Aidan Roberts
Quick Info ˅
| Nationality: | GB |
| Hardest Boulder (Worked): | 9A |
| Hardest Boulder (Flash): | 8B+ |
| Hardest Sport (Worked): | 8c |
| Notable Partnerships | |
| Sam Lawson | |
| Jim Pope | |
| Sam Prior | |
Aidan Roberts is a climber from the UK. He grew up in the lake district and was mentored by the prolific developer Dan Varian.
Although he started out doing competitions Aidan has more recently moved on to establishing and repeating some of the hardest boulder problems both in the UK and abroad. His problem Superpowers in the Lake District is widely considered the UK's first 8C+. As well as being the first brit to climb 8C+ he was also the first to climb 9A with his repeat of Shawn Raboutou's Alphane in Chironico.
As well as these highlights Aidan has also repeated or established a raft of problems in the 8B to 8C range, making particularly quick work of classic test-pieces such as Oliphant's Dawn and Jade.
References
[1] https://www.thebmc.co.uk/aidan-roberts-interview
[2] Interview with Simon Lee for UKBouldering.com, October 2016 https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,27531.msg535750.html#msg535750
Lists
Podcasts
- Jam Crack Podcast, April 2021
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, June 2022
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, May 2022
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, June 2022
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, August 2022
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, October 2022
- Lattice Training, October 2022
- The Nugget, November 2022
- Lattice Training, January 2023
- Strong Mind, October 2022
- The Nugget, February 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, March 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, March 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, March 2023
- Strong Mind, May 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, May 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, October 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, November 2023
- The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast, April 2024
Pics + Vids
Shadow Women (8C, FA)
Gaston LeGume (8B+, FA)
Last Wave Goodbye (8B+)
Peace Corps (8C)
Last Wave Goodbye (8B+)
Midnight (9A, FA)
Ninjutsu (8B+)
Swiss Air (8C)
Midnight (9A, FA)
Outliers (8C, FA)
Bewilderness (8B+)
Copperline (8B+, FA)
Superpowers (8C+, FA)
Tranquilitas (8C, FA)
Rocking Specter (8B)
Out of Shadows (8B, FA)
Back for Seconds (8B, FA)
Slim Pickings (8B, FA)
Jade (8B+)
Ode to a Modern Man (8B+)
High Fidelity (8B)
Railway (8C, FA)
Isles of Wonder (8B)
Hustled SDS (8B, FA)
Louis Armstrong (8B)
Freakshow (8c)
The Ace (8B)
Forgotten Gem (8C)
Leopold Von Pooch (8C, FA)
Truffles On Bicycles (8B+, FA)
Alphane (9A)
Stairway to Heaven (8B)
Child of Hell (8C)
Isles of Wonder SDS (8C+, FA)
Hazel Grace Stand Start (8B+)
Vecchio Leone SDS (8C+, FA)
Momentum (8B+)
Vecchio Leone (8B)
Crescendo (8B+)
Madame Allure (8B)
Ragga (8B, FA)
Muffin Top (8B, FA)
Raggamuffin (8B+, FA)
Everything the Light Touches (8C, FA)
Alphane (9A)
Alphane (9A)
The Lion's Share (8C+, FA)
Ascents
75 recorded ascents.
| Year | Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Freakshow | 8c | Lead | worked | Between 16th Aug 2015 and 1st Jan 2016 |
|
Third ascent.
|
||||
| 2016 | Traci Lords SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2016 |
References |
||||
| Retaliation | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2016 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Tsunami | 8A | Boulder | flash | 24th Oct 2016 | |
References |
||||
| 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | Amandla | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2018 |
| Bloody Mary | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Between 1st Jul 2018 and 1st Aug 2017 | |
|
Second ascent?
References |
||||
| Oliphant's Dawn | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 15th Jul 2018 | |
|
Third go.
References |
||||
| Monkey Wedding | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2018 | |
References |
||||
| Skadoosh | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2018 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Master Key | 8B | Boulder | flash | 1st Aug 2018 | |
| 2019 | Railway | 8C | Boulder | worked | Jun 2019 |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Jade | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Jun 2019 | |
|
Third go.
