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Chris Sharma

Sharma in 2008

Personal information

Born

April 23, 1981 (age 43)
Santa Cruz, California, U.S.

Occupation

Professional rock climber

Height

6 ft 0 in

Weight

165 lb

Spouse(s)

Jimena Alarcón

Climbing career

Type of climber

Sport climbing
Bouldering
Deep water solo
Competition climbing

Highest grade

Redpoint: 5.15c (9b+)
On-sight: 5.14b (8c)
Bouldering: V15 (8C)

Known for

First to climb consensus sport 9a+ (5.15a), 9b (5.15b), and second to climb 9b+ (5.15c)
First to climb DWS grades at 9a+ (5.15a)

First ascents

The Mandala (V12, 2000)
Realization (5.15a, 2001)
Es Pontàs (5.15a, 2006)
Jumbo Love (5.15b 2008)

Medal record

Men's competition climbing

Representing United States
World Youth Championships
Gold	1995	Lead
World Championships
Silver	1997	Lead

Updated on 20 June, 2022.

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 9a+ (5.15a) 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 9b (5.15b) route with Jumbo Love, and in 2013, became only the second-ever person to climb a 9b+ (5.15c) route with La Dura Dura. Sharma is also known for free soloing the world's first-ever 9a+ (5.15a) 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
Climbing career
Legacy
Personal life
- Zen
Notable ascents
Competitions
See also

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. 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".

Climbing career

1996–2002 (to Realization)

From the outset, Sharma was considered prodigy in the climbing world. 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 5.14c (8c+) in the Virgin River Gorge, the hardest sport climb in North America at the time. 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, 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 8c+ (5.14c) route Biographie in Ceüse in France, and named it Realization; the route was the first consensus 9a+ (5.15a) 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 9a (5.14d), a decade earlier. Sharma's ascent of the route was captured in Josh Lowell's 2002 film, Dosage Volume 1. Days later, Sharma won the Munich leg of the IFSC World Cup in bouldering, but was disqualified.

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 V15 (8C), and in 2005 solved the dramatic roof of Witness the Fitness V15 (8C), followed by redpointing Dreamcatcher 9a (5.14d), regarded as one of North America's most iconic sport climbs. In 2006, he made an early repeat of La Rambla 9a+ (5.15a), and in 2006, after 50 attempts, stuck the crux dyno of Es Pontàs in Mallorca, the world's first-ever 5.15a (9a+) DWS route. Some of Sharma's climbs from this era are in the iconic and award-winning 2007 climbing film, King Lines.

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 9a+ (5.15a) to 9b (5.15b) sport climbs, predominantly in Catalonian limestone crags (namely Oliana, Siurana, Santa Linya and Margalef), starting with the 9a+ (5.15a) 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 5.15b (9b) route when he freed Randy Leavitt's 250-foot (76 m) 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 9b (5.15b)-graded "King Lines", including Golpe de Estado [fr] (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. 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". Their collaboration was documented in Reel Rock 7 (2012), and La Dura Complete (2013).

Post 2013

At 9b+ (5.15c), La Dura Dura would hold the rank of "world's hardest climb" until Ondra climbed Silence at 9c (5.15d) 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 9b+ (5.15c), and in 2016 he soloed Alesha, the world's first 9b (5.15b) DWS route. One of Sharma's unfinished projects was a potential 9c (5.15d) route in Oliana beside La Dura Dura called Le Blond, named in memory of Patrick Edlinger; it remains unfinished. In March 2023, aged 41, Sharma made the first redpoint of Sleeping Lion, a 9b+ (5.15c) route beside La Rambla in Spain, which he described as the hardest thing he had done in over eight years. 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 9b+ (5.15c) 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. 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). 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". 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) coupled with a "highly aggressive and dynamic" climbing style. 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, or when seeking direction and motivation. Sharma was also known for eschewing any gym-based training (including fingerboards or cross-training) or dieting, preferring to climb as his sole method of training.

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. Sharma's commercial appeal, and becoming one of the most filmed climbers, 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".

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. 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 Daila Ojeda [fr], and they lived together in Oliana. 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, and their second child, a son, in 2019.

Zen

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

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".

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". 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".

Notable ascents

Redpointed routes

9b+ (5.15c):

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.

Sleeping Lion – Siurana (ESP) – 28 March, 2023. First ascent of a route that Sharma developed and bolted.

9b/+ (5.15b/c):

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

9b (5.15b):

Jumbo Love – Clark Mountain (USA) – 11 September, 2008. First ascent, and world's first-ever 9b (5.15b) route. Repeated by Ethan Pringle (2015), and Jonathan Siegrist (2018).
Golpe de Estado [fr] – Siurana (ESP) – 17 December, 2008. First ascent, and the first-ever 9b (5.15b) to be repeated when Adam Ondra climbed it in March 2010 (it was Ondra's first-ever 9b). In 2023, noting that it has never had a 3rd ascent, Sharma wondered if it was a 9b+ (5.15c).
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).
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).
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)).
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.

9a+ (5.15a):

Realization – Céüse (FRA) – 18 July, 2001. First ascent and the world's first-ever consensus 9a+ (5.15a) route; features in Dosage Volume 1.
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.
Demencia Senil – Margalef (ESP) – 20 February, 2009. First ascent. First repeated by Iker Pou (2010), and second repeat by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2010).
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).
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.
Power Inverter – Oliana (ESP) – December, 2010. First Ascent. First repeated by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2014), and then by Sachi Amma (2015).
Catxasa – Santa Linya (ESP) – 14 January, 2011. First Ascent. First repeated by Ramón Julián Puigblanqué (2012); numerous repeats.
La Rambla – Siurana (ESP) – 1 December, 2006. Third ascent (just a day after the second ascent), and made Scharma the first climber to have climbed multiple confirmed 5.15a (9a+) routes.

9a (5.14d):

Dreamcatcher – Squamish, British Columbia (CDN) – September, 2005. First ascent. Bolted with Sonnie Trotter, since considered one of the most iconic climbs in North America.
Three Degrees of Separation – Céüse (FRA) – July, 2007. First ascent. Right of Realization and uses 3 large dynos; the first repeat was by Adam Ondra (2015), who felt it was a 9a+.
Era Vella – Margalef (ESP) – March, 2010. First ascent. Sharma did it warming up and called a "soft 9a"; it became a popular "first 9a", but the grade is now considered 8c+/9a.
Samfaina – Margalef (ESP) – June, 2010. First ascent. Sharma felt it was 9a, but Jorge Diaz-Rullo and Alex Megos suggest 9a+.

8c+ (5.14c):

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.

Onsighted routes

8c (5.14b):

French Gangster – Yangshuo (CHN) – April, 2009. Hardest route in China at the time (renamed from American Gangster).
Humildes Pa' Casa – Oliana (ESP) – December, 2008.
Divine Fury – Maple Canyon (USA) – September, 2008.
T-Rex – Maple Canyon (USA) – September, 2008.
V for Vendatta – Siurana (ESP) – 1 April, 2022. Sharma was about to turn 41, and it was his sixth time onsighting 8c.

Deep-water solo routes

Es Pontàs, Mallorca. Sharma's route climbs the roof of the sea arch finishing at its apex.