Nationality: | US |
Height: | 183 cm |
Weight: | 75 kg |
Date of birth: | 23 April 1981 |
Hardest Boulder (Worked): | 8C |
Hardest Sport (Worked): | 9b+ |
Hardest Sport (Onsight): | 8c |
Notable Partnerships | |
Tommy Caldwell | |
Daila Ojeda | |
Social Media |
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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 and the America.
More recently Chris has applied his skills to deep water soloing establishing routes such as Es Pontas and Alasha, some of the hardest DWS lines in the world.
[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
38 recorded ascents.
Year | Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Super Tweak | 8c (Lead) | 01 Jul 1996 (approx) | |
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/sport-why-kid-grinning/ |
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1997 | Necessary Evil | 8c+ (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Jan 1997 (approx) |
Age 15. Chris had been climbing for a little over 3 years at the time of making this ascent, at the time the hardest route in the US. |
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Just Do It | 8c+ (Lead) | 01 Apr 1997 (approx) | ||
First American ascent. 3 days' work, famously taking jumper off mid-route. https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/alan-watts-climbing-interview.html |
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1998 | To Bolt or Not to Be | 8b+ (Lead) | 15 Apr 1998 (approx) | |
1999 | ||||
2000 | ||||
2001 | The Mandala | 8A+ (Boulder) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2001 (approx) |
Biographie | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 18 Jul 2001 | |
A breakthrough in Chris' climbing and one of the hardest routes in the world at the time. 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 |
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2002 | ||||
2003 | ||||
2004 | ||||
2005 | Witness the Fitness | 8C (Boulder) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2005 (approx) |
Dreamcatcher | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Sep 2005 (approx) | |
2006 | La Rambla Extension | 9a+ (Lead) | 01 Jan 2006 (approx) | |
Third ascent. |
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Ring of Fire | 8b+ (Deep Water Solo Ground up) | 01 Jan 2006 (approx) | ||
Second ascent. |
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2007 | La Novena Enmienda | 9a+ (Lead) | 01 Jan 2007 (approx) | |
Three Degrees of Separation | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 15 Jul 2007 | |
https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/chris-sharma-adds-new-ceuse-testspiece.html |
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Es Pontas | 9a+ (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | 26 Sep 2007 | |
2008 | Jumbo Love | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 11 Sep 2008 |
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2008/09/sharmas_jumbo_love_9b_515b-45317 |
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Golpe de Estado | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 17 Dec 2008 | |
2009 | Raindogs | 8a (Lead Onsight) | 01 Jan 2009 (approx) | |
Demencia Senil | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Feb 2009 (approx) | |
Pachamama | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 29 May 2009 | |
Neanderthal | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 18 Dec 2009 | |
References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894 |
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2010 | Era Vella | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2010 (approx) |
Samfaina | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2010 (approx) | |
First Ley | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 28 Feb 2010 | |
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2010/02/sharma_climbs_first_ley_9a+-54530 |
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2011 | First Round, First Minute | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 19 Apr 2011 |
Chris suggested hard 9b. [1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894 |
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Fight or Flight | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 05 May 2011 | |
On the same day Chris climbed Chaxi as well as making a separate, very good attempt on Chaxiraxi! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKgZL2Etuc4 https://climbingnarc.com/2011/05/two-5-15s-in-a-day-at-oliana-for-chris-sharma/ |
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Chaxi | 9a+ (Lead) | 05 May 2011 | ||
The same day as Chris made the first ascent of Fight or Flight! https://climbingnarc.com/2011/05/two-5-15s-in-a-day-at-oliana-for-chris-sharma/ |
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2012 | ||||
2013 | Stoking the Fire | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 06 Feb 2013 |
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La Dura Dura | 9b+ (Lead) | 23 Mar 2013 | ||
The first confirmed 9b+.
[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 |
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2014 | ||||
2015 | El Bon Combat | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 07 Mar 2015 |
2016 | Le Blond | 9c (Lead Did not finish) | 01 Jan 2016 (approx) | |
Alasha | 9a (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | 01 Sep 2016 (approx) | |
Joe Mama | 9a+ (Lead) | 12 Oct 2016 (approx) | ||
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2016/10/chris_sharma_does_joe_mama_9a+-70736 |
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2017 | ||||
2018 | ||||
2019 | ||||
2020 | ||||
2021 | ||||
2022 | V for Vendetta | 8c (Lead Onsight) | 01 Apr 2022 | |
Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|
Le Blond | 9c (Lead Did not finish) | 01 Jan 2016 (approx) | ||
La Dura Dura | 9b+ (Lead) | 23 Mar 2013 | ||
The first confirmed 9b+.