References |
||||
| Ode to a Modern Man | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 19th Jun 2019 | |
| 2020 | Shallow Groove | 8B | Boulder | worked | May 2020 |
|
Third ascent. 1 session.
References[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CAptLHIDB9C/ [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/49937266778/in/dateposted/ [3] https://www.lakesbloc.com/2020/05/26/shallow-groove-sees-third-ascent/ |
||||
| Ebbing the Flow | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Outliers | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
Rounded off the session by repeating Isla de Encanta and Shallow Groove! References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2020/08/aidan_roberts_climbs_new_font_8c_at_trowbarrow-72461 |
||||
| Copperline | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Bewilderness | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
Also ticked Dandelion Mind and Badger Badger Badger in the same session. |
||||
| Seat at the Table | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Superman SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 31st Aug 2020 | |
| Superpowers | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | 11th Sep 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
On the grade:
References[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=1585 [2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,30855.msg667821.html#msg667821 |
||||
| Tranquilitas | 8C | Boulder | worked | 12th Sep 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| 2021 | Little Women | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2021 |
|
While working the problem a hold came off making the problem harder. References |
||||
| The Ace | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2021 | |
| Isles of Wonder | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2021 | |
| Hustled SDS | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Wedgie Wall | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Dead and Bloated | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Paper Birds Low | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Louis Armstrong | 8B | Boulder | worked | 31st Jul 2021 | |
| The Origin | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
Third ascent.
|
||||
| Out of Shadows | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Slim Pickings | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Back for Seconds | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Rocking Specter | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
| Home SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Leopold Von Pooch | 8C | Boulder | worked | Nov 2021 | |
| Truffles On Bicycles | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Dec 2021 | |
| 2022 | Crescendo | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2022 |
| Hazel Grace Stand Start | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2022 | |
| Flipnic in to the Crack | 8B | Boulder | worked | 5th Jan 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| XXXS | 8B | Boulder | worked | 8th Feb 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Silent Singer | 8C | Boulder | worked | 23rd Feb 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Squalo Bianco | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Mar 2022 | |
| Vecchio Leone | 8B | Boulder | flash | 3rd Mar 2022 | |
| Everything the Light Touches | 8C | Boulder | worked | 17th Mar 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Forgotten Gem | 8C | Boulder | worked | 19th Mar 2022 | |
|
Second ascent. 1 session.
References |
||||
| Compass North | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Apr 2022 | |
|
Aidan was close on the flash go, falling on the final move to the lip. References |
||||
| Foundations Edge | 8C | Boulder | did not finish | May 2022 | |
|
Aidan was very close on the flash. He cut loose mid way and had a minor dab, then dry fired off one of the last hard moves. He then basically did it second go but slipped off the easy, wet top out. |
||||
| Ragga | 8B | Boulder | worked | 21st May 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Muffin Top | 8B | Boulder | worked | 24th May 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Raggamuffin | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 14th Jun 2022 | |
| Isles of Wonder SDS | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | Jul 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Madame Allure | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2022 | |
|
Second ascent.
References |
||||
| Alphane | 9A | Boulder | worked | 19th Oct 2022 | |
|
Second ascent.
With this ascent Aidan became the first British climber to boulder 9A. References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IjWe3MH6z0HgMcC0Bj8rv? [2] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7QrO8DFbv/ [3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VYpy4XrjJHAjzjKR8i88I?R5yG3Q&utm_source=copy-link |
||||
| Child of Hell | 8C | Boulder | worked | 23rd Oct 2022 | |
| Stairway to Heaven | 8B | Boulder | worked | 23rd Oct 2022 | |
| Vecchio Leone SDS | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | Nov 2022 | |
| 2023 | Shadow Women | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Shallow Waters | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Peace Corps | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Swiss Air | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Gaston LeGume | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Ninjutsu | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Off the Wagon | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
| Unison | 8C | Boulder | worked | Feb 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| High Fidelity | 8B | Boulder | ground up | Feb 2023 | |
|
1 session.
