Climbers from France

References

[1] Interview with Natalie Berry for UKClimbing.com, May 2024 https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/nuts_museum_the_frenchman_who_collects_trad_climbing_gear-15767

[2] https://www.needlesports.com/Information/Features/Nuts-Museum

[3] https://www.needlesports.com/Information/Features/Nuts-Museum/Nuts-Odyssey

[4] https://www.needlesports.com/Information/Features/Nuts-Museum/Nuts-Story

Bleausard and developer of Cuvier.

In the early 1970s, there were still few regular climbers at Bleau. […] Rather than seeking out other boulders or new areas, they preferred to search for new, inevitably harder or more far-fetched methods on the existing blocs. Thierry Bienvenu achieved some truly exceptional feats in a humorous spirit: for instance, climbing La Défroquée (white 6) one-handed! Try it yourself, and you’ll see. Or the delirious circuit linkups, such as the famous day when Thierry completed the red circuit thirteen and a half times in succession – nearly 600 problems in six hours; another time, he ran the same circuit in 18 minutes, a record that still stood twenty years later. [1, Translation by ChatGPT]

Having seemingly exhausted Cuvier's potential he chipped Le Carnage (7B+), along with Jérôme Jean-Charles:

From red to white circuits, everything seemed so easy that their motivation for those problems was starting to fade. So they set out in search of a major new line that would mark a new step forward. They didn’t have to look long, nor far: right before their eyes, the L'Abattoir boulder revealed a smooth bulge on its right side that quickly imposed itself as the coveted line. However, as it was almost devoid of holds, they had to imagine unusual movements and carve accordingly. A few weeks later, in the winter of 1977, Le Carnage (white 6t) was born. Soon after, other major lines such as Rhume Folle (white 9t) and Angle Incarné (white 4b) followed. [1, Translation by ChatGPT]

References

[1] Godoffe, J. 'Blocs en stock: Le Cuvier', 1993.