A glimpse into everything behind world of competition climbing.
Hear from setters, organizers, athletes, and everyone in between to learn about this fast-growing sport!
For further disc
... moreBy Jinni Xia
A glimpse into everything behind world of competition climbing.
Hear from setters, organizers, athletes, and everyone in between to learn about this fast-growing sport!
For further disc
... more5
1010 ratings
The podcast currently has 30 episodes available.
Sofya is a boulderer on team Switzerland and she’s part of the wave of OG climbing Youtubers! In this episode, she gives us a debrief on her last comp of the 2024 season in Prague, we get some insight into team Switzerland and their potential upcoming funding issues, and she opens up about her past struggles with disordered eating and how she overcame it.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Youtube
Reference links:
Weight Vest Video
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Reflections on Prague WC
6:05 - Climbing + Competing start
7:58 - Worldwide childhood and origins of her accent
10:52 - Boulderer getting into lead training?
15:40 - The "no expectations" comp trick
19:55 - Slab is the enemy
22:10 - Being a short climber
26:08 - Training schedule
30:03 - Team Switzerland transformation
31:42 - Swiss athlete funding
35:23 - Money and YouTube
41:41 - Behind the scenes of Youtube
43:31 - Climbing with a weight vest controversy?
48:19 - Climbing, puberty, and eating disorders
54:47 - Bulking & cutting?
1:04:04 - The pro comp climbing dating scene
1:08:47 - Training with Nicolai
1:10:48 - Favorite hobby is...escape rooms?!
1:12:54 - Future goals & being born in the 1900s
1:18:55 - Shoutout from Tom Greenall
1:19:27 - Discord statement: calling Sofya by the wrong name
1:19:51 - Discord Q: Who's your favorite YouTuber?
1:23:35 - Where to find Sofya
Another double-guest episode! Stanley is an IFSC event delegate and judge chair, while Zul is officially a newly minted IFSC judge. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to become an IFSC judge, hear about their relationships and interactions with athletes and coaches, and we’ll hear some crazy stories about their judging experiences under pressure and cancelling events due to rain like in Keqiao.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Stanley’s Instagram
Zul’s Instagram
Reference links:
Appeal against Sorato during Boulder Finals at SLC 2023
Appeal Form
Stickman (Implied beta) on M1 Boulder Finals at SLC 2023
Bee incident during Speed Finals at SLC 2023
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Getting back from Paris Olympics
7:31 - Their IFSC Roles
12:35 - Why become an IFSC judge?
20:34 - How to become an IFSC judge
23:46 - The pressure of judging at the IFSC level
26:51 - Being taken advantage of by coaches
31:09 - Messing up an appeal in Salt Lake City
38:44 - Things route setters do that judges HATE
49:19 - The appeals process
53:55 - Judge relationship with coaches
1:01:27 - Giving athletes yellow cards
1:14:06 - Fixing the weather
1:17:28 - Performing a skit at the World Cup opening ceremony
1:20:59 - Why is the rain issue never fixed?
1:26:58 - Belayer protest walk-out & other crazy stories
1:35:56 - Things to be improved in the IFSC
1:42:25 - Discord Q: How different are WCs based on who's organizing them
1:52:11 - Discord Q: Should corporations host world cups instead of national federations?
1:54:20 - Final thoughts, where to find Stanley & Zul
Jesse is a boulder + lead climber (mostly lead climber) from the USA who is fresh from the Olympics! In this episode, he walks us through his entire Olympics experience, from training through his first ever finger injury, to balancing training with his engineering job, to meeting other athletes in the Olympic village.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Reference links:
Protect Our Winters
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Post-Olympics travels
7:04 - Climbing and competing start
9:41 - Youth training + competition
12:39 - Wanting to work as an engineer
17:55 - Only getting 1 shot on a World Cup lead route
20:52 - Slipping on the Olympics semis lead route
23:12 - Boulder mindset as a lead climber
26:11 - Olympics Combined format strategy
29:42 - Finger injury leading up to the Olympics
35:34 - Olympics training with a hurt finger
42:41 - Olympics village experience - feeling like a real athlete
47:17 - Dealing with post-Olympic blues
51:22 - Goals post-Olympics
52:55 - LA 2028 plans
58:52 - Protect our Winters work
1:04:35 - Discord Q: Why does it seem like you're friends with every climber on the circuit?! (And a discussion on competitiveness)
1:10:03 - Discord Q: Professional and climbing career intersection?
