American bouldering phenom Shawn Raboutou has made headlines once again, securing a repeat of Ryuichi Murai's legendary testpiece, Floatin, located in Mizugaki, Japan. However, it wasn't just the send that caught the community's attention—it was the grade.
Originally proposed as a benchmark V16 (8C+) by Murai, the compression monster requires an absurd amount of core tension and raw power. Shawn, known for his laid-back demeanor and freakish strength, dispatched the line but decided to log it as V15 (8C).
By suggesting the boulder feels slightly easier than the V16 grade implies, Raboutou adds an interesting perspective to the high-end bouldering scale. Shawn is no stranger to the V16 and V17 realms, having established lines like Alphane and Megatron. His opinion carries massive weight, proving once again that climbing grades remain highly subjective and dependent on morphology, beta, and conditions.
Whether it settles at V15 or V16, Floatin remains one of the most stunning and difficult lines in Japan, and Shawn's ascent adds another incredible tick to his ever-growing resume.
