Chris Sharma Explained

Chris Sharma
Birth Date:	23 April 1981
Birth Place:	Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Occupation:	Professional rock climber
Height:	6 ft 0 in
Weight:	165 lb
Spouse:	Jimena Alarcón
Updated:	20 June 2022
Show-Medals:	yes

Chris Omprakash Sharma (born 23 April 1981) is an American rock climber who is considered one of the greatest and most influential climbers in the history of the sport. He dominated sport climbing for the decade after his 2001 ascent of Realization/Biographie, the world's first-ever redpoint of a consensus graded route, and ushered in what was called a "technical evolution" in the sport. Sharma carried the mantle of "world's strongest sport climber" from Wolfgang Güllich (who held it for almost a decade from the early 1980s), and passed it to Adam Ondra (who held it from 2012).

In 2008, Sharma redpointed the world's first-ever consensus route with Jumbo Love, and in 2013, became only the second-ever person to climb a route with La Dura Dura. Sharma is also known for free soloing the world's first-ever deep-water solo route, Es Pontàs in 2006. Sharma became one of the most commercially successful climbers in his sport, and was noted for his "King Lines" – iconic routes that inspired him to spend the months and even years needed to climb them – some of which feature in the award-winning 2007 climbing film, King Lines.

Early life

Chris Omprakash Sharma was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, the only child of Gita Jahn and Bob Sharma. His parents were devotees of the yogi Baba Hari Dass, and adopted the surname Sharma when they got married. He went to Mount Madonna, and attended Soquel High School for a year.^[1] Sharma started rock climbing when he was 12 at the Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, and he described himself as "one of the first climbing-gym-generation kids".^[2]

Climbing career

1996–2002 (to Realization)

From the outset, Sharma was considered prodigy in the climbing world.^[3] At age 14, he won the adult 1996 US Open Bouldering Nationals, and a year later aged 15, he freed Boone Speed's project Necessary Evil in the Virgin River Gorge, the hardest sport climb in North America at the time.^[4] The following year, Sharma won silver at the biennial UIAA World Championships at Paris, and gold at the Kranj leg of the UIAA World Cup, both for lead climbing. Still 16, he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for over a year. Aged 18, Sharma moved to Bishop, California, and began a US bouldering revolution with his 1999 film Rampage,^{[5] [6]} and in February 2000, completed the first ascent of The Mandala, a world-famous boulder problem.

On 18 July 2001, aged 19, Sharma completed the extension of the route Biographie in Ceüse in France, and named it Realization; the route was the first consensus in the world, and has since become an important route in the history of sport climbing, with Climbing magazine noting that "technical rock climbing jumped in its evolution". It was the first confirmed increase in grades since Wolfgang Gullich's ascent of Action Directe, a decade earlier.^[7] Sharma's ascent of the route was captured in Josh Lowell's 2002 film, Dosage Volume 1.^[8] Days later, Sharma won the Munich leg of the IFSC World Cup in bouldering, only to be disqualified on testing positive for marijuana.^[9]

2002–2008 (to Jumbo Love)

After Realization, Sharma considered quitting climbing and went on Buddhist pilgrimages. A 2003 trip to Mallorca, Spain to meet Miquel Riera, a pioneer of deep-water soloing, led him to "fall in love with climbing all over again". Sharma largely abandoned competitions, to focus on "King Lines", a term he adopted for iconic routes that motivated him. In 2004, Sharma solved the boulder problem Practice of the Wild, and in 2005 solved the dramatic roof of Witness the Fitness, followed by redpointing Dreamcatcher, regarded as one of North America's most iconic sport climbs. In 2006, he made an early repeat of La Rambla, and in 2006, after 50 attempts, stuck the crux dyno of Es Pontàs in Mallorca, the world's first-ever DWS route. Some of Sharma's climbs from this era are in the iconic and award-winning 2007 climbing film, King Lines.^{[10] [11]}

In 2007, Sharma moved to Lleida, a town near the Spanish Pyrenees, in Catalonia, Spain, and over the next five years, created an unprecedented series of new to sport climbs,^[12] predominantly in Catalonian limestone crags (namely Oliana, Siurana, Santa Linya and Margalef), starting with the classic of Papichulo in May 2008. In September 2008, Sharma made a trip back to the United States and climbed the world's first-ever consensus route when he freed Randy Leavitt's 250feet bolted route, Jumbo Love in Clark Mountain in California.

