With 2025 rolling toward its close, some of climbing’s brightest talents are putting up performances that feel almost unreal. From Oliana to Rawyl to the forests of Fontainebleau, three standouts—Chaehyun Seo, Dylan Chuat, and Lukas Mokrolusky—are stacking proud lines, personal breakthroughs, and pure flow-state ascents. Here’s the latest.

Chaehyun Seo: Another 8b+ Onsight & a Smooth 8c+ in Oliana: Chaehyun Seo’s form this November is nothing short of nuclear. The 22-year-old has now onsighted Humildes pa Casa (8b+) and redpointed La Morenita (8c+) in Oliana—part of a streak that includes nine routes from 8b+ up to 9a+ this month alone. She currently sits third in the VL ranking game, and it’s not hard to see why.

So how did those latest ascents unfold? On Humildes pa Casa (8b+): “Humildes was hard because I didn’t have a knee pad! I had a good fight for the last section of the route because I’m not really adapted well for tufas.” On La Morenita (8c+): “It wasn’t super hard for me at the Marroncita section but the final crux was way too hard. Somehow I managed the move but fell there twice before I finally stuck it!” Seo’s mix of grit and grace continues to shine—knee-pad or not.

Dylan Chuat Opens Terre sacrée (9a+): A First Ascent in Full Flow Rawyl local Dylan Chuat has added a gem to the Swiss Alps: the first ascent of Terre sacrée (9a+). Already counting eleven routes from 9a to 9b in 2025, the 24-year-old now adds a king line that he describes as “one of the most incredible” he’s ever climbed. In the VL ranking, Chuat sits just behind Laura Rogora.

Here’s Dylan in his own words, because honestly, nobody can capture the magic of Rawyl like he can. “Last week, I did what is probably my most beautiful first ascent… Rawyl has always been a special cliff for me. Every time I climb there, I feel good, light, disconnected from the world but deeply connected to the rock. That flow state we’re all searching for in climbing… I find it almost every time in Rawyl.”

But beauty didn’t mean ease. His “warm-up” turned into an almost-send, ending in a flash-pump slip. Try #2? Picture-perfect flow, but a foot popped at the top-out. Try #3 sealed the deal. “I think I loved this route so much that my subconscious wanted to send it three times in one day… Lesson learned: don’t neglect the easy top-outs.”

Chuat goes on to describe the line like a love letter: from a solid rest to a stylish mini-bloc, to the “real bloc” on prime Rawyl rock—tiny pinches, a 6 mm crimp, a Céüse-worthy pocket, razor edges, and barely-there feet. A true modern classic in the making.

Lukas Mokrolusky Sends The Big Island (8C) in Font: Fresh off a strong competition season, 17-year-old Lukas Mokrolusky has added The Big Island (8C) in Fontainebleau to his growing list of proud sends. In 2024–25 he’s already climbed Action Directe (9a), podiumed with Silver in Lead at the Youth World Championship, and placed 19th at Worlds six weeks ago.

His take on the process: “I came to Fontainebleau to try Big Island because it’s very much my style… big moves, heel hooks, and not too long.”

Session one: just 30 minutes—great progress.
Session two: the boulder was underwater (Font doing Font things), but after drying, he got solid attempts in.
Session three: a split halted the day, but confidence stayed high.
Final session: done first try.

“I was really happy to do it so quickly.”

On his competition year: “Competition year was super great for me. I did semifinal in WCH and Top-10 in Innsbruck. It gave me a super motivation for next year and great experience.”

A Season Filled With Flow

From Seo’s relentless send train, to Chuat’s poetic first ascent, to Mokrolusky’s explosive power in Font, these stories remind us why we love climbing: the battles, the breakthroughs, the unexpected moments that turn into lifelong memories. There are just a few of the many sends this month.