1. Chris Sharma 31% – Daila Ojeda 26%
2. Dave Graham 11% – Lynn Hill 14%
3. Dani Andrada 9% – Maja Vidmar 13%
4. Alexander Huber 7% – Sasha Digiulian 10%
5. Tommy Caldwell 7 % – Johanna Ernst 9%
6. Yuji Hirayama 6% – Nina Caprez 7%
7. Adam Ondra 6% – Alizee Dufraisse 6%
8. Steve McClure 5% – Charlotte Durif 5%
0. Others 18 % – 10 % (From the start, 14 names have been presented in each category.)
It was another beautiful year here at prAna and we are both pleased and surprised at the blog posts that YOU viewed more than any others! Enjoy (re) reading these as we prepare to usher in 2011. ~Namaste
These 39 inspiring and simple daily tips on how each of us can make our lives and that of those around us better was far and away our most read post… for good reason. We have all grown a little from the invigorating thoughts and our thanks go out to Linda’s Yoga Journey.
An amazing photograph, story and personal philosophy from one of the most well known outdoor athletes. The unaltered images have been posted across the web and continue to amaze people. For more on Dean click HERE.
Yoga is widely known for being a gentle, but effective workout tool. Yoga can also help ease everyday aches and pains to keep you from visiting the doctor numerous times a year. Like they say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
We noticed the post on Dean’s freesolo at Taft Point (#2 above) had a lot of readers concerned and a few skeptical. We asked Dean to share with us a little about his training on the line, and dug up a video clip from a feature on Dean in the New York Times. This is what Dean had to say in his own words… For more on Dean click HERE.
Obviously, a multitude of yoga books with plenty of valuable things to say exist beyond this list. But the following 50 have stood out based on their reviews and popularity, providing readers of all interests and experience levels with all the information they need on the different methods and how they can shape a person’s mental, physical and spiritual facets for the better. Most mentioned book that was omitted from the list by readers is the Bhagavad-Gita.
Paul Robinson had his eye on a line called ‘Rasta Man Sit Start’ which is on the Granpa Peabody Boulder in Bishop, California. It’s a very steep and fingery climb that had never seen an ascent. Paul spent a week in Bishop working on the ultra progressive problem and felt very strong. Chris Sharma came out to see what it was all about – after talking with Paul and trying a few moves, he confirmed that it could be one of the hardest boulder problems in the U.S. For more on Paul click HERE.
The future of climbing lay on the finger tips of today’s youth. The next Chris Sharma and Alex Johnson’s are out there among us and already cranking double digit boulder problems. I spent a day out shooting photos with members of TEAM ABC this month in the bouldering mecca of Hueco Tanks State Park in El Paso, Texas.
How far would you go to live closer to the earth? Would you go all the way to Idaho? And would you actually goinside the earth? That’s what Dugout Dick decided to do some 60 years ago—until his passing this year. Dugout Dick is quite possibly the most simple, self-sufficient homeowner in the United States. Also known as Dick Zimmerman, Dick built his home—a cave—inside of a rocky hillside overlooking the Salmon River near Elk Bend, Idaho.
Burning Man is the best adult playground ever devised, a vast testing ground for one’s resourcefulness, imagination, and sense of adventure, managing to amuse 50,000 or so tech-addled, sleep-deprived, uncomfortable Moderns for up to a week or longer, while keeping them active, eating less, constantly testing their limits, morals, and comfort zones, and providing them with a social arrangement of managed freedom within limits acceptable to the paying participant. It’s even more fun than college.
Whether you are a beginner or a world-class athlete, they have a climb for you. Stone Summit has walls extending 25 feet to 60 feet high to challenge both your strength and mind, a bouldering room that will not bore even the most fanatical gym rats, a yoga studio to strengthen your body and release your mind of the sometimes stressful world, and spin classes that will get you fit for the next hard climb or for bathing-suit weather. In addition to climbing, yoga, and spin, Stone Summit also has a fitness center so whether you want a good cardio exercise or to be the next Arnold, they have all the top-of-the-line equipment to get you there.
Breath, life, vitality of the spirit.
These qualities infuse not only our name, but also our aspirations, the things we make and how we make them.
Welcome to mindfully designed, built to last products – born from the experience.
The last day Chris sent “Power inverter” 9a+ FA, one of his really hard projects bolted in the espectacular wall in Oliana. Also Dani Andrada sent at the same time “Duele la realidad” 9a bolted by himself too.. it was fun watching them cheer eachother on while they climbed.. it was motivating for everybody in the cliff.. thanks guys and good job!!
