Climbers

Climber Name # Ascents Recorded Notes
Alice Thompson 15
Ben Freeman 15

The bouldering half of the strongest twins in the UK.

https://vimeo.com/user2388380

Bob Dearman 15
Bob Hickish 15
Calum Muskett 15
Colin Duffy 15
Dylan Chuat 15
Eduard Marin 15

References

[1] Interview with Desnivel, 2023 https://www.desnivel.com/escalada-roca/escaladores/edu-marin-este-ano-quiero-hacer-9b-y-probar-9b/

Ethan Walker 15
Jesús Muñoz 15
John Welford 15
Julien Nadiras 15
Kim Marschner 15
Mark Pretty 15
Nathaniel Coleman 15

Nathaniel Coleman is an American boulderer with multiple hard boulder ascents and a very impressive competition record. The early years of Nathaniel's career focused mainly on competition climbing, securing multiple boulder world cup podiums in 2015. Nathaniel's focus then switched to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in which he secured the silver medal.

In recent years Nathaniel has developed his rock climbing portfolio significantly. In 2020 he did the first ascent of Grand Illusion 8C+/V16 whilst training for the Olympics. Nathaniel's most notable ascent to date is that of No One Mourns the Wicked. Nathaniel proposed 9A/V17 for this in 2024 with the problem, which adds an 8B/V13 intro into Defying Gravity 8C/V15, taking him 22 sessions.

Owen Whaley 15
Paige Claassen 15
Patxi Usobiaga 15
Ron Kauk 15

References

[1] Interview on The Nugget Climbing Podcast

[2] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/925282624204580

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPRC_DydfSk

Royal Robbins 15

Royal Robbins was an extremely influential climber from the USA in the late 1950s and 1960s. He was part of a generation of climbers who established Yosemite as a world class climbing destination and made first ascents and repeats of many now-famous routes there.

Robbins was also very influential in terms of the climbing style and ethics he espoused. Many of the values he championed, such as minimising reliance on fixed ropes, minimising the use of bolts and climbing from the ground up remain core to what is considered good style in modern big wall climbing. After visiting the UK and using nuts and chockstones for protection Robbins, together with Yvon Chouinard, Robbins became an early proponent of 'clean climbing': the use of chocks over pitons as a means of minimising damage to the rock.

In later life Robbins struggled with arthritis in his hands which made climbing difficult. Because of this Robbins focused his energy on his business ventures and, later, on white water kayaking. He made first descents of several rivers in the US and further abroad.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CU4qXc5J8i7/

[2] https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6849687261751921&set=a.126453404075374

[3] Smart, D. (2023). Royal Robbins: The American Climber. United States: Mountaineers Books.

[4] Ament, P. (1998). Royal Robbins: Spirit of the Age. United States: Stackpole Books.

[5] Robbins, R. (2010). To Be Brave: My Life. United Kingdom: Pink Moment Productions.

[6] Robbins, R. (2010). Fail Falling. United States: Pink Moment Press.

[7] https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ce65n5RTjNYnXYEBJAH1A?

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