1:12:35 - Final thoughts: Voting and memes, where to find Jesse
Olga is an official IFSC routesetter, and she recently came back from Paris, where she helped set the Olympic boulder rounds. In this episode, we'll learn about what it takes to become an IFSC setter, what it was like setting at the Olympics and trying to make the rounds fair, and how she balances setting, training, and traveling all while being a single mother.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Reference links:
Boulder + Lead routesetting guidelines and point distribution goals
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Break after Paris
2:35 - Climbing since childhood and being a team kid
5:36 - Almost an Olympic snowboarder...
7:28 - First time routesetting...was at an international comp
16:26 - Becoming an IFSC routesetter
20:09 - Setting for boulder vs lead
21:57 - Dealing with the boulder setting guidelines
26:06 - Trying to balance boulder vs lead difficulty at the Olympics
35:36 - Height and route setting - The Ai Mori problem
39:38 - Setting for men vs women
42:30 - Setting for future Olympics?
46:54 - Raising 2 little climbers
48:26 - Competing again after giving birth
53:21 - Hospitalizations in Budapest and Paris
55:54 - Balancing training, traveling, motherhood
57:47 - Non-climbing activities and snowboarding
1:02:08 - Discord Q: How do you deal with negative setting comments?
1:07:31 - Discord Q: Should the 2 zone format stay or go?
1:10:15 - Discord Q: How do you improve your route setting skills?
1:12:59 - Discord Q: Unique challenges you face being a setter and mother
1:15:55 - Where to find Olga
I know Allen from our climbing training class in San Diego, but he is also a boulderer for a brand new IFSC federation, Team Guam. In this episode, we'll learn about what it’s like competing on the world cup circuit as an “average” climber who only started climbing at 23 years old and works a full time engineering job. We’ll also hear about what it’s like as a NEW competitor competing in Innsbruck including the afterparties, and all about the Guam climbing scene.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Reference links:
Climbing Gems Bag
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Our climbing sesh
2:57 - Starting climbing at 23 years old
6:59 - Why he started comp climbing at 29 years old
11:15 - Wanting to bring climbing back to Guam
19:01 - Being a weekend warrior
24:14 - Current training + work balance
29:43 - Never having a personal coach
32:27 - First World Cup experience in Innsbruck
38:31 - The difficulty going to a WC alone
45:23 - What people do in ISO for 8 hours
51:09 - Thoughts while taking on his first WC Boulder
54:07 - Least favorite comp moment
57:02 - Innsbruck afterparty
59:37 - Favorite comp moment
1:05:40 - Climbing Gems chalk bag
1:10:13 - Where is Guam
1:13:02 - Guam climbing scene
1:23:53 - Discord Q: What made you decide to participate in world cups as an average climber?
1:30:15 - Discord Q: Are you going to all future bouldering WCs?
1:35:24 - Final thoughts/where to find Allen
Madison is a boulderer for Team Canada and you may have seen her Youtube videos with her husband Zach on their channel, Richardsons Climbing. In this episode, we'll learn about the issues the Canadian climbing team faces such as not having a head coach, her “lose” streak when it comes to Canadian nationals, Youtube and deleting social media, and we’ll get her take on getting married young and relationships among climbers.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Youtube
Reference links:
Ditching Social Media Blog Post
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - The never-ending 2024 season
6:11 - Climbing + competing start
7:53 - Losing interest in lead climbing
16:37 - Current training program
19:43 - Moving to Germany and then back to Canada
26:42 - Canada's funding struggle/lack of coaching
33:31 - Canadian geographical difficulties
37:26 - Discord Q: What obstacles will Canadian climbers need to overcome with Alannah and Sean retiring?
39:32 - Comparison, competitive mindset, and the nationals curse
44:00 - Deleting all social media
49:31 - Social media and sponsorships
55:11 - Making the exception for Youtube
1:02:26 - Getting married young to another climber
1:08:06 - Siblings or dating?!
1:10:30 - Take on relationships between World Cup climbers
1:14:39 - Competitiveness within the relationship
1:21:40 - Relationship with Alannah Yip
1:24:36 - Discord Q: Thoughts on the current field of comp climbing women compared to other nations?
1:27:28 - Discord Q: Would there be a benefit to a more dedicated training center in Canada?