~Daila
More from Climbing Narc HERE and Dani Andrada HERE
Since Chris Sharma began climbing at the age of 12, he has been shown a wealth of support from friends and sponsors in the climbing community. In the midst of his success as a professional climber, he realized that he wanted to turn his energy toward helping others. In the summer of 1998, he began volunteering at Yo! Basecamp Rock Climbing Camp, a summer camp founded by his close friends, Andy and Lisa Puhvel. Wanting to expand his generosity even further, Chris started the Sharmafund to send financially underprivileged kids to Yo! Basecamp.
The Sharmafund is dedicated to:
- Reaching out to financially underprivileged youth who wish to enrich their lives through rock climbing.
- Teaching them to push themselves, believe in themselves, and realize their strengths and limitless abilities.
- Inspiring them to connect with nature and realize the importance of preserving our wild lands.
- Bringing businesses in the outdoor industry together to make this type of outdoor experience available to young people who do not have the means
Since its inception in 1998, the Sharmafund has focused on two types of programs.
The first program provides scholarships for young, low-income indoor climbers to attend a week-long Yo! Basecamp Rock Climbing Camp. These scholarships are inspired by Chris’ own experience as a 12-year-old gym climber, whose climbing gym community in Santa Cruz, California, helped finance his participation in national climbing competitions, and also took him on numerous outdoor climbing trips.
Recipients of these scholarships must go through a rigorous application process, which includes writing four personal essays, obtaining two letters of recommendation, and showing proof of financial need in the form of tax returns. The kids who receive these scholarships are positive and hard-working. Without the aid of the Sharmafund, they would not be able to afford Yo! Basecamp’s extremely educational, transformative outdoor climbing experience.
The second program has been structured to touch as many disadvantaged children’s lives as possible. During the fall, winter and spring months, the Sharmafund provides funding for one- and two-day outdoor climbing trips, led by Yo! Basecamp, in amazing natural areas such as the desert mountain landscapes of the Eastern Sierra and the forests of Castle Rock State Park. Participants are mostly inner city kids who have generally not spent time outside an urban environment. Past participants include:
- Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (a San Francisco-based non-profit)
- STARS Program for Adjudicated Youth (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
- Mission Hill Junior High School (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
- Delta Charter School (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
- Girl Scouts of America (throughout California)
- Jill Kinmont Boothe School (Bishop, Calif.)
- Elm-Pine Street School (Bishop, Calif.)
If you are involved with an organization that works with underprivileged kids, please contact us to to find out more about getting involved with this program.
With an estimated five-thousand people in attendance, Chris Sharma led a talented group of climbers in a one of a kind Deep Water Soloing competition sponsored by BBK (Banco Bilbao Kutxa). The beautiful city of Bilbao, in northern Spain, was the setting for this spectators delight. The Nervión and Ibaizabal rivers meet to form the Bilbao Estuary where a 50′ high wall, built by Top 30, awaited the competitors.
With more than 4000 spectators lining the river, it entertained more people that any climbing competition in history. Chris Sharma wowed the crowd as usual, sticking the imposing double-dyno at the beginning of the roof and topping out twice. The nearest competitor stuck the double dyno and fell at the lip. Only three of the approximate 15 competitors made it past the dyno. ~Boone Speed
We immediately reached out to Chris who could barely contain his excitement at the DWS format…
It was such an awesome event , unbelievable actually. For years I’ve been dreaming about doing a competition like this, so for me and my good friend Miguel Riera (the godfather of Mallorcan Deep water soloing) it was a dream come true. The first time I went deep water soloing in Mallorca 7 years ago, I knew it was something special. This style of climbing high over the water, with no rope, changed my perception of what was possible in climbing. It is without doubt for me the purest form of climbing, as well being very spectacular.
To do a deep water soloing competition was a no brainer from the start. The high adrenaline and big falls make it a super spectacular spectator sport, more so than any other climbing competition format.
It was just a matter of time for all the stars to align and make an event like this happen. It was a great honor to participate in the event held last weekend over the river in downtown Bilbao in the Basque country of northeastern Spain. It couldn’t have been a better turnout. The wall was 50 ft tall and the route was a dynamic 5.14a that thrilled the thousands of spectators with crazy falls and tons of sports action. It was great proof that climbing Can be an amazing spectator sport.
