James Pearson Flashes Something’s Burning (5.13d X) in Wales
James Pearson returns to Pembroke to send Something's Burning (E9 7a/5.14b/c X)
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James Pearson has flashed Something’s Burning (E9 7a-5.13d X) in Pembroke, Wales, “potentially the first flash of a route of this grade, certainly away from the grit,” UKClimbing.com wrote.
Pearson sent the route on September 3, and was assisted by his wife Caroline Ciavaldini, who gave him detailed beta and gear placement on the sketchily protected route.
“James trusts my judgement, and when I told him that he would be OK trying without practice, provided I showed him the micro gear, he decided he would have a go,” Ciavaldini wrote in an email to Rock and Ice.
Pearson and Ciavaldini traveled to Pembroke from their home in central England with Yuji Hirayama of Japan. All three climbers have had success in the area: Ciavaldini sent Mercia Wall (E8 6c/5.13a R ) and Hirayama The Big Issue (E9 6c/5.13+ R).
Since beginning to climb at 15, James Pearson has proven himself to be one of the great talents in the UK. He has first ascents of The Groove (E10 7b/5.14c/d X), The Walk of Life (E9 7a/5.14b R) and The Promise (E10 7a/5.14c/d R), all located in England. In 2007, at 21, Pearson flashed three boulder problems graded V13 at that time, Switzerland’s The Ganymede Takeover, School of Life and The Great Shark Hunt.