How to Use Heel Hooks Properly

In this episode, I talk with Coach Alex Stiger about what she learns from watching all of the Climbing World Cups and how she uses those videos to teach her clients about their own climbing. You can passively watch any sport you want, but if you’re actually an athlete in that sport, you can turn those viewings into active learning sessions by asking yourself a few questions and being really observant.

Here’s what we talked about:

• Why she chose this topic right now
• Why it’s important to have heroes in your sport
• What World Cup climbers can teach you
  • What good climbing actually looks like
  • What trying hard looks like
  • How to be brave and try hard til the end
  • Awareness of rope management while climbing
  • Confidence in your body type by watching similar climbers at an elite level
  • Normalizing success, failure, disappointment, elation, etc. while climbing
  • What questions to ask yourself while watching in order to get the most out of it
  • Having goals after watching
• Why you should actively watch other climbers at the gym and at the crag (and who to watch)
• Specific resources to watch
• Things to be aware of for your own well-being while watching

I really loved how organized and thoughtful Alex was about this interview. I learned a lot and will be watching World Cups with a new lens now, and I hope you will too.

• Enroll in Alex’s 5.12 Breakthrough Series until July 28th, 2023
• Work with Alex as your coach
• Try out our Bouldering Training Program
• Have questions? Email alex@trainingbeta.com or neely@trainingbeta.com