Looking back on the years when climbing was in the X Games but just couldn’t translate to the mainstream audience because if its slow subtle nature, this new form of competition will surely blow the minds of any non climber and I believe will be a key element in climbing becoming a more mainstream sport.
Congratulations to Chris and all all the other competitors including Toni Lamprecht as we look forward to seeing innovative climbing events like this help bring climbing to the masses! Enjoy the videos…
15 year old prAna climber, Enzo Oddo is on his first visit to U.S. soil from France. He went directly to Smith Rock near Bend, Oregon to get on J. B. Tribout’s legendary climb ‘Just do it’. Even in 86 degree temps, Enzo sent the route on Friday after just 2 days ! No wonder Chris Sharma calls him the next Chris Sharma. Welcome to the U.S. Enzo and we’ll see you up at Smith soon!
What happens when one of the worlds greatest climbers dives head first into yoga, music and nature at Wanderlust…
Chris Sharma is widely considered the best climber in the world and has been part of the prAna family for the vast majority of his career. Chris’s meteoric climbing career started when he won the Bouldering Nationals at age 14 and opened the hardest climb in America (at the time, 5.14c) a year later. In the decade that followed, he has continued to take climbing to a new level. Not only has he consistently shattered previous conceptions of difficulty, he was recently voted 8a Climber of the Decade. He has sent multiple 5.15 routes, bouldered V15, onsighted 5.14b, and established deep water solo routes at the highest grades. Chris holds claim to the current hardest route in America, and perhaps the world, with his ascent of Jumbo Love at Clark Mountain in California.
Professional climbing returns to New England for the first time since 2007! The UBC at The Nor’easter in Lincoln, N.H. will feature two rounds of competition open to anyone willing to test themselves against the best in the world and psyched for a chance at the $10,000USD cash purse. Join us at Loon Mtn. for Sunrise Yoga and Chris Sharma as he signs autographs at the prAna booth!
Registration is LIVE and your entry fee gets each athlete one accompanying entry to the venue and $22.50 off tickets to the Main Stage. The schedule for the UBC Pro Tour finale is:
Friday September 24th Iso opens at noon, Pro Qualifiers from 2pm-6pm. 5 problems per gender, “American pro” format (5m on, 5m off). Please arrive at Loon at least 1.5hrs prior to your scheduled start time.REGISTER NOW to get the start time you want.
Saturday September 25th, Iso opens at 1pm, Pro Finals and the LIVE BROADCAST are from 3pm-pm. Top 6 climbers advance from qualifiers, 3 problems per gender, “World Cup” format. Awards at 7pm. Prize list (equal per gender):
prAna - “Breath, life, vitality of the spirit.” These qualities infuse not only our name, but also our aspirations, the things we make and how we make them. Welcome to mindfully designed, built to last products – born from the experience.
Sharma & Ojeda the perfect partners via 8a
The last day Chris sent “Power inverter” 9a+ FA, one of his really hard projects bolted in the espectacular wall in Oliana. Also Dani Andrada sent at the same time “Duele la realidad” 9a bolted by himself too.. it was fun watching them cheer eachother on while they climbed.. it was motivating for everybody in the cliff.. thanks guys and good job!! 
The Sharmafund is dedicated to:
Recipients of these scholarships must go through a rigorous application process, which includes writing four personal essays, obtaining two letters of recommendation, and showing proof of financial need in the form of tax returns. The kids who receive these scholarships are positive and hard-working. Without the aid of the Sharmafund, they would not be able to afford 
15 year old prAna climber, Enzo Oddo is on his first visit to U.S. soil from France. He went directly to Smith Rock near Bend, Oregon to get on J. B. Tribout’s legendary climb ‘Just do it’. Even in 86 degree temps, Enzo sent the route on Friday after just 2 days ! No wonder Chris Sharma calls him the next Chris Sharma. Welcome to the U.S. Enzo and we’ll see you up at Smith soon!
What happens when one of the worlds greatest climbers dives head first into yoga, music and nature at Wanderlust…
Professional climbing returns to New England for the first time since 2007! The UBC at The Nor’easter in Lincoln, N.H. will feature two rounds of competition open to anyone willing to test themselves against the best in the world and psyched for a chance at the $10,000USD cash purse. Join us at Loon Mtn. for Sunrise Yoga and Chris Sharma as he signs autographs at the prAna booth!
Friday September 24th Iso opens at noon, Pro Qualifiers from 2pm-6pm. 5 problems per gender, “American pro” format (5m on, 5m off). Please arrive at Loon at least 1.5hrs prior to your scheduled start time.
