Gioia, V16, Gets Third Ascent

Finnish crusher Nalle Hukkataival has made the third ascent of Gioia (Joy) which is potentially the world’s hardest boulder problem.

Hukkataival attempted the route in 2013 and sent the stand-start easily, but had trouble with the sit-start. Planet Mountain reports Hukkataival said, “With Gioia it was difficult to find the right conditions, but today everything came together nicely. It’s definitely one of the very hardest boulders in the world and climbs really well.” Gioia is in Varazze, Italy and was first climbed by Christian Core and repeated by Adam Ondra.

Watch Ondra and his two V16s, including Gioia.