

Kompanj, one of Istria’s most popular and historic climbing crags, is undergoing a significant rebolting initiative to replace home made, old and worn anchors with new, high-quality bolts. This rebolting of Kompanj is focused on enhancing the safety and longevity of climbing routes, especially on routes where aging anchors have become a concern. For climbers, this means that soon, Kompanj will offer a better climbing

Slovenians have been putting on an impressive display in Mišja peč, one of the top climbing crags in Slovenia. With numerous difficult routes being conquered almost daily, it's clear that the climbing community is thriving this season. Let’s dive into the latest accomplishments! New addition at Mišja peč In early October restless bolter Rajko Zajc contributed another new line to the left part of Mišja peč, Miška

October—often referred to as Rocktober by climbers—has kicked off with ideal conditions in Istria (especially in Mišja peč), offering perfect temperatures and dry rock for ambitious sends across the region's renowned crags. Biggest highlights at Mišja peč The standout performance of the „Rocktober“ so far belongs to World Cup competitor Lana Skušek, who made waves by conquering her first 8c, Strelovod, located on the right side of

Psicobloc Open Series - Extreme climbing competition  Umag Port, Croatia October 5-6 2024 First ever Psicobloc Open Series event in Europe Competitors from all over the world are coming to compete: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Ireland, Germany, Poland,