Alex Fricker Sends His First 5.14a on Birthday

Canmore-based Alex Fricker is one of Alberta’s top young climbers. He sent his first 5.14a on Oct. 30, his birthday.

The route Fricker ticked to enter he 5.14 territory was Geminis in Rodellar, Spain. The steep limestone line was also Canadian Marieta Akalski’s first 5.14a back in 2014.

Massively psyched to have clipped the chains on Géminis, 5.14a/8b+ here in Rodellar! It is my first of the grade and I'm psyched to have done it on such an incredible line! Sadly didn't get any photos of me on it so here is me lost in a sea of limestone on El Corredor de la Muerte, 5.13b/8a. Still have another few weeks in spain before I head back so hopefully I can put down a few more hard routes before leaving! #climbing #outdoorclimbing #sportclimbing #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #sendage #5.14 #stokefactorhuge #somuchlimestone #toomuchpump

A post shared by Alex Fricker (@alex_fricker) on Oct 30, 2017 at 2:45pm PDT

Fricker has long been one of Team Canmore’s top competitors in a number of comp circuits.

He has won the Youth Bouldering National Championships and competed at the Youth World Championships and Arco Rock Masters this year.

Fricker’s first 5.13d was in 2016 with his climb of Endless Summer at Acephale. He’s also climbed Army Ants 5.13c, Cosmos 5.13c, Surface of the Sun 5.13c and Tale of Two Guys 5.13c.

Watch this short profile on Fricker from 2015.