Leo Houlding
Encyclopedia
Leo Houlding is a British rock climber
who has climbed the Angel of the North
along with more traditional ascents such as some of El Capitan
's toughest lines.
Houlding began rock climbing at the age of 10. In 1996, he became the British Junior Indoor Climbing Champion. He spent the summer of 1997 living in and around Llanberis
in North Wales. The summer was notable for having many well known UK climbers in the region at the same time, including Adam Wainwright
, Tim Emmett, Simon Panton, Patch Hammond and others; some important new routes were established during that season. He became the subject of the 2003 TV documentary "My Right Foot" which was part of the Extreme Lives series aired on BBC Television
.
Houlding also appeared in the BBC television programme Top Gear
in which he raced presenter Jeremy Clarkson
up a cliff face in Verdon Gorge
, winning the challenge. Houlding, joined by Tim Emmett, climbed the canyon whilst Jeremy drove an Audi RS4
to the top using the surrounding roads. He has also appeared several times on the Audi Channel
.
In 2007, he joined the Altitude Everest Expedition 2007
, led by American climber and mountaineer, Conrad Anker
, retracing the last steps of legendary British climber, George Mallory
, on Everest.
In 2008, Houlding presented Take Me to the Edge
, a British
reality
series on Virgin1 (later repeated on STV); and has signed a deal with Ford Motor Company to become a brand ambassador for their pick up truck, the Ford Ranger.
In August 2009 he led a team of climbers and film makers to Mt. Asgard on Baffin Island, Canada. They attempted to free climb
a 15 pitch route up the north face of the mountain to create the first free route. Although over half of the ascent was eventually freed, the team were unable to complete the full free ascent within the available time. Houlding and American team member Sean 'Stanley' Leary BASE jumped
from the summit. The ascent took 12 days and is featured in the 2010 film The Asgard Project.
He appeared in the 2010 film The Wildest Dream
along with Conrad Anker
retracing the steps of George Mallory
and 'Sandy' Irvine in order to recreate their journey up Mount Everest
.
In 2010 he completed his 10 year project "The Prophet"- Making him the first Briton to complete a new free route on the on the famous El Capitain in Yosemite Valley, California.
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
who has climbed the Angel of the North
Angel of the North
The Angel of the North is a contemporary sculpture, designed by Antony Gormley, which is located in Gateshead,formerly County Durham, England.It is a steel sculpture of an angel, standing tall, with wings measuring across...
along with more traditional ascents such as some of El Capitan
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
's toughest lines.
Houlding began rock climbing at the age of 10. In 1996, he became the British Junior Indoor Climbing Champion. He spent the summer of 1997 living in and around Llanberis
Llanberis
Llanberis is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, lying on the southern banks of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, an early Welsh saint.According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llanberis was 1,954...
in North Wales. The summer was notable for having many well known UK climbers in the region at the same time, including Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright
Adam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
, Tim Emmett, Simon Panton, Patch Hammond and others; some important new routes were established during that season. He became the subject of the 2003 TV documentary "My Right Foot" which was part of the Extreme Lives series aired on BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
.
Houlding also appeared in the BBC television programme Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
in which he raced presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
up a cliff face in Verdon Gorge
Verdon Gorge
The Verdon Gorge , in south-eastern France , is a river canyon that is often considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful. It is about 25 kilometres long and up to 700 metres deep...
, winning the challenge. Houlding, joined by Tim Emmett, climbed the canyon whilst Jeremy drove an Audi RS4
Audi RS4
The Audi RS4 quattro is the top tier and highest performing version of some specific generations of the Audi A4 range of automobiles. It is a sports-focused compact executive car , produced by Audi's high-performance private subsidiary quattro GmbH, in limited numbers, for German car manufacturer...
to the top using the surrounding roads. He has also appeared several times on the Audi Channel
Audi Channel
The Audi Channel was a digital satellite television channel, launched in the UK in 2005 by the German car company Audi. It was broadcast via Sky Digital, which is generally receivable in the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland . It was free-to-air...
.
In 2007, he joined the Altitude Everest Expedition 2007
Altitude Everest Expedition 2007
The 2007 Altitude Everest Expedition, led by the American climber Conrad Anker, arrived at Base Camp below the north face of Everest in May 2007 and retraced the last journey of British climber George Mallory. On 8 June 1924, Mallory, along with his climbing partner Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine, set out...
, led by American climber and mountaineer, Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker is an American rock climber, mountaineer, and author famous for his challenging ascents in the high Himalaya and Antarctica. He is a member of The North Face climbing team and also works closely with Timex Expedition as brand ambassador...
, retracing the last steps of legendary British climber, George Mallory
George Mallory
George Herbert Leigh Mallory was an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s....
, on Everest.
In 2008, Houlding presented Take Me to the Edge
Take Me to the Edge
Take Me to the Edge is a British reality series investigating global rites of passage. Host Leo Houlding brings five adults to different parts of the world, where they experience local rites of passage such as rock climbs, running through fire, drinking blood straight from a cow’s neck and climbing...
, a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
reality
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series on Virgin1 (later repeated on STV); and has signed a deal with Ford Motor Company to become a brand ambassador for their pick up truck, the Ford Ranger.
In August 2009 he led a team of climbers and film makers to Mt. Asgard on Baffin Island, Canada. They attempted to free climb
Free climbing
Free climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber uses only hands, feet and other parts of the body to ascend, employing ropes and forms of climbing protection to prevent falls only....
a 15 pitch route up the north face of the mountain to create the first free route. Although over half of the ascent was eventually freed, the team were unable to complete the full free ascent within the available time. Houlding and American team member Sean 'Stanley' Leary BASE jumped
BASE jumping
BASE jumping, also sometimes written as B.A.S.E jumping, is an activity that employs an initially packed parachute to jump from fixed objects...
from the summit. The ascent took 12 days and is featured in the 2010 film The Asgard Project.
He appeared in the 2010 film The Wildest Dream
The Wildest Dream
The Wildest Dream is a 2010 theatrical-release feature documentary film about the British climber George Mallory who disappeared on Mount Everest in 1924 with his climbing partner Andrew Irvine...
along with Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker is an American rock climber, mountaineer, and author famous for his challenging ascents in the high Himalaya and Antarctica. He is a member of The North Face climbing team and also works closely with Timex Expedition as brand ambassador...
retracing the steps of George Mallory
George Mallory
George Herbert Leigh Mallory was an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s....
and 'Sandy' Irvine in order to recreate their journey up Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
.
In 2010 he completed his 10 year project "The Prophet"- Making him the first Briton to complete a new free route on the on the famous El Capitain in Yosemite Valley, California.