TWO New Font 9A/V17s?

Aidan Roberts has made ascents of two of his long term projects, The Helvellyn Project, which he has since named Spots of Time, and The Midnight Project, in Chironico, Switzerland.

Thanks to @WEDGECLIMBING for the AMAZING footage they're constantly producing.

#bouldering #rockclimbing

00:00 Intro
01:00 Spots of Time
02:56 Midnight
05:12 How hard are they?

[santiagogc]

I believe that Aidan’s reflection on his experience on his podcast is very important and crucial for others to hear. Social media has impacted the pursuit of harder and harder things and the market around it. Yes, we all like grades, but we too constantly forget about the why of it all. Too much noise in such an internally peaceful sport. Aidan’s mentality is much needed in my opinion.

[jackandrew-qe]

Fully respect Aidan’s decision to not just slap a grade on them. Social media has given people an unreasonable sense of right to information. If instagram didn’t exist this would all be news along the grape vine. He doesn’t owe anyone anything, if he wants to take his time to enjoy the experience and reflect on what must feel like the culmination of devoting his life to the sport then he is well within his rights to do that.

[slumeba]

it is an exiting time for British climbing, I've just climbed my first 6a boulder in the pass

[junyuzhang]

Agree likely two v17 but it will be a wide range and some time before v18 is proposed lol but absolutely wild to think about that it will happen sooner than one expects.

[jonathanlin]

if aidan wants a second ascent of the midnight boulder within the next 10 years he should give it v18. No one would put serious effort into it otherwise

[RealClimbersDryFire]

These two boulders look so crazy cool. Completely different styles, so cool to see pro climbers trying stuff that they're not super comfortable with. Props to Aidan for not grading these two boulders and taking the time to think. New vid up on my channel now

[Exi]

He'll grade them after he sends Burden.

[Peteboulders]

Thought there we're 2 new 9A's in Font for a second 🤦‍♂️

[ethanfontek]

I was actually with Aidan and Will when Aidan did alphane. I remember talking with Giuliano who said the midnight project could be as hard as 9b bouldering. I have a feeling 9a+ is very likely to be proposed

[carlosarboleda]

Seems like not grading the boulders will make people focus even more on the grades 😂

[davidk]

I think its smart to give some time before settling on a grade of V18, maybe get some different opinions. But if its in his style and that hard for him then it must be at the very least upper end 17 or lower end of 18

[jacksonwhitcup]

This video answered an important question for me. I couldn't remember if the Helvellyn project was the one with that crazy gaston undercling press he was training for. But it wasn't, I think that was the low start project to sundial.

[esotericfilms]

I wonder how it affects other climber's motivation to repeat boulders when there is no grade. If he had thrown v16 or v17 on these climbs I assume there would be climbers booking flights right now

[domab]

I could see the midnight project being V18. I dont envision anyone else be able to make those moves. Besides, maybe sean rabatou

[yuto]

This title is basically exactly what he didn't want

[miloplayz]

Wait if the project was the first climb, that’s crazy, I’ve never ever seen a pro climber wear Scarpa Vapors



Also, I really hope that they would just say the grade already😂 hoping on of these v18, saw a comment where someone said Guiliano Cameroni said that 9B boulder for midnight is possible

[chazott]

harder than 9A?!? please stop spectator speculation about grades that don't exist. 9A barely exists. Many pro climbers say 8C+ is still poorly understood. How many sessions has Aiden had on Burden now, between at least 2 trips and his home replica? Number of sessions is not the best indicator, especially for FAs

[henrygilbert]

Not offering a grade is such a cop out. He knows what grade he thinks they are, he's just refusing to tell us. Grades and a positive experience of just climbing are not mutually exclusive. With the right mindset they can co-exist.

[ApefooTraining]

Some arbitrary numbers caressing and groping some edges on an islolated bit of dilapidated rock in the middle of the field, provides enough rationale to inflate your ego above others, neglecting the process, the journey and complete acquisition of gainz avenues. Less focus on the numbers the better.

[PlPu]

I know the channel is called UKClimbing, but who cares where the climbers were born...? Does it make any difference that these two guys were birthed in the same arbitrarily-defined nation-state?