[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 |
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Jumbo Love | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 11 Sep 2008 | |
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2008/09/sharmas_jumbo_love_9b_515b-45317 |
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Golpe de Estado | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 17 Dec 2008 | |
Neanderthal | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 18 Dec 2009 | 9b |
References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894 |
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First Round, First Minute | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 19 Apr 2011 | 9b |
Chris suggested hard 9b. [1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894 |
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Fight or Flight | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 05 May 2011 | |
On the same day Chris climbed Chaxi as well as making a separate, very good attempt on Chaxiraxi! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKgZL2Etuc4 https://climbingnarc.com/2011/05/two-5-15s-in-a-day-at-oliana-for-chris-sharma/ |
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Stoking the Fire | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 06 Feb 2013 | |
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El Bon Combat | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 07 Mar 2015 | 9b/9b+ |
Biographie | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 18 Jul 2001 | |
A breakthrough in Chris' climbing and one of the hardest routes in the world at the time. 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 |
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Demencia Senil | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Feb 2009 (approx) | |
Pachamama | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 29 May 2009 | |
First Ley | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 28 Feb 2010 | |
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2010/02/sharma_climbs_first_ley_9a+-54530 |
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Papichulo | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | ||
Gancho Perfecto | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | ||
La Rambla Extension | 9a+ (Lead) | 01 Jan 2006 (approx) | ||
Third ascent. |
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La Novena Enmienda | 9a+ (Lead) | 01 Jan 2007 (approx) | ||
Chaxi | 9a+ (Lead) | 05 May 2011 | ||
The same day as Chris made the first ascent of Fight or Flight! https://climbingnarc.com/2011/05/two-5-15s-in-a-day-at-oliana-for-chris-sharma/ |
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Joe Mama | 9a+ (Lead) | 12 Oct 2016 (approx) | ||
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2016/10/chris_sharma_does_joe_mama_9a+-70736 |
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Mutation | 9a+ (Lead Did not finish) | |||
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Dreamcatcher | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Sep 2005 (approx) | |
Three Degrees of Separation | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 15 Jul 2007 | 9a |
https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/chris-sharma-adds-new-ceuse-testspiece.html |
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Era Vella | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2010 (approx) | |
Samfaina | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2010 (approx) | |
Necessary Evil | 8c+ (Lead) | ✓ | 01 Jan 1997 (approx) | |
Age 15. Chris had been climbing for a little over 3 years at the time of making this ascent, at the time the hardest route in the US. |
||||
Just Do It | 8c+ (Lead) | 01 Apr 1997 (approx) | ||
First American ascent. 3 days' work, famously taking jumper off mid-route. https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/alan-watts-climbing-interview.html |
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Super Tweak | 8c (Lead) | 01 Jul 1996 (approx) | ||
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/sport-why-kid-grinning/ |
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V for Vendetta | 8c (Lead Onsight) | 01 Apr 2022 | ||
To Bolt or Not to Be | 8b+ (Lead) | 15 Apr 1998 (approx) | ||
Raindogs | 8a (Lead Onsight) | 01 Jan 2009 (approx) |
Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|
Witness the Fitness | 8C (Boulder) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2005 (approx) | |
Catalan Witness the Fitness | 8B+ (Boulder) | ✓ | ||
Off the Wagon | 8B+ (Boulder Did not finish) | |||
Chris came very close to making the first ascent, dropping the campus move to the slot. |
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The Buttermilker | 8B (Boulder) | ✓ | ||
The Mandala | 8A+ (Boulder) | ✓ | 01 Jan 2001 (approx) |
Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
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Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|
Es Pontas | 9a+ (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | 26 Sep 2007 | |
Alasha | 9a (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | 01 Sep 2016 (approx) | |
Ring of Fire | 8b+ (Deep Water Solo Ground up) | 01 Jan 2006 (approx) | ||
Second ascent. |