Weekend Warrior: V9 at 200 lbs, Not Finger Training, and How to Improve Without Getting Stronger

Jul 9, 2025

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In this episode, we connect with Weekend Warrior Stephen Conti to explore:

Going from beginner to V9
Transitioning from gym to crag
Climbing hard at 200 lbs
The key to steady progress
Specific technique drills that yielded fast improvements
Why finger training wasn't producing results
Setting a goal for 50 days outside... and what it did to his climbing
The surprising benefit of a spray wall
The effects of gaining and losing 30 lbs
His road to V11

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

01:41 Host's Personal Climbing Experience
03:47 Upcoming Events and Announcements
04:52 Interview with Stephen Conti Begins
06:44 Stephen's Climbing Background
09:02 Training and Progression Insights
18:33 Skill Development and Drills
35:44 Memorizing Sequences for Climbing
37:47 Setting and Tracking Climbing Goals
39:24 Climbing in Challenging Conditions
43:24 Balancing Indoor and Outdoor Climbing
51:46 Managing Weight and Performance
01:11:22 Future Climbing Goals and Coaching
01:13:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

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

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!