Declan and Zoe just competed at the Fukuoka exhibition team event for team USA where they climbed in all 5 boulder and lead rounds! In this episode, we’ll learn about their unorthodox climbing training program here in San Diego, how team selection and strategy worked at Fukuoka, and whether there was added pressure climbing with a team and coach present.

Guest links:

Declan’s Instagram

Zoe’s Instagram

Reference links:

Fukuoka Competition Playlist

Yank n yard stream: Highball boulders comp

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Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:23 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

2:03 - Starting climbing and competing

4:48 - Strength training BAD?!

10:18 - Japan traveling

11:50 - Fukuoka team event selection process

14:28 - Difficulty of the climbs

18:37 - Talking to the coach during the comp

20:59 - Pressure climbing with a coach and teammates

23:51 - Team competition strategies

28:08 - 5 rounds in 3 days

31:06 - First time competing on IFSC livestream

33:15 - The stress of youth competitions

35:34 - World Cup climbing is uncomfortable

40:23 - Lead vs boulder preference

44:37 - Future climbing + education goals

49:26 - Now we're just glazing San Diego

54:41 - Audience Q: Anything you would've wanted to change with the team event?

58:59 - AUDIENCE Q: Memories/advice from youth training?

1:02:17 - Being known as the "benchwarmers' benchwarmers"

1:03:08 - Outdoor goals

1:05:17 - Beating Elden Ring

1:06:28 - Relationship advice from 18 year olds!

1:09:13 - Words of wisdom + where to find Zoe and Declan