Anak Verhoeven Climbs Rainshadow 5.14d
The 5.15 climber repeated one of the U.K.s most famous hard sport routes last month
Photo by: Neil Gresham
Belgian climber Anak Verhoeven has climbed Rainshadow, a famous 5.14d at Malham, U.K., which was first climbed by Steve McClure in 2003.
About her send, she said on 8a.nu, ”There was a nasty undercut in the crux that hurt the joints of my left ring finger which meant that I could only try that move a few times every climbing day (the hardest move of the route for me). I had plenty of rest days and climbed with a lot of tape to make sure I wouldn’t get injured. After having found all my beta, I climbed the route on May 9 on my fifth redpoint attempt. What a line! I’m very grateful for this send.”
In September 2017, Verhoeven made the first ascent of Sang Neuf 5.14d at Pierrot Beach in France, becoming the first woman to make the FA at the grade. She then made the first ascent of Sweet Neuf, which links Sang Neuf with the 25-metre second-pitch of Home Sweet Home 5.14c/d at 5.15a. She became the second woman to climb 5.15a after Margo Hayes and the first to claim a first ascent at the grade. Last fall, she climbed La Planta de Shiva 5.15b and Greenspit 5.14 trad – read more here.
Verhoeven was one of the most accomplished lead competition climbers ever, having reached the finals in 36 consecutive World Cup events and earning podium finishes 19 times. She retired from competition in 2019 due to injuries but fully recovered by 2021, shifting her focus entirely to outdoor rock climbing.
La Planta de Shiva 5.15b
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