Aidan's first problem on Yorkshire gritstone. References |
||||
| The Lion's Share | 8C+ | Lead | worked | Between 18th Feb 2023 and 9th Mar 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CrdQTLVNW4u/ [2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tiWiDzWnbMN2PKUoFQC1Y?si=ed7f7c3fc39240e5 |
||||
| Momentum | 8B+ | Boulder | flash | Apr 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Right Hand Man | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References[1] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53189109753/in/photostream/ [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188741196/in/photostream/ [3] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188940715/in/photostream/ [4] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53189110008/in/photostream/ |
||||
| Last Wave Goodbye | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Between 1st Aug 2023 and 12th Sep 2023 | |
|
Second ascent?
References |
||||
| 2024 | Spots of Time | 9A (approx) | Boulder | worked | Feb 2024 |
|
First ascent. Around 35 sessions.
10 sessions just to do the individual moves.
References[1] Helvellyn Project - Close Attempt [2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-lakes-for-100865896 |
||||
| Midnight | 9A (approx) | Boulder | worked | Mar 2024 | |
|
First ascent.
Aidan got tantalisingly close in 2023, dropping one of the last droppable moves. Coming back in 2024 he was able to open the problem from a more obvious starting position a few moves lower than where he was trying it in 2023 which adds a few hard moves.
Aidan said it felt harder than Alphane for him. References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM [2] Footage from the close attempt in 2023, from the higher start https://youtu.be/fdChDa78tU4?t=621 |
||||
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freakshow | 8c | Lead | worked | Between 16th Aug 2015 and 1st Jan 2016 | |
|
Third ascent.
|
||||
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spots of Time | 9A (approx) | Boulder | worked | Feb 2024 | |
|
First ascent. Around 35 sessions.
10 sessions just to do the individual moves.
References[1] Helvellyn Project - Close Attempt [2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-lakes-for-100865896 |
||||
| Midnight | 9A (approx) | Boulder | worked | Mar 2024 | |
|
First ascent.
Aidan got tantalisingly close in 2023, dropping one of the last droppable moves. Coming back in 2024 he was able to open the problem from a more obvious starting position a few moves lower than where he was trying it in 2023 which adds a few hard moves.
Aidan said it felt harder than Alphane for him. References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM [2] Footage from the close attempt in 2023, from the higher start https://youtu.be/fdChDa78tU4?t=621 |
||||
| Alphane | 9A | Boulder | worked | 19th Oct 2022 | |
|
Second ascent.
With this ascent Aidan became the first British climber to boulder 9A. References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IjWe3MH6z0HgMcC0Bj8rv? [2] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7QrO8DFbv/ [3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VYpy4XrjJHAjzjKR8i88I?R5yG3Q&utm_source=copy-link |
||||
| Superpowers | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | 11th Sep 2020 | 8C/8C+ |
|
First ascent.
On the grade:
References[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=1585 [2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,30855.msg667821.html#msg667821 |
||||
| Isles of Wonder SDS | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | Jul 2022 | 8C+ |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Vecchio Leone SDS | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | Nov 2022 | |
| The Lion's Share | 8C+ | Lead | worked | Between 18th Feb 2023 and 9th Mar 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CrdQTLVNW4u/ [2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tiWiDzWnbMN2PKUoFQC1Y?si=ed7f7c3fc39240e5 |
||||
| Railway | 8C | Boulder | worked | Jun 2019 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Outliers | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
Rounded off the session by repeating Isla de Encanta and Shallow Groove! References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2020/08/aidan_roberts_climbs_new_font_8c_at_trowbarrow-72461 |
||||
| Tranquilitas | 8C | Boulder | worked | 12th Sep 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Leopold Von Pooch | 8C | Boulder | worked | Nov 2021 | |
| Silent Singer | 8C | Boulder | worked | 23rd Feb 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Everything the Light Touches | 8C | Boulder | worked | 17th Mar 2022 | 8C/8C+ |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Shadow Women | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Shallow Waters | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Unison | 8C | Boulder | worked | Feb 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Right Hand Man | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2023 | 8C (hard) |
|
First ascent.
