UKC

First 8b for Natalie Berry - SatanX

© Matt Pycroft - LWimages.co.uk

British climber Natalie Berry has ticked her first 8b sport route with an ascent of SatanX, at Gorges du Loup, France.

Natalie Berry at the BLCC 2010 &copy Matt Pycroft - LWimages.co.uk  © Matt Pycroft - LWimages.co.uk
Natalie Berry at the BLCC 2010 © Matt Pycroft - LWimages.co.uk

The 20 year-old climber, who has previously climbed 12 routes of 8a, redpointed the steep limestone route of SatanX as well as several 8as and an 8a+ on her recent holiday to France.

Natalie commented on her blog:

"I kept at it and gradually with each try I was inching closer and closer. So near yet so far. In three consecutive attempts I fell off one hold higher each time, working out a better foot sequence after falling. With every attempt I felt I would need to give so much more in order to overcome the difficulty of the route. However, one day everything fell into place and I somehow found myself at the chains, clipping the rope in and sighing in relief. Maybe I had waited for the perfect moment, or maybe I just believed that little bit more in myself. It was one of those glorious moments when something which felt so hard along the journey to completion eventually felt within my capabilities, yet still required my absolute and undivided attention. It hadn't quite hit me yet, but I'd just completed my first 8b. After a good few years of setbacks with injuries and a feeling of stagnation I had finally moved forward and pushed my climbing to a level I had always wanted to achieve. Onwards and upwards!"


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Natalie discovered climbing at the age of nine and it quickly took over her life. Having joined the Glasgow Climbing Centre kid’s club she soon progressed into competition climbing where following numerous comp wins...

Natalie's Athlete Page 9 posts 2 videos



23 Aug, 2012
Well done Nat, top effort.
23 Aug, 2012
Awesome work! Right: which British women have climbed harder? Can't be that many... Lucy Creamer's done F8b+ Hazel Findlay's done several F8b's (inc on trad gear) but any 8b+'s? Fire away.
23 Aug, 2012
P She just needs to get out more and go for it and I think she would be doing 8b's and 8b+'s quickly and possibly even 8c in the future!
24 Aug, 2012
Woohoo way to go Nats!
24 Aug, 2012
I'm sure many girls have climbed harder than 8b, certainly Sasha has climbed 9a. Nevertheless it's great to hear that she cruised it, inspiring stuff. I want to go climbing
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