2008–2013 (to La Dura Dura)

Sharma said that after climbing Jumbo Love, he needed to change his approach. His previous breakthroughs had been on routes established and bolted by other climbers who had given up on them, and now he needed to find his own limit saying: "I wanted to push myself to the next level. Where is that? I had to discover it. That was a big process in itself. So I bolted all these routes [in Spain]. And a lot of them ended up being that next level". The period saw Sharma bolt and free numerous new extreme -graded "King Lines", including (2008), Neanderthal (2009), and First Round First Minute (2011), each a major project in itself and since regarded as important classics, with Sharma saying "That's the thing about being on the cutting edge. You have to invent it".

In 2011, Sharma invited the then 19-year-old climbing prodigy Adam Ondra, to try an Oliana route he had bolted in 2009 called La Dura Dura, which Sharma himself had given up on saying "I never saw myself being able to climb it.", and "I figured it would be for the next generation". For the next year, the two climbers worked the route in a collaborative process that saw Ondra make the first ascent in February 2013, and Sharma make the first repeat in March 2013. National Geographic called their collaboration a defining moment in the sport of rock climbing, when the title of "world's best climber" had begun to pass from one generation to the next.^[13] Both Ondra and Sharma declared the collaboration to be a very positive experience with Sharma saying post his March ascent: "It was a healthy process for both of us, we fed off each other's motivation and through him, I think I became a better climber myself".^[14] Their collaboration was documented in Reel Rock 7 (2012), and La Dura Complete (2013).^{[15] [16]}

Post 2013

At, La Dura Dura would hold the rank of "world's hardest climb" until Ondra climbed Silence at in 2017, and while Sharma would put up several more "King Lines" over the next 5 years, it marked the high-point in terms of his hardest route. In 2015, he freed El Bon Combat, considered at the time to be close to, and in 2016 he soloed Alesha, the world's first DWS route. One of Sharma's unfinished projects was a potential route in Oliana beside La Dura Dura called Le Blond, named in memory of Patrick Edlinger; it remains unfinished.^{[17] [18]} In March 2023, aged 41, Sharma made the first redpoint of Sleeping Lion, a route beside La Rambla in Spain, which he described as the hardest thing he had done in over eight years. After completing the second ascent of the route in January 2024, Alexander Megos proposed that Sleeping Lion be downgraded to .^{[19] [20]} At the same time in 2023, noting that neighboring Golpe de Estado has never had a third ascent, Sharma wondered if it was a really graded route, which would have made it the world's first-ever at that grade.

Legacy

Sharma is widely considered one of the greatest and most important rock climbers in the history of the sport.^[4] Sharma took on the title of "world's strongest sport climber" in 2001 from Wolfgang Gullich (who dominated in the decade from the early 1980s to the early 1990s), and passed it on to Adam Ondra (who dominated after 2012).^[13] In 2003, the LA Times called him the "greatest natural rock climber in the world". In 2007, Melissa Block on NPR's All Things Considered, introduced him saying "Chris Sharma is hailed as the world's best rock climber, a pioneer who has mastered some of the most spectacular and difficult routes in the history of the sport".^[21] In 2016, Outside said "Sharma shaped modern rock climbing. Whatever he thought was cool, we followed. Bouldering. Projecting hard sport routes. Deep water soloing. In 2022, Climbing said: "The pioneering American sport climber is among the best to ever tie in, and was arguably the world's strongest rock climber for almost 20 years".

Sharma is noted for a "humble softly-spoken meditative disposition" (who often leaves it to others to grade his routes)^{[7] [22]} coupled with a "highly aggressive and dynamic" climbing style.^{[23] [24]} In 2016, Climbing said: "Over the past three decades, Sharma has cultivated a mellow Southern California persona, but in reality, he's one of the most competitive, focused, and driven athletes out there". His demeanor has been ascribed to his Buddhist raising; the LA Times called him "the Karma Climber". He has credited Zen meditation techniques with helping him on routes,^[25] or when seeking direction and motivation.^[26] Sharma was also known for eschewing any gym-based training (including fingerboards or cross-training) or dieting,^[27] preferring to climb as his sole method of training.^[28]

Sharma is credited with developing the commercial potential of extreme sport climbing, with Climbing saying "Not only did Sharma have the guns to become the first human to climb 5.15, he had the genius to see the potential, coupled with the commitment to spend months and years of his life proving it", and calling Sharma "arguably the highest-paid pro climber in the world". Outside added, "Before Sharma figured out how to balance elite performance with making a living, "professional climber" was an oxymoron.^[29] Sharma's commercial appeal, and becoming one of the most filmed climbers,^[24] was attributed to his focus on "King Lines", which Sharma described as: "It's not enough to do something hard; it needs to be in an amazing position, a route that asks you to pour your heart and soul into climbing it".^[24]

Personal life

Sharma is the founder of the rock climbing gym Sender One, headquartered in Santa Ana, California, which he opened in 2013 as a business partnership with Walltopia, who was a sponsor of Sharma.^{[21] [29]} In 2015, he opened a second gym, Sharma Climbing BCN, in Barcelona in Spain, and in 2021 he opened a third gym, Sharma Climbing Gava, on the outskirts of Barcelona.

