Hi All, it’s Alex Stiger here.

Just a reminder that I am currently offering my 6-month Coaching Program and have just 5 spaces left! This is a limited time offer so if you are wanting to work with me, now is the chance. If you have any questions about the offering, please don’t hesitate to email me at Alex@TrainingBeta.com.

Today I will share two big things that have been helping my climbing quite a bit. The first practice will help you progress to doing harder moves and the second practice will help you feel on track to being braver.

The first big thing has to do with when I’m trying moves that feel impossible, either on a rope or while bouldering…

1) Don’t stop when you fail, stop when you have learned something

Imagine you are trying a hard move and either give up or go for it and fall off. What do you do right after that? I noticed from all the videos I take of my climbing that I would normally just walk away and go sit down. It’s not just me, I see this all the time, people fall off and immediately disconnect from what they were trying.

So the practice I got into the habit of is simple: don’t walk away until you have learned one thing. Maybe that looks like you pull on as if you did the move and feel what doing it would feel like, maybe you get a power spot (assistance), maybe you try a couple different beta options, etc… There are many options.

Here is a video of me doing exactly this, while projecting an impossible-feeling project on the Kilterboard. I tried a hard move and didn’t do it, and then pulled on as if I did the move and finished the problem. If I had walked away, I wouldn’t improve as a climber. By pulling back on, I learn I can reach the hold and I know I can do the rest of the climb. And I 100% got a little bit better.

The second big thing has been helping me grow my confidence while climbing above bolts and taking falls.

2) Whenever you feel afraid, ask yourself: “What is my appropriate challenge right now?”

Last year I got into a bad habit of protecting myself from feeling afraid. I did this by clipping up whenever I was at all nervous about climbing to the next bolt. I robbed myself of the fear challenge.

One of the biggest reasons I love climbing is getting to experience the fear challenge in a progressive way. This year, before clipping up, I ask what the appropriate challenge is and often find a next step that feels challenging but doable.

Example: I am looking up at my next clip, which looks too far away. So I decide that I can clip up after taking a practice fall. Once I take the fall and clip up, I ask myself what the next appropriate challenge should be?

The above example is very different than just clipping up and moving on. Getting better at climbing is NOT easy. Just trying hard moves or taking falls is not enough.

We often have to do what feels challenging, and sometimes it’s hard to know what that should be. One of the biggest strengths I have as a coach is that I am constantly searching for the things that will help me be stronger, braver, and better. Because of this I often have new and fresh ways of approaching the common barriers we face as climbers. I hope these two challenging but simple practices help you get stronger and braver.

Work with Me

If you want direct and effective solutions to struggles you are having in your climbing, please dive into working with me! I would love to help you.
>>>Sign Up for 6 Months of Coaching with Me

What can I help you with?

• Climbing harder
• Overcoming fear
• Improving your performance mindset
• Goal setting and assigning appropriate pathway goals
• Feeling more engaged & intentional with your climbing and training sessions
• Optimizing your strategy for projecting, flashing, and climbing trips
• Customize your strength training routine or teach you how to strength train appropriately for your goals and needs
• Support in balancing your life, climbing goals, and other sports, etc…

Other Details:

• This package is offered at my lowest rate available. Total cost will be $1,650. That is $275 per month.
• This offering is NOT available forever. My available 15 spaces are filling up fast, and once those spaces are taken I will have a waitlist for a while.
• You get 8 coaching calls over the 6 months and they do not expire!
• You do not need to get started right away.

I LOVE community and because of that, I want to offer a chance for those who participate in this 6-month package to meet, share, and learn together. You will be invited to my community Discord channel where you can ask me questions anytime, even if we are not currently working together, as well as get to know other great people I coach.

>>Sign Up for 6 Months of Coaching with Me

Again, just email me if you have any questions about any of this!

Talk soon,
Alex