Interview with Fred Rouhling about Akira 5.14d
And thoughts from Alex Megos about the world's first 5.14d: Action Directe or Hubble
In 1995, top climber Fred Rouhling made the first ascent of Akira at Le Périgord in France and graded it 5.15b. At the time, there were no routes graded 5.15, but in 1996 Alex Huber climbed Open Air 5.14d, which was later upgraded to 5.15a as the first of the grade.
Sébastien Bouin and Lucien Martinez recently repeated Akira and both suggested it’s 5.14d, which is still impressive for the mid-1990s when there were only a handful of route in the world at the grade.
It climbs a 12-metre roof and heads into an eight-metre face. The route was clouded by controversy when first climb due to the 5.15b suggestion. “Anyway this route is hard” commented Bouin “and quite unbelievable for the 90’s.”
Watch an interview with Alex Megos about the world’s first 5.14d and with Rouhling about Akira below.
5.14d and Akira
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