Sharma was in a long-term public relationship with the Spanish professional climber, and they lived together in Oliana.^{[23] [30] [31]} In August 2015, he married Venezuelan model and television personality Jimena Alarcón, and the couple moved from Oliana to Barcelona. Their first child, a daughter named Alana, was born in June 2016,^[32] and their second child, a son, in 2019.^[33]

Zen

Sharma's parents were practising Zen Buddhists (although they did not live in at the Mount Madonna ashram)^[23] and for long periods Sharma has followed Zen routines (including daily 5.45am temple meditation).^{[34] [35]} Sharma has been on various Asian pilgrimages lasting several months, including the Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan that he undertook after climbing Realization in 2001.^[36]

The 2010 book Climbing: Because It's There (Philosophy for Everyone) discussed the impact of Zen Buddhism on Sharma saying: "Sharma's affinity for Buddhism, and Zen in particular, is well documented in film and print. He exemplifies the spirit of Zen, being humble (but potent), ordinary (but extraordinary), self-aware, and most of all, authentic".^[37]

Sharma has however rejected the label of "spiritual climber", saying in 2011: "To be stereotyped like that definitely detracts from me personally. Like I said, I'm totally happy talking about this stuff. I just don’t want to make some image for myself like I’m some sort of saint or something. I get frustrated, and I get bummed out".^[23] Sharma is no longer a practicing Zen Buddhist, and said in 2022: "Climbing is fully engaging… it’s an easy way to access that [meditative] state of mind… easier than sitting down and meditating".^[38]

Notable ascents

Redpointed routes

• La Dura Dura – Oliana (ESP) – 23 March 2013. Sharma developed and bolted the route, and made the first repeat after Adam Ondra's February 2013 first ascent.^{[39] [40]}

• Sleeping Lion – Siurana (ESP) – 28 March 2023. First ascent of a route that Sharma developed and bolted.^[41] In 2024, Alexander Megos proposed that it be downgraded to .

(5.15b/c):

• El Bon Combat – Cova de l'Ocell (ESP) – 7 March 2015. First ascent; described by Sharma as a "King Line",^{[39] [42]} now considered closer to 5.15b, but a classic.^[43]

• Jumbo Love – Clark Mountain (USA) – 11 September 2008. First ascent, and world's first-ever route. Repeated by Ethan Pringle (2015), and Jonathan Siegrist (2018).^{[39] [44]}

• – Siurana (ESP) – 17 December 2008. First ascent, and the first-ever to be repeated when Adam Ondra climbed it in March 2010 (it was Ondra's first-ever 9b).^[45] In 2023, noting that it has never had a 3rd ascent, Sharma wondered if it was a .^[46]

• Neanderthal – Santa Linya (ESP) – 18 December 2009. First ascent. Second ascent by Jakob Schubert (2018), and third, after almost a decade of attempts, by Adam Ondra (2019).^[47]

• First Round First Minute – Margalef (ESP) – 19 April 2011. First ascent. First repeat by Adam Ondra (2014), second by Alex Megos (2016), and third by Stefano Ghisolfi (2017).^{[48] [49]}

• Fight or Flight – Oliana (ESP) – 5 May 2011. First ascent. First repeat by Adam Ondra (2013); the "first 9b" for many others (Jakob Schubert (2015), Sachi Amma (2015), Matty Hong (2018)).^[50]

• Stoking the Fire – Santa Linya (ESP) – 6 February 2013. First ascent. First repeat by Adam Ondra (2016), and like Fight or Flight, a popular 9b route.^[51]

• Realization – Céüse (FRA) – 18 July 2001. First ascent and the world's first-ever consensus route; features in Dosage Volume 1.^{[39] [38] [32]}

• Papichulo – Oliana (ESP) – 31 May 2008. First ascent. First repeat by Adam Ondra (2009), and has since become one of the most repeated and popular 9a+ routes.^[52]

• Demencia Senil – Margalef (ESP) – 20 February 2009. First ascent. First repeated by Iker Pou (2010), and second repeat by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2010).^[53]

• Pachamama – Oliana (ESP) – 29 May 2009. First ascent. First repeated by Sachi Amma (2011), and then by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2015), and Adam Ondra (2017).^[54]

