\u00a0Niccol\u00f2 Ceria, 20 years old, started climbing in 2000, but only in 2009 he started focusing on bouldering. He is not harvesting the results of six months dedicated to climbing, which brought him many satisfactions, including the 5th RP of Nicole\u2019s Entlinge, in Murgtal.
\nNiccol\u00f2, what is Entlinge for you?
\nI consider it the synthesis of my 2012. It\u2019s the most important boulder of the season, for me. I had wanted to see it and try it for three years or more. Fortunately it\u2019s in a place that\u2019s far from the most crowded areas and even if it s close to the road, it is hidden in the woods. The first time I tried it, at the end of September, i felt it was doable and I managed to do all the moves except for one. I was really psyched because the line was even more stunning than I\u2019d expected from the videos. Also, to be in a new place that is not described in detail by any guidebook was a big stimulus. I find research motivating, a part of the activity itself. Everything in the line is special, from the rock, which was new to me, to the sequence. The day I sent the boulder was special, too, since we did the round trip from Biella during the same day, driving almost nine hours. It was risky, but it worked out, and I was well compensated.
\nTell us about your progression in 2012
\nIt has been a year of changes. I was attending my last year in high school, and after a week spent in Fontainebleau I decided that I was going to devote a period of my life to bouldering, once completed my degree. I plunged into study, and in July I was free to focus on training and climbing. I could feel that I had improved in the period between september and october, when I climbed in Vallese and I made the 5th RP of Entlinge, in Murgtal. After spending one week in Bleau, in autumn, I felt tired, and went back to training. For sure in 2012 I have had my highs and my lows, but it\u2019s positive that I managed to climb wonderful lines, like T-rex, Imothep, Scarred For Life, Permanent Midnight, Entlinge. I am finally trying to follow my passion, as I hoped, and probably that\u2019s what I\u2019ll do in 2013, too, thanks to my family that supports me, morally and economically.
\nWhat is your target for 2013? Have you already tried some 8C, 8C+?
\nNo, I have never tried anything that hard, except for Big Paw, if it\u2019s 8C as they say, or The Story of Two Worlds, in Cresciano. I would love to climb one, but my priority for 2013 is to visit new places, not focusing necessarily on the hardest grades. I would like to spend some time in Vastervik, Mantatal, Zillertal and Prilep. I would also love to open some new lines in Valle d\u2019Aosta, there\u2019s a big potential for that, and obviously complete some of the boulders that I haven\u2019t sent yet, like Big Paw.
\nWhat do you think about grades? Do you think they are inflated? Or that there\u2019s a trend towards downgrading?
\nBouldering grades are an enigma. For sure there is no objective solution, valid for all of us. Sincerely I am not that interested in the grade, we all know there is more to it than grades in bouldering and more generally in climbing. Sometimes you stumble upon a line that\u2019s overrated, and in that case I think it\u2019s correct to express your personal opinion, maybe even downgrade them, explaining the difference in the beta. But when I perceive a half grade difference, personally I don\u2019t feel it necessary to correct it, since these small differences may be due to different morphologies and abilities, making it utterly subjective. For this reason I find it really stupid to base outdoor climbing on a \u201cnumerical\u201d or competitive approach, even if there are people that prefer to do that.
\nIs there a difference between old school and current grades?
\nIt depends from the area. Generally old-school grades are more stiff. Grades are mostly correct in Fontainebleau, in the Peak District or in Cresciano, whereas in some newer areas, like Brione or Magic Wood, they tend to be softer, and that is why I think it\u2019s right to give my opinion. The difference decreases on lines 8B and harder.
\nWho is currently the best boulderer, in your opinion?
\nIt\u2019s hard to say. Movements are so varied, it\u2019s too subjective to generalize. Everyone has its strengths, and will be stronger than others on some styles. We all know the best, without mentioning them. But there are also a lot of unknown climbers who are extremely strong and nevertheless don\u2019t make the headlines. There have been sends, or first ascents, that have not been reported, as if the climbing community only had eyes for the names that everybody know.
\nDo you think you could be a professional climber? Would you like to be a professional climber?
\nFor sure I\u2019d love to, but I don\u2019t think I will be able to, although<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0Niccol\u00f2 Ceria, 20 years old, started climbing in 2000, but only in 2009 he started focusing on bouldering. He is not harvesting the results of six months dedicated to climbing,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8066],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-boulder"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n