Chris Sharma


Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth: 23rd April 1981
Age: 44 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8C
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 8A+
Hardest Sport (Worked): 9b+
Hardest Sport (Onsight): 8c
Hardest Sport (Flash): 8b
Notable Partnerships
Daila Ojeda
Tommy Caldwell
Dave Graham
Contemporaries
Tommy Caldwell
Dave Graham

Chris Sharma started climbing in the 1990s aged 12 before winning the US national championships 2 years later. He went on to reinvigorate hard sport climbing in the US, quickly repeating many of the hardest lines before establishing his own hard routes such as Necessary Evil in 1997, the first 8c+/14c in the USA.

Through the rest of his career he took sport climbing in to the modern era by cementing the 9a+ and 9b grades with a string of cutting edge ascents throughout Europe (Golpe de Estado, Neanderthal, Stoking the Fire and many more), as well as adding some of the hardest routes in America with climbs such as Jumbo Love and Dreamcatcher.

Somewhat uniquely amongst his contemporaries, Chris' climbing has been well documented from a young age due to a close relationship with videographers Josh Lowell and Brett Lowell.

Alongside his sport climbing Chris is a prolific deep water soloist, climbing many of the existing hard lines and then adding many of his own: Es Pontas, Alasha, Black Pearl, Big Fish and Vision Quest being some of the hardest DWS lines in the world.

In 2023 he added Sleeping Lion (9b) in Siurana. Initially suggested at 9b+ it has settled at 9b after several repeats, but remains an impressive new addition at one of Spain's most famous crags.

References

[1] Interview with Jack Geldard for UKClimbing.com, 29th August 2012 https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894

[2] Rampage by Josh Lowell and Brett Lowell, 1999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqe_w2JTlKM

[3] Best of the West, 2005 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6VZzVPnlVA

[4] Interview with Alex Honnold on Climbing Gold, 2nd April 2021 https://www.climbinggold.com/episodes/chapter-03

Contributors
388 contributions since 13th January 2021.
17 contributions since 6th December 2023.
TdG
11 contributions since 2nd September 2025.
9 contributions since 7th November 2025.
4 contributions since 21st September 2024.
ben
2 contributions since 14th March 2025.

Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth: 23rd April 1981
Age: 44 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8C
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 8A+
Hardest Sport (Worked): 9b+
Hardest Sport (Onsight): 8c
Hardest Sport (Flash): 8b
Notable Partnerships
Daila Ojeda
Tommy Caldwell
Dave Graham
Contemporaries
Tommy Caldwell
Dave Graham

Chris Sharma started climbing in the 1990s aged 12 before winning the US national championships 2 years later. He went on to reinvigorate hard sport climbing in the US, quickly repeating many of the hardest lines before establishing his own hard routes such as Necessary Evil in 1997, the first 8c+/14c in the USA.

Through the rest of his career he took sport climbing in to the modern era by cementing the 9a+ and 9b grades with a string of cutting edge ascents throughout Europe (Golpe de Estado, Neanderthal, Stoking the Fire and many more), as well as adding some of the hardest routes in America with climbs such as Jumbo Love and Dreamcatcher.

Somewhat uniquely amongst his contemporaries, Chris' climbing has been well documented from a young age due to a close relationship with videographers Josh Lowell and Brett Lowell.

Alongside his sport climbing Chris is a prolific deep water soloist, climbing many of the existing hard lines and then adding many of his own: Es Pontas, Alasha, Black Pearl, Big Fish and Vision Quest being some of the hardest DWS lines in the world.

In 2023 he added Sleeping Lion (9b) in Siurana. Initially suggested at 9b+ it has settled at 9b after several repeats, but remains an impressive new addition at one of Spain's most famous crags.

References

[1] Interview with Jack Geldard for UKClimbing.com, 29th August 2012 https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894

[2] Rampage by Josh Lowell and Brett Lowell, 1999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqe_w2JTlKM

[3] Best of the West, 2005 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6VZzVPnlVA

[4] Interview with Alex Honnold on Climbing Gold, 2nd April 2021 https://www.climbinggold.com/episodes/chapter-03

Contributors
388 contributions since 13th January 2021.
17 contributions since 6th December 2023.
TdG
11 contributions since 2nd September 2025.
9 contributions since 7th November 2025.
4 contributions since 21st September 2024.
ben
2 contributions since 14th March 2025.

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Ascents

88 recorded ascents.

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

The first confirmed 9b+.

Initially I was turned off by the small crimpers on the lower section, I sort of shied away from them. But last year Adam came along, we started to try it together and I realised that I could actually use these holds. It may sound strange, but this route got me back into bouldering, that first section has a Font 8B+ section and it was great fun and also really different to try something with tiny crimps, instead of holds on the long stamina routes I often do. [2]

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1P97VVt6_k

[2] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/chris-sharma-the-la-dura-dura-interview.html

On the same day Chris climbed Chaxi as well as making a separate, very good attempt on Chaxiraxi!

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKgZL2Etuc4

[2] https://climbingnarc.com/2011/05/two-5-15s-in-a-day-at-oliana-for-chris-sharma/

Today in Santa Linya was one of those illusive moments. I sent a project that I’ve been trying the last few years. I think I’m going to call it Stoking The Fire and I think it’s pretty solid 9b. So many hard complex sequences with no rests!

