Christian Guyomar

Christian Guyomar, born in Paris in 1948, was an iconic French climber, considered one of the pioneers of free climbing in France in the 1970s. He was a respected and admired figure, both for his discretion and his achievements and ethical commitments. Influenced by British climbers, he distinguished himself through his audacity, commitment, and innovative style, passionate about opening new routes and transmitting a spirit of adventure and commitment with minimal equipment. Originally from the Paris region and coming to climbing late in life after watching a TV show, Christian Guyomar revolutionized climbing in the south of France, primarily on the cliffs of the Sainte-Victoire mountain range, particularly in the Deux Aiguilles sector of Aix-en-Provence, where he opened now-legendary routes such as Le Médius, Super Médius, and especially Antirabique. The opening of Super Médius en tête, with mandatory 6c sections, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of climbing difficulty in France. At that time, the 7a grade appeared for the first time in the Sainte-Victoire guidebook, while 6+ had until then been considered the human limit. Antirabique, opened in 1974, remains famous for its extreme commitment: the first pitch consists of only two self-placed rope loops over 20 meters, illustrating the philosophy of the time, when commitment and risk-taking were integral parts of the practice. When it was opened in 1974, Christian Guyomar climbed this slab free solo and onsight, of course—a daring feat!