Video for the First Ascent of The Big Slamm V17 Just Dropped
This became one of the hardest boulders ever climbed when opened last month
Earlier this year, Elias Iagnemma made the first ascent of The Big Slamm V17 (9A) in southern Italy. It’s the Italian climber’s second V17, his first being a repeat of Nalle Hukkataival’s Burden of Dreams. A new video of Iagnemma on The Big Slamm just dropped. For a list of the world’s hardest boulders see here.
It took Iagnemma 35 sessions over the course of a year and half to unlock The Big Slamm. The sandstone problem consists of a V11 move followed by another V11 move into a V13/14 section. “It was truly a crazy fight between conditions, mind and body,” said Iagnemma on Instagram.
“It is incredible how it is a precise climb where every part of the body, shoe and flap of skin must deform perfectly in those minimal sandstone holds,” he continued. “Regarding the grade evaluation I feel like giving it V17/9A since the intensity is very similar to that of [Burden of Dreams] but with much more adverse environmental conditions since it is located in a valley where the humidity rate is very often at very high levels and finding the right conditions remains really difficult. I am really happy with this climb of mine and to be able to share it with the entire climbing community. That said, I now hope that some top climber decides to take a nice trip to southern Italy.”
Iagnemma is one of Italy’s strongest boulderers. In March last year, he made the fourth ascent of Burden of Dreams V17, inventing wildly unique beta for his send. Before Burden, he climbed a couple V16s including an FA of Ganesh in Crognaleto, Italy and a repeat of Gioia in Varazze, Italy. He has many V15s and V14s to his name, primarily in Switzerland and Italy. On a rope, he’s made 5.15a first ascents, including Ten and Ultimo Tango a Zagarolo, both in Italy.
New V17 in 2025
Elias Iagnemma climbs Burden of Dreams V17
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