• First Ley – Margalef (ESP) – 28 February 2010. First ascent. Shorter 15m route that avoids the 9b finish of First Round First Minute; popular "first 9a+" with several repeats.^[55]

• Power Inverter – Oliana (ESP) – December, 2010. First Ascent. First repeated by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2014), and then by Sachi Amma (2015).^[56]

• Catxasa – Santa Linya (ESP) – 14 January 2011. First Ascent. First repeated by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2012); numerous repeats.^[57]

• La Rambla – Siurana (ESP) – 1 December 2006. Third ascent (just a day after the second ascent), and made Sharma the first climber to have climbed multiple confirmed routes.^[58]

• Dreamcatcher – Squamish, British Columbia (CDN) – September, 2005. First ascent. Bolted with Sonnie Trotter, since considered one of the most iconic climbs in North America.^{[59] [60] [61]}

• Three Degrees of Separation – Céüse (FRA) – July, 2007. First ascent. Right of Realization and uses 3 large dynos;^[24] the first repeat was by Adam Ondra (2015), who felt it was a 9a+.^{[62] [63]}

• Era Vella – Margalef (ESP) – March, 2010. First ascent. Sharma did it warming up and called a "soft 9a"; it became a popular "first 9a",^[64] but the grade is now considered 8c+/9a.^{[65] [66]}

• Samfaina – Margalef (ESP) – June, 2010. First ascent. Sharma felt it was 9a, but Jorge Diaz-Rullo and Alex Megos suggest 9a+.^[67]

• Necessary Evil – Virgin River Gorge (USA) – 1997. First ascent. Sharma, aged 15, freed Boone Speed's project to create North America's hardest route at the time.^[39]

Onsighted routes

• French Gangster – Yangshuo (CHN) – April, 2009. Hardest route in China at the time (renamed from American Gangster).^[68]

• Humildes Pa' Casa – Oliana (ESP) – December, 2008.^[69]

• Divine Fury – Maple Canyon (USA) – September, 2008.^[70]

• T-Rex – Maple Canyon (USA) – September, 2008.^[70]

• Snuff Movies – Sant Llorenç del Munt (ESP) – May, 2015.^{[71] [72]}

• V for Vendatta – Siurana (ESP) – 1 April 2022. Sharma was about to turn 41, and it was his sixth time onsighting 8c.^{[73] [74]}

Deep-water solo routes

• Es Pontàs – Mallorca (ESP) – 26 September 2006. First ascent, and featured in the film King Lines.^{[75] [76]} World's first-ever DWS at 9a+, and considered one of the most spectacular in the sport.^{[11] [77] [78]} First repeat by Jernej Kruder (2016), then Jan Hojer (2018) and Jakob Schubert (2021).^[79]

• Alasha – Mallorca (ESP) – 16 September 2016. First ascent (named for his daughter Alana). Sharma felt it would be 9a with bolts, but as a DWS route was closer to 9b.^[80] First repeat by Jakob Schubert in 2021 who felt it was a 9a DWS route.^[81]

• Practice of the Wild – Magic Wood, (CHE) – August, 2004. First ascent. First repeat by Tyler Landman, then Daniel Woods; possible .^[82]

• Witness the Fitness – Ozarks (USA) – March, 2005. First ascent of 40feet roof and filmed in Dosage 3. Repeated by Fred Nicole and Daniel Woods, but unclimbable after hold broke.^[83]

• Catalan Witness the Fitness – Cova de l’Ocell (Barcelona, ESP) – January, 2016. First ascent. A tunnel-like, horizontal roof;^{[84] [85]} possible .^[86]

• The Mandala – The Buttermilks (Bishop, USA) – February, 2000. First Ascent of an iconic boulder problem. Several holds have since broken, and it is speculated the original grade was .^[38]

Bibliography

• Why We Climb: The World's Most Inspiring Climbers (Chris Noble), 2017, Falcon Guides. pages 239–261 .

Filmography

• Sharma's 1999 bouldering tour of California: Rampage . B000GD5FNS . Motion picture. 1999. . . 20 June 2022. ^[5]
• Sharma's 2001 ascent of Realization: Dosage Volume I . B000NOK288 . Motion picture. 2001 . . . 17 June 2022.
• Sharma's 2005 ascent of the roof of Witness the Fitness: Dosage Volume III . B00YKPDS96 . Motion picture. 2005 . . . 20 June 2022.
• Sharma's 2005 ascent of Dreamcatcher: Dosage Volume IV . B000JQK8BG . Motion picture. 2005 . . . 19 June 2022.
• Sharma's 2007 ascent of Es Pontas, and Three Degrees: King Lines . B000XW1NV0 . Motion picture. 2007 . . . 17 June 2022. ^[10]
• Ondra and Sharma's 2012 attempts on La Dura Dura: Reel Rock 7 . Motion picture . 2012. . . 28 December 2021. ^[16]
• Ondra and Sharma's 2013 ascents on La Dura Dura: La Dura Complete . Motion picture . 2014. . Lowell, Josh (director) . 29 December 2021.

