Updated: Hubble 9a (8c+) by Buster Martin

Buster Martin reports on Insta with a picture by Andrew MacFarlane that he has done Hubble at Raven Tor. It was put up in 1990 by Ben Moon as the first 8c+ in the world but later the UK scene have called it 9a although no of the first repeaters did upgrade it. Buster used the same knee pad beta as Matt Wright just did but did not mention any grade in his post. He has previously done one 9a+ and one 9a in Spain.

"The most technical piece of climbing I've done and maybe less of a test of power than you may think. It’s all in the subtleties and working them out. Yeah, you need to be strong but a twist of the wrist by a few degrees, hips in the right place or getting your fingers on the right ripples on the rock is what really gets you up this thing."

Buster says he took it down after some six sessions out of which four this year. One of the reason he tried it again was because Mat Wright find the knee bar.

So what do you think about the grade? It's obviously easier with the knee pad but compared to the other high 8s I have done at Raven tor then I think it is 9a.