Nalle Hukkataival


Quick Info

From: Finland 🇫🇮
Date of birth: 8th September 1986
Age: 39 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 9A
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 8B
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Contemporaries
Paul Robinson
Daniel Woods
Jimmy Webb

Nalle Hukkataival is a Finnish boulderer. He made his name with first ascents and repeats of many of the hardest problems in the world in the period 2010-2020, including repeats of Gioia and Sleepwalker and the first ascents of Livin' Large and The Finnish Line.

In 2016 he established Burden of Dreams, the first 9A in the world.

Having been in the limelight for many years he has subsequently become more reclusive (by the standards of professional climbers).

References

[1] Features in The Circuit.

[2] http://nalle-hukkataival.blogspot.com/

Contributors
526 contributions since 13th January 2021.
54 contributions since 21st January 2025.
TdG
38 contributions since 30th July 2025.
19 contributions since 24th January 2025.
16 contributions since 21st December 2024.
7 contributions since 10th September 2025.
4 contributions since 27th September 2025.
ben
3 contributions since 17th July 2025.
1 contribution since 18th July 2025.

Quick Info

From: Finland 🇫🇮
Date of birth: 8th September 1986
Age: 39 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 9A
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 8B
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Contemporaries
Paul Robinson
Daniel Woods
Jimmy Webb

Nalle Hukkataival is a Finnish boulderer. He made his name with first ascents and repeats of many of the hardest problems in the world in the period 2010-2020, including repeats of Gioia and Sleepwalker and the first ascents of Livin' Large and The Finnish Line.

In 2016 he established Burden of Dreams, the first 9A in the world.

Having been in the limelight for many years he has subsequently become more reclusive (by the standards of professional climbers).

References

[1] Features in The Circuit.

[2] http://nalle-hukkataival.blogspot.com/

Contributors
526 contributions since 13th January 2021.
54 contributions since 21st January 2025.
TdG
38 contributions since 30th July 2025.
19 contributions since 24th January 2025.
16 contributions since 21st December 2024.
7 contributions since 10th September 2025.
4 contributions since 27th September 2025.
ben
3 contributions since 17th July 2025.
1 contribution since 18th July 2025.

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Ascents

94 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
Sort
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/BcX-gR8llwj/

[2] A short film which features some footage of Nalle trying the line Kylmää kiveä - Suomikiipeilyn tarina osa 4 of 4

[3] The platform Nalle built to help work the problem https://www.instagram.com/p/YpKCtwyEnG/

Nalle invested a huge amount of time and effort in to the problem before finally making the first ascent, spending 3 years and 4000+ attempts on the problem.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2016/10/nalle_hukkataival_puts_up_burden_of_dreams_-_font_9a-70761

[2] Send footy:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNIgOzIs8zE/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2exjenOqE

[3] While working the problem Nalle posted about in a series of Instagram posts:

[4] The Lappnor Project (2017 film)

Using a slightly different sequence to previous ascentionists. Nalle was unable to span directly to the thin slot, so instead he matched on the sloper with a marginal toe hook before bumping in to the slot.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/BtZctGWniYy/

[2] https://youtu.be/iPZ1w7tjo_M?t=733

Just climbed La Force Tranquille V15 in Magic Wood!! Had a devastating fall from the easy top slab because a hold broke, but managed to pull it together and climb it again next try all the way to the top! One of the best hard boulders in the world!!

References

[1] https://climbingnarc.com/2013/06/2nd-ascent-of-la-force-tranquille-v15-by-nalle-hukkataival/

[2] https://vimeo.com/68555916

A gem rarer than diamonds and a new contender for the hardest in Rocklands.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQfPC4WZy4Q

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/BV4fK6KlBPT/

Nalle climbed the problem from a slightly lower start than the FA, starting with both hands on a low rail where the FA started a move further in with one hand on the rail.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkrkcQi6Jk0

The Globalist First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 3rd May 2009 8B+

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/8374073

Occam's Razor First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 13th Sep 2011
Circus Elephant Syndrome First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 12th Oct 2011
Off the Wagon First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 2012

Tall overhang with explosive and powerful moves and very few footholds. One of the most amazing sequences I can think of! So simple, yet so intricate. A dream come true!

Bügeleisen 8B+ Boulder | worked 2013

Cameron Maier, the producer of the original recording, stated in the comments section of said video that the footage is from 2015.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZpXgxQFk_Q

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tD2X_hexSQ

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/yVNxUsyEpV/

First re-ascent after holds had broken, via a minor variation in line

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/z3Jp2fyEhM

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpqSruvP_U8

Massive Dynamic First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked
The Machinist First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 23rd Feb 2009

I was a little surprised it only took me one day of work, but a huge amount of tries to be honest. Was it hard? Yes. 8C? No. I never thought that a slab could be 8C knowing the standard in Font. However, Banshousha isn't a pure slab. Sure it's less than vertical hence a slab, but the whole time you are climbing a really slopey arete. Having something to actually grab onto makes a huge difference in the grading versus it being just a blank face. I felt like it is a really technical 8B and hard for sure, but not an 8C.

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/4324776

[2] http://nalle-hukkataival.blogspot.com/2009/04/

Pigeon Superstition First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 2011
Diamanten First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 28th May 2011

Nalle characterized this ascent as one of the weirdest sequences he's climbed.

References

[1] https://youtu.be/YXkCs7M7xeA?t=362

Guest List First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 2016
Antidote First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 2016
El Infierno First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/3544360

L'Illusion du Choix First ascent. 8A+ Boulder | worked
Talib 8A+ Boulder | flash
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Kesäturkki First ascent. 8c Deep Water Solo | worked 2016