Seb Bouin on Akira, Grading DNA and French Climbing History

Plug Tone OutdoorsWritten in Stone
Written By Emily Holland

Seb Bouin is one of only three climbers who have climbed 5.15d (9c). Following in the footsteps of leading French climbers, he established his testpiece, DNA, in 2023 in the Verdon Gorge.

It may not be a coincidence that this came shortly after his Vintage Rock Tour, in which he climbed all of the firsts in France from 7c+ to 9a+, including the first three 9as from Fred Rouhling, Hugh,  L’autre Côté du Ciel and the most famous and most controversial of the trio, Akira. 

In this episode, Seb and Kris discuss collaboration versus competition, taking grades personally, DNA, and where Akira and Fred Rouhling fit into French climbing history.

VIDEOS:

Seb Bouin’s Vintage Rock Tour

Uncut footage of Seb doing Akira

Fred Rouhling Interview about Akira

Emily Holland https://emilyholland.co
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Fred Rouhling, Akira and the Biggest Climbing Controversy of the 1990s