Motivation and Tactics
Better Than Last Year
Tags: Motivation, peak, Planning, plateau, Steve Bechtel, Steve's Blog
By Steve Bechtel Dan John once quipped, “The goal of aging should be to make the same mistakes over and over again less often.” Although we are in the throes of redpoint season across much of North America and Europe, many of us are already assessing what we’re going to do to get…
Watch: Training While Traveling
Tags: climbing, core training, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Tactics
Climbers who are committed to consistent training often follow a pretty well structured pattern in their training habits. But what do you do when you are not able to access your normal facility and training tools? Many climbers find it really stressful when their routine gets thrown off, and they are worried that they will…
BLOG: Why is Improving So Hard
Tags: Motivation, peak, Planning, plateau, Steve Bechtel, Steve's Blog
By Steve Bechtel Most of us either over-think our preparation for the sport or we don’t think about it enough. Far too often, we end up in the mindset of accepting limits, and decide that this must be our level. Why? Because we have plucked what seems like all the lowest-hanging fruit. Let…
Watch: Core Training
Tags: climbing, core training, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Specific Strength, Tactics
Core work is more than just making your abs tired. Here’s the thing I see a lot of: Climber swings up the wall between jugs, shaking out at the biggest ones and breathing hard; finally gets to rest stance and the whole body goes slack. Hangs on arms to “rest” but is actually increasing the…
BLOG: The First Step Off A Peak Is Down
Tags: Motivation, peak, Planning, plateau, Steve Bechtel, Steve's Blog
By Steve Bechtel I have a stack of notecards in the pack I carry to work every day. On them, I have written some ideas about training for climbing that I think are essential and largely ignored by climbers. I’ve made my career by talking to advanced climbers about advanced concepts, and I…
Watch: The Strength Continuum
Tags: climbing, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Specific Strength, strength continuum, Tactics
Strength training for rock climbers is often misunderstood. There is lots of confusion around how heavy to lift, how regularly, and how it actually applies to our climbing. In this video Steve dives into the spectrum of different exercises we can program in our strength training, and in what season they might hold the most…
Why and How We Train the Core
Tags: core, Motivation, Planning, Steve Bechtel, tension
By Steve Bechtel It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of “abs” in a workout, but I’m not a fan of not having a strong midsection, either. Confused? Me too. The core musculature can, and should, include about anything that is attached to the hips. We include: The rectus abdominis The transversus abdominis…
Watch: Redpoint Tactics #3 – Be Selfish
Tags: climbing, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Tactics
Climb Strong Coach Joel Unema is a master at climbing routes near his physical (and mental) limit. He has sent 5.14 sport and trad lines, many of them first ascents, and bouldered up to v14. Learn how to project hard climbs with tactical mastery in this new series with Joel, this is part 3 of…
Watch: Redpoint Tactics #2 – Get Creative
Tags: climbing, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Tactics
Climb Strong Coach Joel Unema is a master at climbing routes near his physical (and mental) limit. He has sent 5.14 sport and trad lines, many of them first ascents, and bouldered up to v14. Learn how to project hard climbs with tactical mastery in this new series with Joel, this is part 2 of…
Watch: Redpoint Tactics #1 – Have a Plan
Tags: climbing, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Tactics
Climb Strong Coach Joel Unema is a master at climbing routes near his physical (and mental) limit. He has sent 5.14 sport and trad lines, many of them first ascents, and bouldered up to v14. Learn how to project hard climbs with tactical mastery in this new series with Joel, this is part 1 of…
BLOG: Where Training Begins
Tags: begin, Motivation, Planning, plateau, Steve Bechtel, Steve's Blog
By Steve Bechtel This is how it goes: You go to the gym with friends and you do some easy climbs and it’s fun. Then you try a harder one or two, and maybe almost do them. Your hands are sore that night and as you fall asleep you’re thinking of how you nearly…
Watch: Program Design
Tags: climbing, in-depth video, Planning, Program Design, Programming, Tactics
Many climbers and coaches think about designing a training cycle for themselves or an athlete and the first thing that comes to mind is the exercises they will program. This is intuitive and it makes sense why you would think to start there, but is completely backwards. In this video Steve lays out the four…