Italian Christian Core has completed the long version of a boulder problem called Gioia at Varazze, Italy, and given it 8C (V15). Core worked for four months on problem, which has 14 hard moves and bad feet, and said it was his hardest ever. Core originally sent the line at V12 from a standing start in the middle of the cave, but then decided to work on the full traverse.

Core, 33, was the world bouldering champion in 2003. He has climbed many desperate problems in Europe, including Dreamtime and New Base Line (both given V14/15) in Switzerland, and his own Kimera (V15) in Italy.

See video of Core sending the V12 version of Gioia:

Date of Ascent: February 2008

Sources: Infoboulder.com, Desnivel.com

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