Cédric Lachat

Born

1984-08-17

Birthplace

Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland

Biography

Cédric Lachat was born on August 17, 1984 in Porrentruy, in the Jura. On the cliff, he is known for his many difficult ascents of multi-pitch routes in the Alps, notably "WoGü" 8c, "Silbergeier" 8b+ and "Fly" 8c... The click for climbing is made when he is 10 years old, when his big brother starts in this sport. For Cédric, it's a revelation, he will do the same. From then on, everything is linked. At the age of 12, his free time is entirely devoted to this new passion. A year later, he finds himself promoted to the Swiss team. At 14, if he is not yet on the first step, he is on the other hand on all the podiums in the European Cup. Not in the least attracted to school desks, he also completed an apprenticeship as a sanitary installer. His parents and the Swiss Alpine Club recognize his talent and rightly support him. At 18, he won the World Championships in the Junior category in Canteleu, France. From then on, he would remain the best Swiss climber on the circuit until he left in 2013. "There was no better ambassador for competitive climbing in our country", says Hanspeter Sigrist, head of the Competitive Sports sector at CAS. “His good results at international level and his regularity have allowed sport climbing to make a real leap forward in our country.” Beyond his exceptional physical faculties, he loves challenges. "In everything I do, I'm on point. I love challenges, not with other competitors, but with myself. I like being confronted with a problem and having to solve it.” His adolescence comes down to draconian training. His record grew with victories in the World Cup in difficulty or bouldering. In 2010 in Innsbruck, Cédric competed in all disciplines and became European bouldering champion. In 2007 Cédric met the Swiss climber Nina Caprez with whom he lived for 10 years. His vision of climbing is changing. "With Nina we started to dream together of projects, adventures and travels." They settled in Grenoble in France, close to the cliffs of the South and those of Switzerland. They buy an apartment which they retype and Cédric begins his State patent of speleology. During this period, they accomplished great things together, like the sequence in 2011 of the route "Silbergeier" (8b+), in the Rätikon. Over the years, his taste for competition wanes, resin also gradually loses its charm "You always have to be on top, get results. Sacrifice everything, and everything can change overnight to end up without work, forgotten by ordinary mortals. In the end, it comes down to being locked in a room and holding plastic sockets." After his good result in Briançon in July 2013, during the World Cup, he announced his retirement; “I always said that I would stop as a champion, and not as a loser!”. For Cedric Lachat; "Today, I am satisfied with my career and I think I have conveyed a good image of climbing. This sport is not just about performance. It is also a source of pleasure". He will achieve his highest rating in May 2023 at the age of 38, "Fantasia", rated 9b.