Competitions

• 1995 Annual IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships (Lead, Youth B for age 14-15), Laval event. Gold Medal.
• 1996 Annual U.S. Open Bouldering Nationals. Gold Medal. Sharma was aged 14 when he won the adult open competition.^[39]
• 1997 Biennial UIAA Climbing World Championships (Lead), Paris event. Silver Medal. Sharma was aged 16.^[87]
• 1997 UIAA World Cup (Lead), Kranj event. Gold Medal. Sharma was aged 16.^[88]
• 1999 Summer X Games, San Francisco (Bouldering). Gold Medal. Sharma was aged 17.^{[39] [34]}
• 2000 Wasatch Open Bouldering Competition.^[89]
• 2001 18th Annual Phoenix Bouldering Contest.
• 2001 IFSC World Cup (Bouldering), Munich event. Gold Medal,^[90] but subsequently disqualified when testing positive for marijuana.^{[34] [9]}

After 2001, Sharma largely abandoned most competition climbing but did take part in various US events:

• 2002 Ford Gorge Games^[35]
• 2003 Earth Treks Roc Comp
• 2004 Earth Treks Roc Comp^[91]
• 2004 American Bouldering Series, third round of the 2003–04 Series (ABS5).^{[39] [92]}
• 2007 Mammut Bouldering Championships
• 2008 Mammut Bouldering Championships^[93]
• 2009 Ilerbloc Open Internacional^[94]
• 2010 Earth Treks Roc Comp^[95]
• 2010 Psicobloc Masters Series, Bilbao, Spain. The world's first DWS competition.^[39]

See also

• List of grade milestones in rock climbing
• History of rock climbing
• Josune Bereziartu, greatest female sport climber of the 1990s and 2000s
• Wolfgang Güllich, greatest sport climber of the 1980s

