Michaela Kiersch Climbs Her Hardest Magic Wood Boulder
After an already very successful trip, she adds another hard line to her incredible Switzerland bouldering resume
Michaela Kiersch has sent Wovenhand V13 (8B) in Magic Wood, Switzerland. The steep problem works its way up a blunt prow requiring a perfect mix of raw power and refined technique. “This boulder is the perfect balance of power and complexity,” she said via Instagram. “Hardest of the grade for me here in [Magic Wood] — more on that later. Feeling so proud of myself for focusing on growth in my climbing and reaping the benefits.”
This is not Kiersch’s first big tick in Magic Wood. She started her trip with a send of Jack’s Broken Heart V12. After a big righthand move to start, the problem has a series of big, shouldery, leftward traversing moves that are definitely harder for the short. Another big dynamic move is needed for the exit. “Came back to Magic Wood with stronger shoulders,” she said, again via Instagram. “Last year I had NO CHANCE on this boulder — very cool to see progression in my climbing and training.”
She followed up Jack’s Broken Heart with quick sends of Bomb is the Explosion V10/V11, Jack the Chipper V9, and Octopussy V11. She then went on to repeat the classic Bizarre Ride V12 and Unendliche Geschichte 2 V11.
Kiersch has had a ton of success in Switzerland in recent years. Earlier this year, she took a short bouldering trip to Ticino and climbed a flurry of hard problems in Cresciano and Brione. In under two weeks, she climbed at least two V12’s, six V11’s, two V10’s, and one V9. In Spring 2022, she took a longer trip to Magic Wood, where she sent 16 problems V10 and higher—two V14’s, three V13’s, five V12’s, four V11’s, and two V10’s.
In late January, Kiersch made the third female ascent of La Rambla 5.15a in Siurana, Spain. In Spring 2022, she sent Apex Predator 5.14c in Utah. In Fall 2021 she sent the famous Dreamcatcher 5.14d in Squamish, her hardest redpoint at the time. Two weeks prior she made the first female ascent of Super Tweak 5.14b, America’s first route of the grade, originally climbed by Boone Speed in 1994.
Kiersch’s send footage of Wovenhand V13 has not yet been released. In the meantime, you can watch Nico Secomandi on the problem in the video below:
Wovenhand V13 in Magic Wood, Switzerland
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