Matt Fultz secures the second ascent of the 8C+ Boulder Big Z in Lake Tahoe. He invested a good thirty sessions spread over three years into Shawn Raboutou's test piece from 2020.
"I'm so happy! What a process and what a personal success for me,” says happily Matt Fultz after his commission of Big Z (8C+). Shawn Raboutou's test piece in Lake Tahoe is not only the most difficult boulder he has ever climbed, but also the most intensive in terms of the process from planning to the final climb.
Video: Matt Fultz on the second ascent of Big Z
Through deep doubts and frustration to success
“This boulder made me doubt myself and demanded so much more from me than I ever thought I could give.” He stopped believing in himself, says Matt Fultz.
Matt Fultz isn't sure if this feeling of feeling inadequate despite his success will go away with the ascent of Big Z. “However, I know that I am very grateful for this experience and the frustrations that allowed me to learn more about myself.”
Big Z: Three years, 30 sessions
The American has tried Big Z repeatedly over the past three years. In the first ten sessions the line felt impossible.
He only kept trying because he knew it would be good for him to work on his weaknesses. “At some point I developed a knee clamp beta with which I was able to decipher the middle crux.” At the same time, the kneebar made the transition to the next moves massively more difficult.
That might interest you
- Matt Fultz repeats Vecchio Leone sit (8C+)
- Matt Fultz cracks 8c + Boulder Hypnotized Minds and doubles up
- You must have seen the Magic Wood Ticklist by Matt Fultz
Do you like our climbing magazine? When launching the climbing magazine Lacrux, we decided not to introduce a paywall because we want to provide as many like-minded people as possible with news from the climbing scene.
In order to be more independent of advertising revenue in the future and to provide you with even more and better content, we need your support.
Therefore: Help and support our magazine with a small contribution. Naturally you benefit multiple times. How? You will find out here.
+ + +
Credits: Cover picture Matt Fultz