Fred Nicole (born 21 May 1970) is a Swiss
rock climber
Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in guidebooks, and ...
known for his
first ascent
In mountaineering and climbing, a first ascent (abbreviated to FA in climbing guidebook, guide books), is the first successful documented climb to the top of a mountain or the top of a particular climbing route. Early 20th-century mountaineers a ...
s of extreme
sport climbing
Sport climbing (or bolted climbing) is a type of free climbing in the sport of rock climbing where the Lead climbing, lead climber clips their climbing rope, rope — via a quickdraw — into pre-drilled in-situ bolt (climbing), bolts for their ...
routes and for pioneering the development of standards and techniques in modern
bouldering
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed on small rock formations or Climbing wall, artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or Climbing harness, harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers ...
in the 1990s and early 2000s; he is considered an important climber in the
history of the sport.
[
]
Climbing career
In 1992, Nicole solved ''La Danse des Balrogs'', in Branson, Switzerland, which is considered the first-ever in bouldering history.[ In 1996, he solved ''Radja'', also in Branson, which is also now considered the first-ever graded boulder in history.][
In 2002, he solved ''Monkey Wedding'' and ''Black Eagle SDS'' in Rocklands, South Africa, which is now considered to be the first-ever graded boulder in history.][ In 2000, Nicole solved '']Dreamtime
The Dreaming, also referred to as Dreamtime, is a term devised by early anthropologists to refer to a religio-cultural worldview attributed to Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology, Australian Aboriginal mythology. It was originally u ...
'' in Cresciano in Switzerland, which at the time was considered the first-ever boulder in history, but its consensus grade was subsequently softened;[ the beauty and challenge of ''Dreamtime'' have maintained its status as an important route in bouldering history.][
Nicole has also made important first ascents in sport climbing. In 1988, he redpointed the second-ever in history with ''Anaïs et le canabis'' in Saint-Loup in Switzerland. In 1993, he redpointed the third-ever in history with ', also in Saint-Loup in Switzerland.]
See also
* John Gill, a pioneer in modern bouldering
*John Sherman
John Sherman (May 10, 1823October 22, 1900) was an American politician from Ohio who served in federal office throughout the Civil War and into the late nineteenth century. A member of the Republican Party, he served in both houses of the U. ...
, a pioneer in modern bouldering
*List of grade milestones in rock climbing
In rock-climbing, a first free ascent (FFA) is the first redpoint (climbing), redpoint, onsight or flash (climbing), flash of a pitch (ascent/descent), single-pitch, multi-pitch climbing, multi-pitch or bouldering, bouldering climbing route that ...
*History of rock climbing
In the history of rock climbing, the three main sub-disciplines – bouldering, Pitch (climbing), single-pitch climbing, and big wall climbing, big wall (and multi-pitch climbing, multi-pitch) climbing – can trace their origins to late 19th-ce ...
References
External links
VIDEO: Nicole adds two test-pieces, ''Terre de Sienne'' and ''El Techo de los Tres B''
''Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or other parts of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders) to small boulders. Climbing is done for locom ...
'' (7 April 2005)
VIDEO: Witness the Fitness, Fred Nicoles Story
''Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or other parts of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders) to small boulders. Climbing is done for locom ...
'' (5 January 2007)
VIDEO: Fred Nicole: Why He Climbs
''Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or other parts of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders) to small boulders. Climbing is done for locom ...
'' (11 April 2013)
Swiss rock climbers
Living people
1970 births
Boulder climbers
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