Chris Sharma
Quick Info ˅
| Nationality: | US |
| Height: | 183 cm |
| Weight: | 75 kg |
| Date of birth: | 23rd April 1981 |
| Hardest Boulder (Worked): | 8C |
| Hardest Boulder (Flash): | 8A+ |
| Hardest Sport (Worked): | 9b+ |
| Hardest Sport (Onsight): | 8c |
| Notable Partnerships | |
| Tommy Caldwell | |
| Daila Ojeda | |
| Dave Graham | |
| 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.
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
Podcasts
Pics + Vids
Biographie (9a+, FA)
Gancho Perfecto (9a+, FA)
El Bon Combat (9b, FA)
Witness the Fitness (8C, FA)
La Rambla Extension (9a+)
Le Blond (9c)
La Novena Enmienda (9a+)
Fight or Flight (9b, FA)
Dreamcatcher (9a, FA)
Super Tweak (8c)
La Dura Dura (9b+)
Es Pontas (9a+, FA)
First Round, First Minute (9b, FA)
Ratstaman Vibrations (9b)
Necessary Evil (8c+, FA)
Ascents
45 recorded ascents.
| Year | Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Super Tweak | 8c (Lead) | July 1996 | |
|
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/sport-why-kid-grinning/ |
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| 1997 | Necessary Evil | 8c+ (Lead) | ✓ | 17th March 1997 |
|
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. |
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| Just Do It | 8c+ (Lead) | April 1997 | ||
|
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) | April 1998 | |
| 1999 | Slashface | 8B (Boulder) | 1999 | |
| 2000 | ||||
| 2001 | The Mandala | 8A+ (Boulder) | ✓ | 2001 |
| Biographie | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 18th July 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 | Massive Attack | 8A+ (Boulder Flash) | 1st July 2003 | |
| 2004 | Ring of Fire | 8b+ (Deep Water Solo Ground up) | 2004 | |
|
Second ascent. |
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| Dreamtime (pre break) | 8B+ (Boulder) | August 2004 | ||
| Practice of the Wild | 8B+ (Boulder) | ✓ | August 2004 | |
| 2005 | Witness the Fitness | 8C (Boulder) | ✓ | March 2005 |
| Dreamcatcher | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | September 2005 | |
| 2006 | La Rambla Extension | 9a+ (Lead) | 2006 | |
|
Third ascent. |
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| 2007 | La Novena Enmienda | 9a+ (Lead) | 2007 | |
| Three Degrees of Separation | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 15th July 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) | ✓ | 26th September 2007 | |
| 2008 | Jumbo Love | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 11th September 2008 |
|
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2008/09/sharmas_jumbo_love_9b_515b-45317 |
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| Golpe de Estado | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 17th December 2008 | |
| 2009 | Raindogs | 8a (Lead Onsight) | 2009 | |
| Spicy Noodle | 8c+ (Lead) | ✓ | 2009 | |
| Demencia Senil | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | February 2009 | |
| Pachamama | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 29th May 2009 | |
| Neanderthal | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 18th December 2009 | |
References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chris_sharma_talks_9b+-4894 |
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| 2010 | Era Vella | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 2010 |
| Samfaina | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 2010 | |
| Analógica | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | February 2010 | |
| First Ley | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 28th February 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) | ✓ | 19th April 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) | ✓ | 5th 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) | 5th 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 | Ratstaman Vibrations | 9b (Lead Did not finish) | 2012 | |
| 2013 | Stoking the Fire | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 6th February 2013 |
|
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| La Dura Dura | 9b+ (Lead) | 23rd March 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) | ✓ | 7th March 2015 |
| 2016 | Le Blond | 9c (Lead Did not finish) | 2016 | |
| Catalan Witness the Fitness | 8B+ (Boulder) | ✓ | 2nd January 2016 | |
| Alasha | 9a (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | September 2016 | |
| Joe Mama | 9a+ (Lead) | October 2016 | ||
|
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) | 1st April 2022 | |
| Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Blond | 9c (Lead Did not finish) | 2016 | ||
| La Dura Dura | 9b+ (Lead) | 23rd March 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) | ✓ | 11th September 2008 | |
|
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2008/09/sharmas_jumbo_love_9b_515b-45317 |
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| Golpe de Estado | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 17th December 2008 | |
| Neanderthal | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 18th December 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) | ✓ | 19th April 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) | ✓ | 5th 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) | ✓ | 6th February 2013 | |
|
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| El Bon Combat | 9b (Lead) | ✓ | 7th March 2015 | 9b/9b+ |
| Ratstaman Vibrations | 9b (Lead Did not finish) | 2012 | ||
| Biographie | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 18th July 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) | ✓ | February 2009 | |
| Pachamama | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 29th May 2009 | |
| Analógica | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | February 2010 | |
| First Ley | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | 28th February 2010 | |
|
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2010/02/sharma_climbs_first_ley_9a+-54530 |
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| Gancho Perfecto | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | ||
| Papichulo | 9a+ (Lead) | ✓ | ||
| La Rambla Extension | 9a+ (Lead) | 2006 | ||
|
Third ascent. |
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| La Novena Enmienda | 9a+ (Lead) | 2007 | ||
| Chaxi | 9a+ (Lead) | 5th 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) | October 2016 | ||
|
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) | ✓ | September 2005 | |
| Three Degrees of Separation | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 15th July 2007 | 9a |
|
https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/chris-sharma-adds-new-ceuse-testspiece.html |
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| Era Vella | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 2010 | |
| Samfaina | 9a (Lead) | ✓ | 2010 | |
| Necessary Evil | 8c+ (Lead) | ✓ | 17th March 1997 | |
|
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. |
||||
| Spicy Noodle | 8c+ (Lead) | ✓ | 2009 | |
| Just Do It | 8c+ (Lead) | April 1997 | ||
|
First American ascent. 3 days' work, famously taking jumper off mid-route. https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/alan-watts-climbing-interview.html |
||||
| Super Tweak | 8c (Lead) | July 1996 | ||
|
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/sport-why-kid-grinning/ |
||||
| V for Vendetta | 8c (Lead Onsight) | 1st April 2022 | ||
| To Bolt or Not to Be | 8b+ (Lead) | April 1998 | ||
| Raindogs | 8a (Lead Onsight) | 2009 | ||
| Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Witness the Fitness | 8C (Boulder) | ✓ | March 2005 | |
| Practice of the Wild | 8B+ (Boulder) | ✓ | August 2004 | |
| Catalan Witness the Fitness | 8B+ (Boulder) | ✓ | 2nd January 2016 | |
| Dreamtime (pre break) | 8B+ (Boulder) | August 2004 | 8B+ | |
| 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) | ✓ | ||
| Slashface | 8B (Boulder) | 1999 | ||
| The Mandala | 8A+ (Boulder) | ✓ | 2001 | |
| Massive Attack | 8A+ (Boulder Flash) | 1st July 2003 | ||
| Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|
| Climb | Grade | FA | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Es Pontas | 9a+ (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | 26th September 2007 | |
| Alasha | 9a (Deep Water Solo) | ✓ | September 2016 | |
| Ring of Fire | 8b+ (Deep Water Solo Ground up) | 2004 | ||
|
Second ascent. |
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