Fred Rouhling

Rouhling grew up in a rural environment near Angoulême, near renowned limestone cliffs. He began climbing at school and reached grade 8b at 19, when the world's highest climb was 8c. After studying in the south of France, he opened major routes such as UFO (the first 8c in the Calanques) and Les Spécialistes Direct (the first 8c in the Verdon Gorges). He opened several routes with holds carved at the best grade of his time: the first 9a grade in France and the fourth in the world at this level. This route, equipped and carved by Rouhling, marked a turning point in French sport climbing. The grade has been confirmed by repeaters such as Dai Koyamada and Sébastien Bouin, and Salamandre (2007, 9a+): These natural routes (without carved holds) confirm his exceptional level and his ability to open at the highest level. In addition to his exploits on the cliff, Rouhling also excelled in bouldering, repeating several extreme routes in Switzerland and elsewhere, up to grade 8C (V15), such as E la nave va. He has long been among the world's top climbers, ranking third in the combined ranking of the 8a.nu website in 2003.

After family difficulties (his wife's serious illness), he stepped away from high-level competition to devote himself to his family, before occasionally returning to extreme climbing. Today, Fred Rouhling has turned to sculpture, a passion that extends the artistic dimension of his approach to climbing.

Fred Rouhling remains a major figure in French climbing, both admired for his innovations and controversial for his methods, but undeniably a pioneer in the history of the discipline.