Patrick Edlinger

Patrick Edlinger (15 June 1960 to 16 November 2012) was a professional French rock climber, climbing author and climbing film-maker, born in Dax in the Landes. He is considered a pioneer of sport climbing, competition climbing and free solo climbing, and was ranked among the world's greatest rock climbers in the mid to late 1980s. Nicknamed Le Blond for his hair, he was the second climber to redpoint grade 7c with Nymphodalle in 1979 and the second at 7c+ with Le Toit in 1981, and in 1982 made the first onsights at 7b+ and 7c with Captain Crochet and La Polka des Ringards at Buoux. His 1989 free solo of Orange Mecanique was the second free solo of grade 8a in history. Jean-Paul Janssen's 1982 film La Vie au Bout des Doigts, showing him free soloing at Buoux, brought him wide public attention.