Two 11-Year-Old Climbers Send 5.14b Routes Have a Connection with Red River Gorge

While some of the world’s most popular rock climbers areas are in the middle of a cold winter, other spots have nearly perfect conditions. Over the past week, two 11-year-old climbers have sent 5.14b.

Alizée Blass, the younger sister to 5.14 climber Théo Blass, has climbed her hardest to date with a redpoint of Guère d’Usure at Claret, France. She started to project it in summer 2024 when she was just 10. Alizée returned this January, took a bad whipper and ended up on crutches for a month. After recovering, the 1.52-metre-tall climber completed her multi-year project.

In Santa Linya, Spain, 11-year-old Ga-eun Kwon redpointed La Fabelita 5.14b. 

In 2024, Ga-eun climbed Southern Smoke 5.14c in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. 

Ga-eun was in Spain with her father, Younghye – who also sent La Fabelita, and who won an ice climbing world cup last year.

Younghye wrote on 8a.nu: “The climbing trip was planned for Santa Linya during my daughter’s winter vacation. We chose La Fabelita as our first project. She solved all the moves on her third attempt and, after a rest day, sent it on her second try. 

In total, she sent the route on her fifth attempt. I figured out the moves faster, but it took about ten attempts due to my weaker stamina. 

Haha. Ga-eun also completed “Rock Fucks” 8b+ on her fifth attempt. Since there are many routes graded 8b+ and above here, we plan to climb more difficult routes in Oliana and Margalef next time.”


Info Via Gripped-The Climbing Magazine