Fred Nicole (born 21 May 1970) is a Swiss rock climber known for his first ascents of extreme sport climbing routes, and also for pioneering the development of standards and techniques in modern bouldering in the 1990s and early 2000s; he is considered an important climber in the history of the sport. Climbing career In 1992, Nicole solved La Danse des Balrogs, in Branson, Switzerland, which is considered the first-ever in bouldering history. In 1996, he solved Radja, also in Branson, which is also now considered the first-ever graded boulder in history. In 2002, he solved Monkey Wedding and Black Eagle SDS in Rocklands, South Africa, which is now considered to be the first-ever graded boulder in history. In 2000, Nicole solved in Cresciano in Switzerland, which at the time was considered the first-ever boulder in history, but its consensus grade was subsequently softened; the beauty and challenge of Dreamtime have maintained its status as an important route in bouldering history. Nicole has also made important first ascents in sport climbing. In 1988, he redpointed the second-ever in history with Anaïs et le canabis in Saint-Loup in Switzerland. In 1993, he redpointed the third-ever in history with , also in Saint-Loup in Switzerland. See also List of grade milestones in rock climbing History of rock climbing References External links VIDEO: Nicole adds two test-pieces, Terre de Sienne and El Techo de los Tres B, Climbing (7 April 2005) VIDEO: Witness the Fitness, Fred Nicoles Story, Climbing (5 January 2007) VIDEO: Fred Nicole: Why He Climbs, Climbing (11 April 2013) Swiss rock climbers Living people 1970 births Boulder climbers