In reply to stp:
> In terms of size I remember there was an article on 8a some time ago which was trying to work out the optimum size for a climber and I think they came up with a figure of 5'8 ish.
I do wonder whether pockety climbing is especially suited to small people (or at least people with small hands); an extra finger in most pockets is going to make a big difference.
It's also occurred to me that if a rock type has a surface which is fractal (ie self similar at every scale), then size of climber should make no difference on average to the actual moves required. But given that smaller climbers have a biomechanical strength to weight ratio advantage, it would be, in general, a case of the smaller the better.
Whatever. Very impressive achievement!