External links

• Tenaya profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: . Rock Star . Christa . Fraser . 27 September 2000 . 15 June 2022.
2. Web site: . Chris Sharma: A Lifetime of Climbing . 23 August 2018 . 15 June 2022 . Chris . Sharma.
3. Web site: . The Secret Climb of Chris Sharma and Stefan Glowacz . 15 April 2021 . ... has teamed up with Chris Sharma, the California prodigy turned sport-climbing and bouldering visionary.
4. Web site: Exclusive Interview: Chris Sharma Talks 9b+. Jack. Geldard. August 2012. UKClimbing. September 25, 2017 . Chris Sharma, the 31 year old American sport climber, is perhaps the most famous rock climber in the world..
5. . The 20 Best Climbing Films of All Time. Andrew . Bisharat . 6 September 2022 . 18 October 2022 . Number 18. Rampage (1999).
6. Web site: . Rampage: Full Film With Chris Sharma . 2 April 2020 . 20 June 2022.
7. Web site: GearJunkie . Climbing Controversy: Behind the Decades-Long Conflict Roiling the Sport's Elite . 9 March 2022 . 22 June 2022 . Sam . Anderson.
8. 22 December 2021 . . Jonathan Siegrist Sends Biographie (5.15a) AKA Realization. 3 June 2014 .
9. Web site: PlanetMountain . Bouldering World Cup 2001, Munich, the results . 25 July 2011 . 18 June 2022.
10. . The 20 Best Climbing Films of All Time. Andrew . Bisharat . 6 September 2022 . 18 October 2022 . Number 11. King Lines (2007).
11. Web site: Gripped . Watch Chris Sharma's Most Spectacular Climb Es Pontás, Remastered . 25 April 2021 . 18 June 2022.
12. Web site: 8a.nu . Ondra and Sharma totally dominate the 9b stats . Jens . Larssen . 8 September 2013 . 22 June 2022 . Beside Ondra and Sharma, we have not seen any dramatic redpoint progress since 1991!.
13. Adventurers of the Year: Climber Adam Ondra . https://web.archive.org/web/20210723145125/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/adam-ondra . dead . July 23, 2021 . 13 November 2013 . 21 June 2022 . . Fitz . Cahall.
14. Web site: Chris Sharma, the La Dura Dura interview . PlanetMountain.com . 26 March 2013 . 28 December 2021.
15. La Dura Complete: The Full Story Of The Hardest Rock Climb In The World . 26 March 2014 . . 29 December 2021.
16. . The 20 Best Climbing Films of All Time. Andrew . Bisharat . 6 September 2022 . 18 October 2022 . Number 6. Reel Rock 7 (2012).
17. Web site: . Interview: Chris Sharma Talks Le Blond, Training, and 5.15d . 21 March 2017 . 19 June 2022 . Kevin . Corrigan.
18. Web site: ClimberNews . Hardest Climbs In The World: Highest Climbing Grades + Routes . 29 March 2021 . 19 June 2022.
19. Web site: Deuto . Christopher . 2024-01-18 . Alex Megos on the Second Ascent of Chris Sharma’s 'Sleeping Lion' . 2024-07-11 . Climbing . en-US.
20. Web site: Pardy . Aaron . 2024-01-24 . Alex Megos' Second Ascent of Sharma's Sleeping Lion . 2024-07-11 . Gripped Magazine . en-US.
21. News: Rock Climber Chris Sharma Chases Next 'King Line'. NPR. en. 15 June 2022 . Melissa Block . Melissa . Block.
22. Web site: Adventure Sports Journal . King of the Line . Matt . Niswonger . 22 October 2009 . 18 June 2022 . Refusing to grade his projects, Sharma became a force for de-emphasizing numerical grades in order to focus on the intrinsic and personal challenges that climbing presents. Although this more closely allied with his Zen beliefs, it made things difficult for the climbing magazines looking to quantify his projects for an international audience..
23. Book: Achey, Jeff . . November 2018 . 18 June 2022 . 202 . Vantage Point: 50 Years of the Best Climbing Stories Ever Told . 978-1493034772 . Half Life: Chris Sharma Interview (February 2011, Issue 292).
24. Web site: . Chris Sharma: King Of Kings . Fritz . Cahall . 15 June 2012 . 15 June 2022 . Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, or Kelley Slater. They're all people who changed their sports, who redefined what was possible. You’ve been that same kind of incredible force inside your sport..
25. Web site: . Getting Inside the Heads of Chris Sharma, Steph Davis, and Dean Potter . 20 April 2012 . 16 June 2022 . Joe . Spring.
26. Web site: . Why Chris Sharma Never Gets Mad (Well, maybe a little sometimes) . 21 July 2021 . 19 June 2022 .
27. Web site: Training Secrets from the World's Best Rock Climber . Ian . Landu . 29 July 2013 . 15 June 2022 . Outside.
28. Web site: Outside . Gregory . Thomas . 10 October 2016 . Pro Climber Chris Sharma's First-Ever Training Plan . 16 June 2022.
29. Web site: . Chris Sharma Sends the Corporate Ladder . Seth . Heller . 22 January 2018 . 15 June 2022.
