BURSTOn January 14, Melina Costanza topped Chris Sharma’s Iron Resolution V13 (8B) in Joshua Tree. This marks Costanza’s sixth boulder graded V13 or harder. After some fun at the Rock Rumble Royale competition, she opted to stay in Joshua Tree a little longer to send the iconic boulder. It was a decision that paid off.
Iron Resolution begins with a steep 45-degree overhang, before navigating the lip and the glassy slab finish. When Sharma made the FA, the boulder was very fresh. It had fallen out of the cliff only a couple of years prior, leaving behind a stunning sheer face that Sharma couldn’t resist. He worked the problem with Ethan Pringle, who got the second ascent. “It has kind of a scary top out,” said Sharma of the climb. “You really have to be focused with your feet. You have to be very resolved that you’re going to do it. So I called it Iron Resolution.”
“The grades for this climb have been a little divided between [V12 and V13] recently,” said Costanza on Instagram after her ascent. “While I struggle to take the high grade for anything, this felt harder for me than any [V13] I’ve sent, maybe because I couldn’t keep the foot and ended up jumping to the last crimp on the rail and holding a full rip. But grades are subjective. A stellar, beautiful line regardless.”
Costanza has been on fire as of late. In October last year, she topped her second V14, The Mantra in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Less than a month later, she climbed Eclipse SDS V13, also in Little Cottonwood Canyon. He first V14 was Direct North in the Buttermilks, which she sent in November 2024.
Costanza is also well-known for her comp climbing accomplishments. In September 2025, she competed in the World Championships in Seoul. It was her first World Championship event, and she podiumed, receiving bronze next to Janja Garnbret (gold) and Oriane Bertone (silver). She’s a five-time USA National Champion and a regular competitor in international IFSC events. She won her first USA National Championship in 2021 in bouldering. In both 2023 and 2024, she was the double-champ, winning gold in both Boulder and Lead.
Chris Sharma on Iron Resolution
The post Melina Costanza Climbs a Joshua Tree V13 appeared first on Gripped Magazine.