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/VZtjIfSd2Q/

This whole time I’ve been trying to stay in shape, which has been a huge challenge. I never wanted to let go of my climbing goals. But as the years go by, you start to wonder, are things going to coalesce? Am I just saying that to myself, that I’m still in shape and ready?

...

In the lifespan of a climber, it’s really good to do other things. It complements your climbing, and it gives you a different perspective, and then it makes you appreciate climbing in new ways. … The ultimate goal is to be able to climb 5.15 in life, not just on the rock. So I have this higher-arching goal of climbing at my limit while also being present with my kids, and being present as a husband, and creating these climbing gyms and this TV show. All those other things are way out of my comfort zone, but that’s where a lot of growth and the progression of ourselves comes from.[3]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,31921.msg675237.html#msg675237

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

[3] Interview with Climbing Magazine, March 2023 https://www.climbing.com/news/exclusive-interview-chris-sharma-makes-5-15c-fa-in-siurana/

[4] https://www.instagram.com/p/CqdPXoIosXj/

[5] https://www.8a.nu/news/a-sleeping-lion-no-more-interview-with-chris-sharma-and-a-look-back-at-his-greatest-ascents-t27s3

[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBG-8bFgopw

[7] https://watch.reelrocktour.com/videos/sleeping-lion

[8] https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/episodes/reel-rock-s9-e8

[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX5hkFSM5JU

[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr34bD12AIg

A breakthrough in Chris' climbing and one of the hardest routes in the world at the time.

It was my very first route [in Europe], actually. I went directly and warmed up on it...I didn't really warm up back then so it was fine. [5]

References

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

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CRe7spOLVqj/

[3] Coincidentally Charlotte Durif was walking underneath at the time with her brother and Dad who took some photos of the first ascent. https://www.instagram.com/p/CRlzGrNHGHn/

[4] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/chris-sharma-climbs-biographie-at-ceuse.html

[5] https://open.spotify.com/episode/26PaloSHg59Bbe6WdUWWok?

The day after Eduard Marin made the second ascent.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9agEFToJT-4

Papichulo First ascent. 9a+ Lead | worked 31st May 2008
Demencia Senil First ascent. 9a+ Lead | worked Feb 2009
Pachamama First ascent. 9a+ Lead | worked 29th May 2009
Power Inverter First ascent. 9a+ Lead | worked 2010
Catxasa First ascent. 9a+ Lead | worked 2011

The same day as Chris made the first ascent of Fight or Flight!

References

[1] https://climbingnarc.com/2011/05/two-5-15s-in-a-day-at-oliana-for-chris-sharma/

I will never climb this route.

Chris dropped the last move on his flash attempt.

Era Vella First ascent. 9a Lead | worked 2010
Samfaina First ascent. 9a Lead | worked 2010

Age 15. Chris had been climbing for a little over 3 years when he made the ascent, at the time one of the hardest routes in the US alongside Just Do It.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CkRY8NJSro2/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CwlUDpmrP4O/?img_index=1

First American ascent. Famously Chris took his jumper off mid-route, this was very memorable because at the time it was one of the hardest routes in America, and to climb the route with such apparent casualness signalled to many that a new generation of US climbing talent had arrived that was a equal to those operating at the highest levels in sport climbing.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/alan-watts-climbing-interview.html

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/BddU4Qln3au/

[3] On The Edge Issue 69, page 8

A very impressive second-go effort. Chris had previously pulled up to the first bolt to check some holds but the decided to try something else, he then came back to it in 2008 and did it first go that day.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/purgatory_rrgpmrp-21440/lucifer-346990

Spicy Noodle First ascent. 8c+ Lead | worked 2009

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 16

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 16

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 16

The Big Smile First ascent. 1 session. 8c Lead | worked
To Bolt or Not to Be 8b+ Lead | worked Apr 1998

References

[1] On The Edge 122, page 14.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 16

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 16

Esplendor Geometrico First ascent. 8a+ Deep Water Solo
Raindogs 8a Lead | onsight 2009
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
The Never Ending Story (Part 1+2) First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 2003
Practice of the Wild First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked Aug 2004
Catalan Witness the Fitness First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 2nd Jan 2016

Chris came very close to making the first ascent, dropping the campus move to the slot.

Goldfish Trombone 8B+ Boulder | worked
Slashface 8B Boulder | worked 1999
Dominated First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked Apr 2002
Impossible Traverse First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked Before 1st Jan 2006
The Mandala First ascent. 8A+ Boulder | worked 2000
The Buttermilker First ascent. 8A+ Boulder | worked Before 25th Jan 2001

In June!

Captain Hook First ascent. 8A+ Boulder | worked 2003
Massive Attack 8A+ Boulder | flash 1st Jul 2003
Sharma's Problem First ascent. 8A+ Boulder | worked
The Egg First ascent. 8A Boulder | worked 1999

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 91, page 49

Evilution to the Lip First ascent. 7C+ Boulder | worked

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 91, page 49

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Alasha First ascent. 9a Deep Water Solo | worked Sep 2016

More than 30 days of work over 6 months.

One of the best and hardest Psicobloc lines I've ever climbed.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DDz9ac_Nefy/?hl=en

[2] https://www.8a.nu/news/vision-quest-9a-fa-by-chris-sharma-qy5mj

Honey Cane First ascent. 8c Deep Water Solo | worked Before 1st Sep 2024
Ring of Fire Second ascent. 8b+ Deep Water Solo | ground up Sep 2004
Face Your Fear First ascent. 8b Deep Water Solo | worked Sep 2024