Sonnie Trotter: Training for 5.15, Movement Mastery, and Reflecting on a Life of Adventures

Jul 2, 2025

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In this episode, elite climber Sonnie Trotter explores:

The 5.15a he’s training for, and what he’s specifically doing
The visualization trick he uses to get better at climbing (while at home)
Climbers who can do V14 on a board but not 5.10a outside
Training power vs endurance
Dreamcatcher dreams
Dealing with fitness setbacks due to sickness or injury
Board climbing for peak power
How to improve footwork using hard gym climbs
Managing fear on bold climbs and free solos
Getting the kids into climbing
His new book Uplifted

BIG THANKS TO THE AMAZING SPONSORS OF THE STRUGGLE WHO LOVE ROCK CLIMBING AS MUCH AS YOU DO:

PhysiVantage: the official climbing-nutrition sponsor of The Struggle. Use code STRUGGLE15 at checkout for 15% off your full-priced nutrition order.
Rúngne: Soft threads and high performing chalk! Use Code STRUGGLE for 10% Off Bags, Buckets, Chalk & Apparel from Rúngne! Rungne.com
SCARPA: Whether you’re a climber, trail runner, skier, or hiker, SCARPA offers an array of adventure footwear for the adventure seeker in you. with a commitment to sustainability. Shop the whole collection at SCARPA.com. SCARPA, No Place Too Far.
Arc’teryx: Inspired by and tested in the Coast Mountains of BC, Arc’teryx makes gear to go the distance! If you’re out adventuring in the elements, Arc’teryx has got you covered. Shop their full collection at Arcteryx.com

And check out ALL the show’s awesome sponsors and exclusive deals at thestruggleclimbingshow.com/deals

Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega.

Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right)

00:51 Journey in Rock Climbing
01:30 Balancing Family and Climbing
02:02 Training and Rest Strategies
02:57 Current Projects and Fitness Regimen
04:10 The Legendary Cobra Crack
05:12 Mental Aspects of Climbing
06:05 Conversation with Sonnie Trotter Begins
07:03 Pivotal Moments in Climbing
14:10 Sonnie's Climbing Heroes and Influences
19:53 Nutritional Adjustments and Insights
33:19 Balancing Professional Climbing and Family Life
38:49 Sonnie's Current and Future Projects
39:27 Navigating Risk and Fear in Climbing
42:19 Reflections on Climbing Legacy
43:49 Coaching and parenting in Climbing
47:06 The Journey to Writing Uplifted
51:43 Stories and Reflections from the Book
59:50 Reflections on Climbing Legacy
01:02:45 Sonnie's Future Goals
01:08:48 Listener Questions and Final Thoughts

Check out Sonnie's wonderful book, Uplifted, available on Patagonia, Amazon, etc.

Meet me at ICF in Lander! https://www.climbersfestival.org/

Follow along on Instagram @thestruggleclimbingshow and YouTube /@thestruggleclimbingshow

The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation, whose mission is to promote solar energy for a more equitable world.

This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry.

The struggle makes us stronger! I hope your training and climbing are going great.

And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!