STEVE McCLURE 'The British Strongman'

STEVE McCLURE - the author of Beyond Limits, just established UK's hardest route: Rainman 9b (5.15b) at Malham Cove, home of another incredibly difficult McClure route: Overshadow - which was repeated by the legendary Adam Ondra back in 2007, confirming the rating as 9a+ (5.15a). If you want to learn how to navigate the most difficult climbing sequences without relying on your strength, finding the path of least resistance, this is one interview you don't want to miss.

ABOUT: Steve McClure (born July 25, 1970) started climbing when he was a child with his parents. Initially he practiced trad climbing and started sport climbing only when he was 24.  In 1998 he made the first ascent of Mutation, at Raven Tor, his first 9a and second 9a of UK in history.

In 2000 he made the first ascent of another 9a, Northern Lights, in Kilnsey. The route was an old project of Ben Moon.  In 2003 he established his third 9a, with the first ascent of Rainshadow, in Malham Cove.  From 2000 to 2004 he competed in the Lead Climbing World Cup and in European Championships.

On May 23, 2007 he made the first ascent of his hardest route, Overshadow in Malham Cove. This route is an extension to the 8a+ Overnite Sensation and at 2013 it represents the UK's hardest sport route. The free ascent took McClure about 30 days of work in three years.   On May 16, 2011 Adam Ondra made the first and only repeat of the route, confirming the grade as a hard 9a+ (5.15a).

In 2017 McClure completed his seven year project in Malham Cove; Rainman.  Although Steve was reluctant to give the route a grade, he believed Rainman to be be considerably harder than Overshadow 9a+ (5.15a) - thus giving the route a modest grade of 9b (5.15b), making it UK's hardest route, and one of the hardest routes in the world.