Archive for the ‘Training’ Category

Crushing Tip #10

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Feeling like your next project is eternally halting your growth? We all hit plateaus. Thankfully, Joey Burns has a suggestion.

While he’s traversing the walls, we have a short conversation about his climbing. Joey credits his (freakish) abilities to, what else? Traversing. “If you’re a new climber, the best thing you can do is traverse,” Joey explains. “Traversing helps me get past all my plateaus, from V1 to V2, from V4 to V5.” Aside from providing an endless series of climbing problems, traversing is extremely helpful in the endurance department. “It’s what helped me – especially when I was a new climber.” Looking to further improve your climbing? Check out our Private Lessons or ProRock Coaching programs.

Looking to further improve your climbing? Check out our Private Lessons or ProRock Coaching programs

Crushing Tip #9

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

For new and experienced climbers alike, a quick reminder to focus on precise footwork is always worthwhile tip. “Focus on watching your foot all the way to the hold,” explains Jon Manz. “A lot of people see a hold and before they’ve placed their feet, they’re already looking at the next move.” Is that you?

Watch your foot on each and every hold! That means more than seeing it. Follow your foot to the best position on the hold and watch until you’re applying pressure. That, ladies and gents, is precise footwork. Go to it!

Looking to further improve your climbing? Check out our Private Lessons or ProRock Coaching programs

Crushing Tip #8

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

 

 

When someone asks how to up their climbing game, we almost always reply, “climb more, climb harder.” It might sound horribly trite, but it’s true. Here’s the reason we’re quick to suggust more pull time.

Climbing 100 laps on routes at your current redpoint grade is great… for getting good at your current grade. Progressing further requires more. If you want to get stronger you have to try routes that are harder than your current best.

Remember that even as you’re falling off things you’re learning valuable lessons about what does and doesn’t work on harder routes. Sasha D said the change responsible for the explosion in her climbing ability that allowed her to redpoint 14d was trying routes she used to think of as out of her league.

 

Crushing Tip #7

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

 

This month’s Crushing Tip might be the HARDEST one EVER! For climbers, taking a break can be tough. We’re just so ready to push the route, ourselves, and our bodies to the next level. But remember, rest is your friend.

“Once you’ve figured out the moves on a boulder project, it’s easy to get excited and try over and over again without resting,” says Jon Manz. Inadequate rest will pretty much guarantee that you will fall off, kick your chalk bag in frustration and tell me you hate climbing.”

Fix it! Here’s what to do:

Once you’ve transitioned to redpoint burns, try resting 1 full minute for every move you made on your last attempt. Long problems might require as much as 10 minutes, while shorter problems or attempts may only require 2 or 3.

Taking a adequate breaks between burns (as well as climbing sessions) will help your body maximize it’s climbing ability.

Crushing Tip #6

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

Repeat Ascents

We like to think of our routes as ways to teach good climbing movement. Getting to the top of a route means that you’ve started to learn the lessons of a specific route. “But just like good movies deserve repeat viewings and good restaurants deserve repeat visits, good routes deserve repeat ascents.” Explains Jon Manz.

Trying to climb routes faster, smoother, quieter, or with a different sequence are all great ways to learn something new from a route you’ve already “finished”. Alex Huber once said you haven’t really mastered a route until you can climb it both up and down. He just might be onto something.

What to do? This month find a handful of routes near your climbing level and… CLIMB. Put up a few ascents on each until, “you can climb it both up and down.”

Crushing Tip #5

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Last month we talked about how a coach could help you set up a training program. Continuing that train of thought, Jayson Owens has another suggestion: “GET a coach!” He explains, “you can’t dramatically improve on your own. You have to climb with others.”

Basically, it’s important for you to climb with someone stronger and more experienced than you. Your new coach should watch out for and correct any errors you might be making. Having someone help point out climbing mistakes will help you crush more, faster.

What to do? There’s a few choices, you can buddy up with fellow Edgeworks member who are willing to climb with you. Also, if you’re up for it, there’s a more structured option: getting coaching through Rock Sessions or ProRock.

Crushing Tip #4

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

One of the best ways to improve your climbing is to find a mentor, a coach, who can help you set up your training schedules. Until you’ve got your own, you can take this Climbing Tip from the Edgeworks Team Coach, Jon Manz. “One important aspect of improving is to manage your training cycles,” explains Jon, “don’t focus on strength every time you train. Vary your work out.” Essentially, we have to establish training days to build important and specific climbing skills and muscles.

You should build a training pattern where you incorporate strength, power-endurance, endurance, and rest days into your weekly schedule. Try this out:

  • On day 1, focus on strength; hit up the bouldering wall and weights. You’re looking to increase your strength.
  • Day 2 is a power-endurance day. You’re going to head over to roped routes and climb at a consistently hard level (but not your hardest), while increasing your volume of climbing.
  • On Day 3, it’s all about endurance. Here’s where you focus on the traverse. Stay on the wall as long as you can.
  • Follow this cycle with a good rest day and repeat.

Crushing Tip #3

Saturday, October 1st, 2011
Are you serious about improving your climbing? Andy Davis has some advice: “Open up your hands and your mind will follow.”Frequently climbers get into the (bad) habit of over using their muscles. One example is bending your knuckles and crimping down on holds. Avoid doing this by “Open handing everything.” Andy explains that, “by bending your knuckles you’re engaging unnecessary muscle groups and increasing your chance of injury.”

Here’s what to do: While traversing, pay attention to your fingers and how much you’re bending your knuckles. The idea is to climb on your fingertips while keeping your knuckles flatter.

 
 

Open Handed – Good

Flat

Keep your hand open and knuckles flat. This will build up your slopper strength and increase your ability to climb hard.

Crimped Fingers – Bad

Crimp

Having your knuckles bent requires extra energy and increases the likelihood of injury.