Discreet legend of Fontainebleau, Charles Albert, nicknamed Mowgli, continues to push the limits with his barefoot block creations. Climbing without slippers forces him to find original methods, to compensate with the strength of his arms and fingers. "Climbing is not just about a grade", he explains, "We have the possibility of doing what we want, climbing blindfolded, barefoot... All while seeking fluidity in our movements. The only limit to creating new challenges is your imagination.” He very rarely appears in the specialized media, has not made the Olympics or even major international competitions. Yet he is one of the best bouldering climbers in the world. For the record, in January 2019, he was the second in the world to offer a 9a rating for his long-standing project "No Kpotes Only". A year later, his boulder will be downgraded to 8c/+, still remaining one of the most extreme passages on the planet.
I started climbing at the beginning of the 80s with the fervent ardor of wanting to progress and confront myself with all these cliff routes and all these blocks which, at that time, made me dream. There were still no established structures for training; you had to go climb and train on the rock to progress. This constraint made me love this singular relationship with the natural and mineral environment, and it is also one of the reasons that led me to share my knowledge and my experience over my rocky progressions. The chance of this progression meant that throughout the 90s, it led me to open and repeat blocks and cliff routes whose difficulties were those of the highest level of the time and gave me the opportunity to collaborate with different brands of climbing equipment. At the same time, I have always taught climbing, since my beginnings as a confirmed climber. My experience of almost 36 years as a climbing instructor has given me the opportunity to work with all audiences: From children to adults, in schools, leisure centers, training of sports educators, climbing clubs, schools, people with disabilities, individuals or people in social difficulty. Both in high cliffs of several lengths and in bouldering, in the climbing gym as a competition opener, trainer or initiator of opening projects and private lessons. As an employee or self-employed. A long experience in learning to climb which has given me the ability to adapt quickly and more effectively, over the years, to ever-changing expectations, profiles and challenges. I have always prioritized in my classes, the technical and gestural progression more than the purely physical aspect. It is this base that allows you to climb for a long time with pleasure whatever your level, but it is also the one that allows you to lean on sustainably to progress throughout your life as a climber. www.christophelaumone.com
By browsing this website, you accept our cookies policy.