Matty Hong and Shawn Raboutou send in Spain
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Heiko Wilhelm
As reported, Spanish crags are currently being taken by storm by a group of extremely powerful American climbers that, after Daniel Woods’ first 9b and La Rambla climbed by Jon Cardwell can now celebrate with another two difficult ascents carried out by Shawn Raboutou and Matty Hong.
Raboutou took the baton last week and redpointed his first 9a+, First Ley at Margalef. This shares much of First Round First Minute before breaking off left to avoid the bouldery crux finish. Raboutou’s success is not surprising: he has been climbing ever since he was a youngster and is is the son of former champion climbers Robyn Erbesfield and Didier Raboutou, one of the leading lights during the 1980’s.
Matty Hong has been climbing ever since ever, too, and when not behind the lens of his camera - he took the wonderful photo of Margo Hayes immediately after the historic first female ascent of a 9a+ climb - he’s to be found on some of the hardest sport climbs in the world. In 2016 he ticked his first 9a+, Papichulo at Oliana and followed this up in 2017 with La Rambla, and he has now gone one stage further by sending the 9b Chris Sharma testpiece Fight or Flight at Oliana.
