12-Year-Old Max Bertone climbs 8c+ “Chykungunya”, downgrades to 8c

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Max Bertone is a young prodigy and part of a family of hard climbers. The route “Chykungunya” was an 8c+ variation along the right of another route “Pari” at their local “Ouaki” crag. This is an incredible achievement for his age and a sure sign that a lot more is to come of him.

Max has traveled far and wide climbing and bouldering. Trips include Fontainebleau and Rocklands where he has bouldered up to 8A+. Max has a talented sister – Oriane Bertone – who most recently won Gold in Lead and Bouldering at the IFSC Youth World Championships 2019 and climbed V14 aged 14!

The “Pari” route was put up by Grég Sobszack (who also planned the variation though didn’t get the FA) who advised a soft 8c grade originally. Others have since given it 8b+. Both Max and his sister have climbed both routes now and both would say the harder “Chykungunya” is more of an 8c.

Both Max and Oriane live on the island of “La Réunion”, a small French island in the Indian Ocean near Africa’s east coast. Check out Max Bertone’s new instagram where he posts climbing updates, read about Oriane Bertone in our full profile.

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