30. Web site: LACrux . Daila Ojeda: The love of rock connects climbers. 26 February 2018 . 19 June 2022 .
31. Web site: . ESPN 2013 Body Issue: Chris Sharma & Daila Ojeda . 2013 . 19 June 2022 . AGES: 32 & 32 WHO THEY ARE: Rock climbers. BODY STATS: 6-foot, 161 pounds & 5-foot-2, 110 pounds.
32. Interview: The Future of Sharma . 27 September 2016 . Chris . Noble . 22 December 2021 . . Consider that in 2016 it's possible to be a sponsored climber simply by repeating Sharma routes. No need to discover, bolt, and send new routes of equal or greater difficulty. Sharma shaped modern rock climbing. Whatever he thought was cool, we followed. Bouldering. Projecting hard sport routes. Deep water soloing..
33. Web site: . Chris Sharma: What I've Learned . 13 July 2020 . 15 June 2022 . Alison . Osius . Chris Sharma is one of the greatest sport climbers and boulderers of all time..
34. Web site: . Karma Climber . Janet . Reitman . 19 January 2013 . 15 June 2022 . Those hands and those seemingly unnatural feats have helped make him the greatest natural rock climber in the world..
35. Web site: . Balancing Act . Tim . Struby . 31 December 2002 . 20 June 2022.
36. . Tiff . Hensley . Rock Climber Chris Sharma: Playing with Peace & Chaos . May 2009 . 16 June 2020.
37. Book: Climbing: Because It's There (Philosophy for Everyone) . September 2010 . 126–127 . Chapter 9: Zen and the art of Climbing . 978-1444334869 . . Stephen E. . Schmid . Fritz . Allhoff . 10.1002/9781444327717.ch9.
38. Web site: ClimbingHouse . Chris Sharma: A Climber of Our Time . Carolyn . Golay . 29 May 2022 . 16 June 2022.
39. Web site: . Chris Sharma—One Of The Best And Most Influential Rock Climbers Of All Time . Owen . Clarke . 11 June 2022 . 11 June 2022.
40. Web site: Perfect Play: What It Took to Climb la Dura Dura (5.15c) – the World's Hardest Route . 27 November 2013 . Andrew . Bishart . 16 June 2022 . Rock & Ice.
41. Web site: . Exclusive Interview: Chris Sharma Makes 5.15c FA in Siurana . Delaney . Miller . 30 March 2023 . 18 April 2023.
42. Web site: PlanetMountain . Chris Sharma interview after new 9b/+ climb at Cova de Ocell in Spain . 9 March 2015 . 16 June 2022.
43. Web site: . Watch Jorge Díaz-Rullo on "El Bon Combat" . Stephen . Potter . 27 May 2022 . 16 June 2022.
44. Web site: . Interview: Jonathan Siegrist Goes Big with Third Ascent of Jumbo Love (5.15b) . Michael . Levy . 17 May 2018 . 16 June 2022.
45. Web site: PlanetMountain . Adam Ondra climbs Golpe de estado at Siurana . 22 March 2010 . 16 June 2022.
46. Web site: UKClimbing . Nathaniel . Spoon . 27 February 2023 . 15 July 2023 . The Next 9c in the World will be….
47. Web site: . Ondra Puts "Neanderthal" (5.15b) to Rest . 12 February 2019 . 16 June 2022.
48. Web site: . Stefano Ghisolfi Sends Sharma's First Round, First Minute (5.15b). February 2017 . 16 June 2022 .
49. Web site: PlanetMountain . Jorge Díaz-Rullo repeats First Round First Minute 9b at Margalef. 1 April 2021 . 16 June 2022 .
50. Web site: PlanetMountain . Piotr Schab fires Fight or Flight 9b at Oliana. 2 May 2019 . 16 June 2022 .
51. Web site: Gripped . Stefano Ghisolfi Sends Stoking the Fire 5.15b . 30 December 2019 . 16 June 2022.
52. Web site: . Sharma Climbs 5.15, Heads to Vail World Cup . 3 June 2008 . Dougald . McDonald . 16 June 2022.
53. Web site: UKClimbing . Demencia senil, 9a+, by Ramonet . Bjorn . Pohl . 13 October 2010 . 16 June 2022.
54. Web site: Gripped . Adam Ondra Sends Pachamama 5.15 in Spain . 4 February 2017 . 16 June 2022.
55. Web site: Buster Martin Climbs 9a+ First Ley . Climbernews . 27 November 2019 . 16 June 2022 .
56. Web site: UKClimbing . Power Inverter, 9a+, by Sachi Amma . Bjorn . Pohl . 17 February 2015 . 16 June 2022.
57. Web site: PlanetMountain . Jakub Konečný climbs Sharma's Catxasa at Santa Linya, his first 9a+ . 5 January 2019 . 16 June 2022.
58. Web site: . Sharma Repeats La Rambla . Dougald . McDonald . 4 December 2006 . 16 June 2022 . Sharma is now the only climber in the world to have climbed multiple routes confirmed at 5.15a, beginning with his landmark send of Realization (5.15a) at Ceüse, France, in 2001..
59. Web site: . Sharma Route Dreamcatcher (5.14d) Sees Third Ascent . 18 October 2012 . 19 June 2022 . Alex . Baile.
60. Web site: PlanetMountain . Paige Claassen seizes Dreamcatcher 9a in Squamish . 6 September 2021 . 19 June 2022 . Ever since Dreamcatcher was first ascended in 2005 by Chris Sharma on the Cacodemon boulder at The Chief above Squamish in Canada, this diagonal rail of holds has rapidly evolved into one of the most iconic sport climbs in North America.