References[1] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53189109753/in/photostream/ [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188741196/in/photostream/ [3] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188940715/in/photostream/ [4] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53189110008/in/photostream/ |
||||
| Monkey Wedding | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2018 | |
References |
||||
| Forgotten Gem | 8C | Boulder | worked | 19th Mar 2022 | |
|
Second ascent. 1 session.
References |
||||
| Foundations Edge | 8C | Boulder | did not finish | May 2022 | |
|
Aidan was very close on the flash. He cut loose mid way and had a minor dab, then dry fired off one of the last hard moves. He then basically did it second go but slipped off the easy, wet top out. |
||||
| Child of Hell | 8C | Boulder | worked | 23rd Oct 2022 | |
| Peace Corps | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Swiss Air | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Skadoosh | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2018 | 8B/8B+ |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Copperline | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Home SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Truffles On Bicycles | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Dec 2021 | |
| Raggamuffin | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 14th Jun 2022 | 8C |
| Gaston LeGume | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Traci Lords SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2016 | |
References |
||||
| Amandla | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2018 | |
| Bloody Mary | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Between 1st Jul 2018 and 1st Aug 2017 | |
|
Second ascent?
References |
||||
| Oliphant's Dawn | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 15th Jul 2018 | |
|
Third go.
References |
||||
| Jade | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Jun 2019 | |
|
Third go.
References |
||||
| Ode to a Modern Man | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 19th Jun 2019 | |
| Bewilderness | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
Also ticked Dandelion Mind and Badger Badger Badger in the same session. |
||||
| Superman SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 31st Aug 2020 | |
| Little Women | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2021 | 8B+ |
|
While working the problem a hold came off making the problem harder. References |
||||
| The Origin | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | 8B+ |
|
Third ascent.
|
||||
| Crescendo | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2022 | |
| Hazel Grace Stand Start | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2022 | |
| Squalo Bianco | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Mar 2022 | |
| Compass North | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Apr 2022 | |
|
Aidan was close on the flash go, falling on the final move to the lip. References |
||||
| Ninjutsu | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Off the Wagon | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
| Momentum | 8B+ | Boulder | flash | Apr 2023 | |
References |
||||
| Last Wave Goodbye | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Between 1st Aug 2023 and 12th Sep 2023 | |
|
Second ascent?
References |
||||
| Retaliation | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2016 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Ebbing the Flow | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Seat at the Table | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Hustled SDS | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Out of Shadows | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Slim Pickings | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Back for Seconds | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Flipnic in to the Crack | 8B | Boulder | worked | 5th Jan 2022 | 8B |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| XXXS | 8B | Boulder | worked | 8th Feb 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Ragga | 8B | Boulder | worked | 21st May 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
References |
||||
| Muffin Top | 8B | Boulder | worked | 24th May 2022 | |
|
First ascent.
|
||||
| Master Key | 8B | Boulder | flash | 1st Aug 2018 | |
| Shallow Groove | 8B | Boulder | worked | May 2020 | |
|
Third ascent. 1 session.
References[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CAptLHIDB9C/ [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/49937266778/in/dateposted/ [3] https://www.lakesbloc.com/2020/05/26/shallow-groove-sees-third-ascent/ |
||||
| The Ace | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2021 | |
| Isles of Wonder | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2021 | |
| Wedgie Wall | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Dead and Bloated | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Paper Birds Low | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Louis Armstrong | 8B | Boulder | worked | 31st Jul 2021 | |
| Rocking Specter | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
| Vecchio Leone | 8B | Boulder | flash | 3rd Mar 2022 | |
| Madame Allure | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2022 | |
|
Second ascent.
References |
||||
| Stairway to Heaven | 8B | Boulder | worked | 23rd Oct 2022 | |
| High Fidelity | 8B | Boulder | ground up | Feb 2023 | |
|
1 session.
Aidan's first problem on Yorkshire gritstone. References |
||||
| Panic on Funkotron | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
|
Second ascent.
|
||||
| Big Chief | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
|
Second ascent?
|
||||
| Tsunami | 8A | Boulder | flash | 24th Oct 2016 | |
References |
||||
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|