Aidan Roberts

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqCbq8P2UO4

10 sessions just to do the individual moves.

In terms of things I've done in climbing...I think it's the experience I'm most proud of, and I feel like it's really special to have found that so close to my home. [2]

References

[1] Helvellyn Project - Close Attempt

[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-lakes-for-100865896

[3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM?

[4] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/aidan_roberts_on_climbing_arrival_of_the_birds_and_spots_of_time-15792

[5] https://www.instagram.com/p/C7T3Lh5Ng2x/

[6] https://www.instagram.com/p/C7jIhiLN_C0/

[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnw_kyk0G5Q

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.

One of the most magical sessions I've ever had. [1]

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

[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-close-go-83500270

[4] https://open.spotify.com/episode/5W9M6ROWRu6DX2Sq8egI07?

[5] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/aidan_roberts_on_climbing_arrival_of_the_birds_and_spots_of_time-15792

[6] https://www.instagram.com/p/C8wzW85Ngz6/?img_index=1

[7] https://www.instagram.com/p/C9NjP0LNIum/

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

[4] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=1119

On the grade:

I think I was quite vague with it initially but compared to the likes of 8Cs and 8C+s I’ve since tried abroad I suspect it likely sits with the latter. But very hard to tell as haven’t been on it since I did it. [2]

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=1585

[2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,30855.msg667821.html#msg667821

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgj_Pp2D8SM/

[2] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=2389

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck5i4qOjiQ3/

[2] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=1823

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CrdQTLVNW4u/

[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tiWiDzWnbMN2PKUoFQC1Y?si=ed7f7c3fc39240e5

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/By24THoj8WJ/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfA7Ay3ix-I

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

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=464

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=2077

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CWyGR6aoW7g/

[2] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=261

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CeIv2lyj4oJ/

This feels about a grade harder than The Kingdom which is pretty well established in the grey area between 8B+ and 8C, so this is probably in the grey area between 8C and 8C+.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CbkNG6BNOlT/

[2] https://youtu.be/H0HMSamy-AI?t=248

References

[1] https://youtu.be/-IPqdiBwPSU?t=576

References

[1] Aidan Roberts - Shallow Waters (2023)

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CpN5YtfDgkh/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOBuWzDz-E/

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/

[5] https://www.instagram.com/p/C2kc6ytt2FN/

[6] Right Hand Man - First Ascent (2023)

[7] https://youtu.be/rnw_kyk0G5Q?si=RymJQmg8T2fpz-Yr&t=245

References

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

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCw02l75etM

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CcU9HUxDaNd/

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.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CkF-CTAjrOH/

[2] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=1475

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVo-EzWWzP0

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVo-EzWWzP0

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloysXS6B_k

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/C_AsCe3NL7v/

References

[1] https://youtu.be/DyDeuGxr36w?t=542

[2] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBEgU8Zu1j-/

References

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

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=1012

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CUh1fdOj9Mk/

References

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

[2] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=395

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce_lOtnjh89/

[2] https://youtu.be/okkyOpLC6UI?t=569

[3] https://www.flickr.com/photos/156943872@N06/52729617824/in/photostream/

References

[1] https://youtu.be/pWdXr8UC5fg?t=207

References

[1] https://youtu.be/9_MZaIdWrsk?t=651

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV7sM0X97Jw&t=255s

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV7sM0X97Jw&t=639s

References

[1] https://youtu.be/9_MZaIdWrsk?t=918

References

[1] https://youtu.be/DyDeuGxr36w?t=616

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/BRJTDvjD8iO/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/BlyC2EbhCuX/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/Bl6E0aCgiHJ/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQzRk-F_pS/

References

[1] https://youtu.be/B_lAhBvtO-A?t=319

References

[1] https://youtu.be/B_lAhBvtO-A?t=814

Also ticked Dandelion Mind and Badger Badger Badger in the same session.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=538

While working the problem a hold came off making the problem harder.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/CK07-JVDdTZ/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CSTzX-KDM5u/

References

[1] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=1564

References

[1] https://youtu.be/rZHRIFrd35I?t=456

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CbItq28tYLJ/

Aidan was close on the flash go, falling on the final move to the lip.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiSvKVgDsE6/

References

[1] https://youtu.be/BVo-EzWWzP0?t=147

As is often the case with my more considered flash attempts, it’s usually the encouragement of others which inspires a good first go. This time it was [Keenan Takahashi] and [Daniel Woods] whom recommended it and kindly gave me some good advice. It certainly makes sense. The climb prides itself in simplicity. Isolate on a small right hand and drive into the left foot to gain a lovely pinch. And only a few large moves create a tall and proud face of climbing.

Between intermittent rain showers and wavering motivation at the idea of a soggy top-out slab, a weather window opened and I was able to top out on my flash attempt, a great feeling! [2]

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InFpmGeaxJc

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CsO0JTwtVg_/

The same day as flashing Momentum 8B+!

References

[1] https://youtu.be/pWdXr8UC5fg?t=714

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloysXS6B_k

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CK9TXiBD47v/

References

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

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CRv7D2eDPnu/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUj_ApZfodg&t=683s

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfDi36fpIPg&t=650s

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfDi36fpIPg&t=186s

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfDi36fpIPg&t=841s

References

[1] https://youtu.be/okkyOpLC6UI?t=343

References

[1] https://youtu.be/okkyOpLC6UI?t=449

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloysXS6B_k

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/C-0J_BdtrYA/

References

[1] https://youtu.be/9_MZaIdWrsk?t=339

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/crepuscular-days-112547801

[2] https://youtu.be/9_MZaIdWrsk?si=1VEDYAHNmAa-P-X2&t=177

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyDeuGxr36w

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/aidan.roberts98/p/Bl8j4TMDR1G

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/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CPoTIQQJFu1/

[2] https://youtu.be/C0iZPT-rj5E?t=39

References

[1] https://youtu.be/y6mHPXtge4w?t=425

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JzBCMpfk4o

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfDi36fpIPg&t=61s

References

[1] https://youtu.be/waFXEQHVhNo?t=272

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgyjkt8jEmb/

[2] https://youtu.be/2pkHqSsctCE

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CkF-CTAjrOH/

[2] https://youtu.be/zilINHowP2g?t=1378

Aidan's first problem on Yorkshire gritstone.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CozScF7tu17/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RgNdhT61QE

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID5Lyi13rd8

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/trying-worlds-8a-107179471

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID5Lyi13rd8

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV7sM0X97Jw&t=0s

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/outtakes-from-115710024

Billy Ridal:

Aidan Roberts flashed Tsunami today, and practically everything else at Rubicon. He won't shout about it so I thought I would. [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=27531.0