9th club: Kinder and Tilden

Some 9a FAs

Nice climbs on grade 9 signed by Joel Kinder and BJ Tilden

Today's topic is a bit special: forty-year-olds climbing 9a first ascents as if it is normal. You know Megos, who reminds us how hard a pitch of this grade is, even for a pro climber? Here, let's discover these two stories...

Couples' activities during the pandemic were all the rage and Joel Kinder was no exception. The activity that he has chosen with his wife Lindsey is a bit "alternative", however, to the fashions that have depopulated in Italy. The two climbers have dedicated themselves to bolting new pitches! The last pitch released by Joel is a creation of his wife. Together, the two have “christened” it Tiger Kween and Kinder proposes the grade of 9a, defining the style of the route definitely "unconventional". What a story!

Remaining in the "forty-year-olds who rock" area, how can we not mention the very strong BJ Tilden? Like Joel, BJ is over 40 too, yet the form seems to be not lacking at all. At the Sinks Canyon crag, Tilden has signed a new really tonic FA… 25 moves without any possibility of rest, enough to convince BJ to climb without a chalk bag! The result is Monkey from Hell, a shot that stands at grade 9a.

From athletes’ IG page

Alessandro Palma