It’s here, the one we’ve all been waiting for, the footage of Daniel Woods’ first ascent of the world’s second 9A/V17 boulder – 'Return of the Sleepwalker' in Red Rocks, Nevada. Having climbed the original stand start line, ‘Sleepwalker’ (V16), in the January of 2019, Daniel eventually sent the 17-move sit start on April 2nd, 2021. This much anticipated 19-minute feature documents his 52-day siege of the line with Bobby Sorich’s full-on edit fitting of Daniel’s character and intense approach to sending his hardest project to date.

The 9A bouldering grade has been a contentious one with two of the four problems to have initially received the grade being subsequently downgraded by the second ascensionist. It doesn’t look it’ll be the case with ROTSW, however, with the sitter adding a 7 move 8B into the start of the original 8C+ stand start. Daniel’s experience adds further weight to the grade with him having amassed the finest bouldering tick list we have ever seen featuring numerous 8C+ ascents from around the world. But, it’s his changed approach to this boulder that signifies its ultimate challenge. Adopting an almost Macleod-like approach to his nutrition, Daniel cut out substances like alcohol, caffeine and a few C-class extras to give himself ‘full mental clarity’. If this is the result of such changes then who knows what else he is capable of. But, for now, sit back and enjoy!