Full clip is on the patreon https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-close-go-83500270
I don’t really get all this agonising over grades.Sharma had a long period when he didn’t grade anything.If you’re right at the top of the game then you can do what you like. Aidan is there and his attitude to place/process and all that is refreshing. He maybe doesn’t realise it but he has the potential to really influence how we perceive climbing.I personally am pretty inspired by his approach and the way he articulates his experiences. I cannot say that about many other top/current climbers, including Ondra. Maybe I’m a bit biased being from the Lakes myself but the bit in the pod about local projects really resonated with me. He’s a gifted communicator and these recent climbs deserve something long form both written and visual. I thought the Wedge film Mastery was absolutely top notch. Hopefully they can put something else together similar with the help of Patagonia.
If it's left ungraded then the media will just make up a grade, say if Aidan says its the hardest thing he's done, media will just say it must be 9A then and call it that. I think they're just incapable of abandoning the grade narrative.