Fred Nicole

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Antoine Le Menestrel, the strongest climber of the time, had been unable to free it and that was enough to put in doubt Bérhault's success. Can you imagine the reaction and skepticism when two 16-year-olds from Switzerland succeeded where the greatest had not? [1]

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 105, page 45

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://youtu.be/exAhhD0n8QU?t=728

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 105, page 45

First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 105, page 45

First ascent.

Third ascent.

Controversially, Fred dabbed his spotter on his ascent.

First ascent.

Originally 8A, upgraded to 8A+ after holds were chipped off in June 2001

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 105, page 45

First ascent.

First ascent.

With this ascent Fred became the first person in the world to climb 8B+.

References

[1] https://youtu.be/exAhhD0n8QU?t=807

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/456926684373512

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7d5fqniuu/

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7d5fqniuu/

First ascent.

1 session.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 105, page 45

Second ascent?

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 105, page 45

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

Second ascent. 3 sessions.

First ascent.

Three hard moves, the first one being the hardest of them with a real special gaston crimp. For the grade, I'm not sure since the effort is so short. But it is certainly one of the hardest single moves I've ever done. Conditions are really important for this climb: the place is hot and sunny and I did it really early one morning during what was one of my best years of bouldering. [1]

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/fred-nicole-the-bouldering-interview.html

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/C845oYHCTC3/

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/fred-nicole-sends-dreamtime-8c-at-cresciano-switzerland.html

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/fred-nicole-the-bouldering-interview.html

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/451840591548788

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

Second ascent.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/fred-nicole-the-bouldering-interview.html

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7d5fqniuu/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/B6lZhPEn_Gs/?hl=en

[3] https://www.climbing.com/news/nicole-adds-hueco-testpiece/

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/fred-nicole-the-bouldering-interview.html

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2007/01/fred_nicole_repeats_sharmas_witness_the_fitness-32728

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/fred-nicole-the-bouldering-interview.html

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.climbing.com/photos/landrsquo-isola-che-non-candrsquo-andegrave-the-island-does-not-exist/

First ascent.

It was one of those longterm projects, which you never know if it will go for sure. I started trying it two years ago. It was just after completing L'Isola che no c'é. I enjoy having this kind of projects where you can go back over and over again, and slowly, try after try, you start to visualize the complete picture of it.

It is a sit down start on a big snake like looking structure, which also gives the name to the problem. Some powerful moves on pockets underclings that bring you to a tricky traverse with more pockets and a finish with long moves into a big flake. It ends in another problem called Mosaik, rated V11 or 8A. The first four moves are by far the hardest, but the last ten are quite delicate and bring a great dimension to the line.

Most of the time I don't grade my boulders anymore, but people are still curious what they could be. On this one my feeling lies around 8C boulder, as it felt as the hardest boulder I ever did on pockets. For sure the hardest thing since L'isola che non c'é and reckoning the time spent on it anyway an important line for me. [2]

References

[1] https://youtu.be/dQW3v7-pYXk?t=302

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2011/09/fred_nicole_climbs_le_boa_-_new_font_8c-64179

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2014/09/the_escapist_8b+_by_fred_nicole-69204

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.8a.nu/news/8b-c-fa-by-fred-nicole-46-in-rocklands

Second ascent.