The Ace | 8B Boulder problem at Stanage

United Kingdom / England / Hope Valley

Low start to The Joker.

Alex Megos:

The holds are there, the holds are big, the moves are small, it's easy. Why is it so hard!? [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10607.msg470882.html#msg470882

Contributors
remus
110 contributions since 1st February 2021.
Mattsparksy
28 contributions since 1st February 2025.

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Ascents

40 successful ascents recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

Various dates between 2000 and 2002 have been reported for the first ascent. It was reported in On The Edge #105 (March 2001 edition) which suggests it was done around January 2001 [4].

If the truth be known, it had been my goal for the last three years; either I'd just not been in good enough shape to try it, or the conditions were not right. As soon as I started trying The Ace everybody who had done The Joker was attempting it this way, which added to the pressure. My advantage was that I felt good on The Joker. If I could just get in to the top moves feeling strong, I knew i could do it. My sequence didn't feel right though and I was intrigued to find out about an alternative sequence Ben Moon had been trying. First chance I had I went straight back to the crag and tried his method. I hit the top second go but couldn't hold it. The friction wasn't good that day, but I returned in better conditions and for it done. [5]

References

[1] Revelations by Jerry Moffatt and Niall Grimes, 2009. Page 225.

[2] Peak Rock by Phil Kelly, Graham Hoey and Giles Barker, 2013. Page 310.

[3] https://www.climber.co.uk/news/dave-mason-repeats-the-ace/

[4] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,33255.msg666546.html#msg666546

[5] Climber magazine

References

[1] Confirmed Ben made the second ascent via email correspondence, 30th November 2023.

References

[1] Winter Sessions @ 49:30

Michele Caminati Boulder | worked 12th Mar 2011
Tom Newman Boulder | worked 26th Oct 2012
Cailean Harker Boulder | worked 24th Feb 2018
Sam Blackwell Boulder | worked 7th Nov 2020
Matt Cousins Boulder | worked 26th Nov 2020

Freak moment! Executed just perfectly! Thanks for the beta Will and Leon for beta, and extra psyche by the legend himself Jerry [Moffatt] and Magnus [Midtbø]!

Jerry Moffatt:

That was fucking awesome! [2]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnzog4ZoynB/

[2] https://youtu.be/xe8PeQgbvEs?t=939

Jim Pope Boulder | worked 25th Nov 2024

Gus purposefully didn't climb The Joker beforehand, so when he did The Ace it would be his first time sticking the move to the jug.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHEX9yitkCD/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGsiKRXJatI

Campused as he had a broken left foot!

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DO6l16IjTcs/

Tom Williams Boulder | worked
Ryan Pasquill Boulder | worked