61. Web site: PlanetMountain . Alexander Megos dashes up Dreamcatcher at Squamish in Canada . 30 August 2016 . 19 June 2022.
62. Web site: . Adam Ondra Claims Second Ascent of Sharma's Three Degrees of Separation (5.14d), Céüse . 23 July 2015 . 17 June 2022. Three dynos and 80 feet of 5.14d climbing later, Adam Ondra clipped the chains on Three Degrees of Separation for its first repeat, eight years after Chris Sharma established the line. As the second person to climb the route, Ondra suggested a harder grade..
63. Web site: PlanetMountain . Lucien Martinez masters Three Degrees of Separation at Céüse . 5 April 2019 . 17 June 2022.
64. Web site: . 15-Year-Old Redpoints Era Vella (5.14d) . Amanda . Fox . 6 August 2012 . 19 June 2022.
65. Web site: 8a.nu . Era Vella should officially be called 8c+ . Jens . Larrsen . 20 April 2018 . 28 June 2022.
66. Web site: Gripped . The Era Vella Downgrade Debate . 23 April 2015 . 19 June 2022.
67. Web site: Gripped . Alex Megos Sends a 5.15a as Chris Sharma Weighs In . 13 May 2022 . 19 June 2022.
68. Web site: UKClimbing . 10 April 2009 . 17 June 2022 . Jack . Geldhard . Chris Sharma: Wow in Yangshuo - F8c Onsight.
69. Web site: Catalunya Report - December 8th, 8c Onsight + more. UKClimbing. Pete. O'Donovan. 17 June 2012 . 9 December 2008.
70. Web site: Sharma Onsights Two 5.14's . . Dougald . MacDonald . 30 September 2008 . 17 June 2022.
71. Web site: . Chris Sharma onsight climbs 'Snuff movies' 8c in Sant Llorenç del Munt . 8 May 2015 . 17 June 2022. es . es.
72. Web site: Gripped . Chris Sharma Onsights 5.14b in Spain . 7 May 2015 . 17 June 2022.
73. Web site: GearJunkie . The Man's Still Got It: Chris Sharma Onsights 5.14b . Jilli . Cluff . 8 April 2022 . 17 June 2022.
74. Web site: Gripped . One of the World's First 5.15 Climbers Just Onsighted 5.14b. 6 April 2022 . 17 June 2022 .
75. Web site: . A History of Mallorca Deep Water Soloing. 8 March 2011 . 21 December 2021 .
76. Web site: PlanetMountain . Chris Sharma's Mallorca Es Pontas remastered . 23 April 2021 . 17 June 2022.
77. Web site: . Jernej Kruder Repeats Sharma's "King Line" Es Pontas . Hayden . Carpenter . 1 November 2016 . 17 June 2022.
78. Web site: LACrux . Es Pontas - Most spectacular deep water soloing route . 20 June 2021 . 17 June 2022.
79. Web site: Gripped . Jan Hojer Repeats Es Pontas, 5.15b Deep Water Solo . 8 October 2018 . 17 June 2022.
80. Web site: . Chris Sharma Sends Five-Year 5.15 Deep Water Solo Project . 29 September 2016 . 16 June 2022 . Michael . Levy.
81. Web site: Jakob Schubert makes first repeat of Alasha, Chris Sharma's extreme Mallorca DWS . PlanetMountain . 15 October 2021 . 16 June 2022.
82. Web site: LACrux . Practice of the Wild was 8C in 2004 but grades change . 5 October 2018 . Editorial . 17 June 2022.
83. Web site: Gripped . Throwback Thursday: Chris Sharma's Witness the Fitness V15 . 25 October 2018 . 17 June 2022.
84. Web site: PlanetMountain . Chris Sharma boulders hard at Cova de Ocell. 5 January 2016 . 17 June 2022 .
85. Web site: Sharma Sends Wild Roof Boulder. 4 January 2016. . 17 June 2022.
86. Web site: Gripped . Dave MacLeod Ticks Catalan Witness the Fitness . 14 February 2018 . 17 June 2022.
87. Web site: PlanetMountain . Climbing World Champions 1991 - 2009 . 8 March 2011 . 18 June 2022 . 1997 Paris (France) 1. François Petit FRA, 2. Chris Sharma USA, 3. François Legrand FRA.
88. Web site: THE HISTORY OF WORLD CUP COMPETITIONS IN KRANJ . 17 June 2022 . January 2022 . IFSClimbingWorldCup . 1997 - Liv Sansoz (FRA) and Chris Sharma (USA).
89. Web site: climb.mountainzone.com . climb.mountainzone.com . 2000-02-07 . 2012-01-30.
90. http://www.saclimb.co.za/oldcompnews.html Sacin - Competition News
91. Web site: Earth Trek Comp Presented by Mountain Hardwear . 2010-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100406055527/http://www.deadpointmag.com/articles/view/earth-treks-roc-comp-presented-mountain-hardwear . 2010-04-06 . dead .
92. Web site: Climbing Sharma, Payne Win ABS National . . Dougald . MacDonald . 17 June 2022 . 16 April 2004.
93. http://www.climbing.com/news/hotflashes/sharma_puccio_win_slc_comp_2008/ Climbing - Sharma, Puccio Win SLC Comp
94. Web site: Victor . Fernandez . Iler Bloc: Clasificacion Final Open Internacional . Ilerbloc.blogspot.com . 2004-02-26 . 2012-01-30.
95. Web site: 2010 UBC Pro Tour Earth Treks Roc Comp Results | Climbing Narcissist . Climbingnarc.com . 2010-04-26 . 2012-01-30.