Taylor Parsons

Taylor Parsons (born 4 February 1985) is an Australian professional rock climber and boulderer who was Australia's strongest climber in the late 2000s to early 2010s; completing the second ascent of Dai Koyamada's The Wheel of Life (2007) and doing the first free ascent of White Ladder (2004), Australia's first-ever grade 34 5.14c (8c+) sport climbing route.

Taylor Parsons
Personal information
NationalityAustralian-English
Born (1985-02-04) 4 February 1985[1]
England
OccupationProfessional rock climber
Climbing career
Type of climberBouldering, Sport climbing
Highest grade
Known forStrongest Australian boulderer of the late 2000s-early 2010s; 2nd ascent of The Wheel of Life (2007)[1]

Personal life

Taylor was born in England on 4 February 1985, but grew up in Canberra in Australia from age 2 or 3.[1] In a 2014 interview with Rock & Ice, Parsons said that she found school difficult and was frequently in trouble.[2] During her rock climbing career, Parsons has frequently worked as a rope access technician, and on oil rigs.

In a 2021 podcast with climbing filmmaker Niall Grimes, it was revealed that Parsons had: "... fallen out of climbing and, after years of dark struggles, is now a mum-of-three,.[3]

Notable ascents

Routes
  • 2004. White Ladder 34 5.14c (8c+), Nowra NSW, Australia. First Ascent;[1] the first-ever Australian to climb at grade 5.14c.[2]
  • Motor Pussy 34 5.14c (8c+) Blue Mountains, Australia. First Ascent.[2]
  • Anal Palm 33 5.14b (8c) Blue Mountains, Australia. First Ascent.[2]
  • Hats and Hoods 33 5.14b (8c) Nowra NSW, Australia. First Ascent.[2]
  • Stranger on the Shore 33 5.14b (8c) Nowra NSW, Australia. First Ascent.[2]
  • Mechanical Animals 33 5.14b (8c) Blue Mountains, Australia. The first ascent was by Ben Cossey.[2]
  • Morpheus 33 5.14b (8c). Nassereith, Austria; first-ever 33 climbed by an Australian overseas.[2]

Boulders
  • 2007. The Wheel of Life V15, Grampians National Park, Australia. Second Ascent.[1][4][5]
  • 2008. Progressive Aggression V15, Sydney, Australia. First Ascent.[2]
  • 2010. Believe in Two V15, Magic Wood, Switzerland. First Ascent.[4][2][5]
  • 2012. Desperanza V15, Hueco Tanks, USA.[2] Second Ascent.[5]
  • 2013. Belly of the Beast V15, Raven Tor, England. First Ascent.[2][6]
  • 2013. Insanity of Grandeur V15, Chironico, Switzerland. Third ascent.[7]
  • 2006. Worm V14, Nowra NSW, Australia. First Ascent; the first-ever Australian to climb at grade V14.[2]
  • 2007. Catalyst V14, Crumbly crag, Sydney, Australia. First Ascent[1]
  • 2007. Never Ending Story V14 Magic Wood, Switzerland. Third ascent and first-ever V14 climbed by an Australian overseas.[2]
  • 2008. Purring Puma V14, Zillertal, Austria. First Ascent.[4][8]

Competition climbing

IFSC World Cup Bouldering Competitions

Other Competitions
  • 2013 – Rock Master, Arco, Italy – 3rd[2]
  • 2008 – Austrian Bouldering Championships – 2nd
  • 2008 – NSW State Bouldering Championships – 1st
  • 2008 – NSW Bouldering Series – 1st
  • 2007 – Oceania Onsight Championships – 1st
  • 2007 – Australian Bouldering Championships – 1st

See also

References
  1. Roth, Justin (12 February 2009). "The Thunder from Down Under". Climbing). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. Brunckhorst, Chelsea (15 December 2014). "Spotlight: The Double Life of Chris Webb Parsons". Rock & Ice. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. Grimes, Niall (November 2021). "JCPC 106 Taylor Parsons". JamCrack (NiallGrimes Podcasts). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  4. Fox, Amanda (19 October 2010). "Webb Parsons: Another Magic Wood V15". Climbing. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. "Chris Webb Parsons Repeats 'Desperanza' 8C at Hueco Tanks". Desnivel. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. "Chris Webb Parsons Sends Belly of the Beast (V15)". Climbing. November 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  7. Pohl, Bjorn (19 December 2013). "Insanity of Grandeur, 8C, by Chris Webb Parsons". UKClimbing Magazine. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  8. "Chris Webb Parsons on Purring Puma (V14)". Climbing. 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
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