The New Super Power

Evolv athlete and new Sterling Rope poster boy Chris Sharma has been touring Asia. His stops included Japan and Korea before heading to China to check out the limestone sport crags of Yangshuo.

Sharma quickly dispatched some of the area's hardest routes including an onsight of a 14b and two 14a's. Sharma then climbed the second ascent of American Gangsta a chipped 14c route, first climbed by the French climber Mikel Fuselier. Sharma, however, climbed the route without the use of the chipped holds. The route, in its pure form, is being called French Gangsta by the locals.

Before leaving the area, Chris bolted and dispatched a new line he called Spicy Noodles 8c (14c), and then equipped a line tentatively named Pump Dumpling that may check in at 9a+ (15a).

Photo by Lea Kang