Slapshot | 8B (approx) Boulder problem at Flatirons

United States / Colorado / Boulder County

Quick Info

Grade 8B (approx)
Type Boulder problem
Crag Flatirons
Country United States 🇺🇸
History
First ascent Jim Holloway (1977)
Recorded repeats 0

Quick Info

Grade 8B (approx)
Type Boulder problem
Crag Flatirons
Country United States 🇺🇸
History
First ascent Jim Holloway (1977)
Recorded repeats 0

Potentially the first ever V13/8B, Slapshot was the hardest of Holloway's "big three" that included Trice (8A+) and Meathook (8A). Holloway never graded the problem and it has yet to have seen a documented second ascent at the time of this writing. There is speculation that crux holds may have broken off or polished in the nearly fifty years since the first ascent.

Contributors
23 contributions since 29th August 2026.
6 contributions since 24th September 2026.

Pics + Vids

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Ascents

1 successful ascent recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
First ascent.

Well, Slapshot was a pretty significant problem for me. I specifically hiked up Dinosaur Mountain to work on Slapshot a number of times for about a year in 1976-77. I remember that the holds are very marginal; if you glued a quarter on the rock, it would be a good hold! I remember John Sherman pulled off a loose flake at the start and glued it back on. I sometimes wonder if it was put on upside down, because the hold is about twice the size as I remember it being! The beat is; pulling up, and lunging all at the same time for a little seam near the top. The takeoff point is critical, so that you don’t lunge out instead of up. I took a few rocky downhill rides from missing that move. [1]

References

[1] https://www.climbing.com/news/the-complete-jim-holloway-interview/