Chris Sharma frees his Sleeping Lion (9b+) at Siurana in Spain
On 28 March 2023 Chris Sharma completed the first ascent of Sleeping Lion at Siurana in Spain. Graded 9b+, this is the 41-year-old's most difficult first ascent to date and one of the hardest sport climbs in the world.
American rock climber Chris Sharma has made the first ascent of Sleeping Lion at Siurana in Spain. The stunning 40m route follows a completely independent line in the El Pati sector, close therefore to highend classics such as La Rambla and La Reina Mora, and in keeping with almost all of his hard climbs, was bolted by Sharma himself.
The 41-year-old worked the route extensively last spring and autumn but success on what he described as "one of the best routes I’ve ever put up" eluded him until Tuesday. With its grade of 9b+ Sleeping Lion is now the hardest sport climb at this classic crag, half a grade harder than Golpe de Estado which Sharma freed in 2008 and which, to date, has only been repeated by Adam Ondra.
If the grade is confirmed then Sleeping Lion will settle in as Sharma's hardest first ascent ever and one of only a handful of climbs graded 9b+. It follows in the wake of his 9b's Jumbo Love at Clark Mountain (2008), Golpe de Estado at Siurana (2008), Neanderthal at Santa Linya (2009), First Round first Minute at Margalef (2011), Fight or Flight at Oliana (2011), Stoking the Fire at Santa Linya (2013) and El Bon Combat at Cova de Ocell (2015). Furthermore, in March 2013 Sharma made the first repeat of La Dura Dura at Oliana, freed a month earlier by Ondra and, at the time, only the second 9b+ in the world.
Link: Chris Sharma Instagram, Petzl
Share
NEWS / Related news:
Chris Sharma’s Mallorca Es Pontas remastered
Remastered footage of Chris Sharma making the first ascent of his deep water solo masterpiece Es Pontas off the island of Mallorca.
Chris Sharma climbing Big Fish, his difficult Mallorca Deep Water Solo
The uncut footage of American climber Chris Sharma climbing high above the waves of Mallorca in Spain as he makes the first ascent of his Deep Water Solo Big Fish (8c+/9a, 20m)
Chris Sharma Psicobloc climbing at Mont-Rebei in Spain
The video of Chris Sharma deep water solo climbing at Mont Rebei in Spain.
Chris Sharma catches his Big Fish, spectacular and difficult new Deep Water Solo at Mallorca
At Mallorca in Spain American rock climber Chris Sharma has made the first ascent of Big Fish, an extremely high Deep Water Solo (DWS) climb rated 8c+/9a.
Chris Sharma climbs huge Pont d’Arc Deep Water Solo
American rock climber Chris Sharma has made the first ascent of a circa 30m high deep water solo climb on Pont d’Arc, Ardèche, France.
Chris Sharma repeats Joe Mama 9a+ at Oliana
The video of American climber Chris Sharma repeating Joe Mama, a 9a+ sports climb freed by Klemen Bečan at Oliana in Spain.
Chris Sharma climbs hard new DWS at Mallorca
American climber Chris Sharma has made the first ascent of Alasha, a difficult new deep water solo climb on the island of Mallorca.
Chris Sharma multi-pitch project at Mont-Rebei in Spain
The video documenting the attempts of Chris Sharma & Klemen Bečan to free a 250m multi-pitch sports climb the American established at Congost de Mont-Rebei in Spain.
Chris Sharma boulders hard at Cova de Ocell
At Cova de Ocell close to Barcelona in Spain Chris Sharma has freed a difficult boulder problem he has described as the "Catalan Witness the Fitness."
Chris Sharma onsights 8c at Sant Llorenç de Munt in Spain
In the Natural Park Sant Llorenç de Munt in Catalonia, Spain, Chris Sharma has onsighted the 8c sports climb Snuff Movies.
Chris Sharma interview after new 9b/+ climb at Cova de Ocell in Spain
Interview with American climber Chris Sharma after his first ascent of El Bon Combat 9b/+ at Cova de Ocell in Spain
Chris Sharma, the La Dura Dura interview
Interview with American climber Chris Sharma after his repeat of La Dura Dura 9b+ at Oliana, Spain.
Chris Sharma repeats La Dura Dura at Oliana
American climber Chris Sharma has made the first repeat of La Dura Dura 9b+ at Oliana, Spain.
Chris Sharma frees a new 9b at Santa Linya
American climber Chris Sharma has freed Stoking the Fire 9b at Santa Linya in Spain.
Chris Sharma, new 9b at Oliana
On the same day American climber Chris Sharma added another 9b to Oliana close to Lleida in Spain, Fight or flight, and climbed the 9a+ direct start Chaxi.
Chris Sharma, the Margalef minutes
Interview with American climber Chris Sharma after his successful first ascent of First Round, First Minute at Margalef, Spain.
Santa Linya, Chris Sharma frees Neanderthal 9b
On 18/12/2009 Chris Sharma made the first ascent of Neanderthal 9b at Santa Linya, Spain.
Chris Sharma frees Golpe De Estado at Siurana
Chris Shama has made the first ascent of Golpe De Estado at Siurana, Spain.
Chris Sharma frees Jumbo Love 9b at Clark Mountain
On 11 September Chris Sharma made the first ascent of Jumbo Love 9b at Clark Mountain, California, describing it as his hardest climb ever.
Chris Sharma climbs new Ceuse testspiece Three degrees of separation
On 15/07/2007 Chris Sharma made the first ascent of 'Three degrees of separation', a possible 9a at the Biografie sector in Ceuse, France.
Chris Sharma makes waves in Mallorca with Es Pontas
Chris Sharma has freed his Deep Water Soloing project in Mallorca, calling it Es Pontas and comparing it to his Realization at Ceuse.
Chris Sharma, the energy of Biographie at Ceuse
Three years of trying, walking up to the crag, putting on climbing shoes, lighting incense, chalking up and setting off for the next attempt. Chris Sharma has now realised his dream called Biographie - Realization.
Chris Sharma climbs Biographie at Ceuse!
American Chris Sharma links the first and second section of Biographie at Ceuse in France, widely considered one of the hardest projects in the world, calling it Realization.