1:30:09 - Final thoughts + where to find Madison
Sebastian is a German paraclimber. He is also the chair of the paraclimbing commission, and he worked on filing the application to get climbing into the Paralympics for LA 2028, which only recently got approved! In this episode, we'll learn about his journey accepting that his disease would affect his body and climbing forever, what the process was like for getting climbing into the Paralympics, the drama behind the paraclimbing classification process, and we talk about his harrowing 1000km journey to the Innsbruck world cup on just a solar hand bike.
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Guest links:
Youtube
Reference links:
IFSC Classification Information
FAQ Video on the bike
Short teaser about the handbike
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
Join Patreon for a welcome gift, deleted scenes, and question priority: www.patreon.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Getting into climbing/paraclimbing
9:43 - Learning to live with ankylosing spondylitis
23:58 - Applying for paraclimbing to become a Paralympic sport
35:25 - Onsighting the Paralympic application and beating out surfing
39:53 - What sport classes will be in the Paralympics
44:51 - Requirements paraclimbing must fulfill to participate in the Olympics
49:55 - Classification drama
58:07 - How classification works
1:05:15 - The difficult job of classifiers: fluctuating impairments
1:09:25 - Funding his climbing
1:13:07 - And the solar hand bike was born
1:28:50 - Proudest outdoor climbing achievement
1:33:00 - Closing thoughts/where to find Sebastian
Noah is the Assistant National Belay Coordinator of USA Climbing and has volunteer belayed at events nationally and internationally at IFSC youth worlds in 2022. In this episode, we'll learn about how to get into volunteer belaying, some interesting tidbits on belay devices and catching falls that you may not have thought about before, what the differences are belaying different paraclimbers, and some bad falls that he has had to witness.
NEW PATREON: www.patreon.com/CompetitionClimbing
Guest links:
USA Belay Instagram
Reference links:
First draw falls at USA Team Trails
Belay shoe clip incident mentioned from Discord
Leg caught in rope Youth Worlds
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
To help support the podcast, you can become a Patreon member: patreon.com/CompetitionClimbing Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Getting into climbing and belaying
8:43 - Any certifications needed to volunteer belay?
14:53 - Belay devices
21:01 - Climbers falling + getting lowered at the same time
23:34 - Do you get paid to belay?
25:58 - Belayer prep for a comp
37:03 - Do athletes ever get to choose their belayer?
48:29 - NO belay glasses?!
51:49 - Differences between youth, elite, para
1:00:28 - Tandem belaying in paraclimbing
1:03:01 - Nervousness while belaying
59:22 - Team boulder arena com
1:08:46 - Climber interactions
1:11:11 - Bad falls during comps
1:17:06 - How to become an IFSC belayer
1:21:13 - Discord Q: Common bad practices belayers need to stop doing
1:26:52 - Discord Q: Have you ever had to remove a volunteer belayer?
1:29:54 - Discord Q: Have peopled ever submitted appeals for being shortroped?
1:31:27 - Discord Q: Thoughts on the double Fisherman or Yosemite tuck?
1:33:20 - Closing thoughts/where to find Noah
Ross is a boulder and lead climber on Team USA and you may be familiar with his Youtube channel where he documents his climbing adventures and shares coaching tips. In this episode, we'll learn about his bikepacking adventure that he skipped the first half of the 2024 world cup season for, hear about his struggle trying to balance competitions with his desire to travel and all his other hobbies, the importance of mindset and meditation, and if you're a USA bay area gym climber, maybe close your ears when he starts trashing the bay area gym scene. This episode is full of training and mindset tips!
NEW PATREON: www.patreon.com/CompetitionClimbing
Guest links:
Youtube
Mind to Motion Clinics
Reference links:
How to Train/Stay Fit While Traveling
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
To help support the podcast, you can become a Patreon member: patreon.com/CompetitionClimbing Or, for a one time donation, buy me a "chalk bag": www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Intro/Going over my experience competing in Vail
3:35 - Absolutely TRASHING California Bay Area gyms
11:38 - Why Ross didn't attend the first few 2024 world cups
13:15 - Insane bikepacking adventure
20:16 - What makes going to a World Cup worth it
25:10 - How Ross got into climbing
34:52 - Class5 Climbing Team
42:58 - The importance of who you climb with
44:58 - Struggle balancing travel desires + competition
49:16 - Hometown advantage makes a BIG difference
55:12 - Climbing training tip: strength training staircase
59:22 - Team boulder arena comp
1:04:48 - Mindset: How to turn around negative thoughts
1:08:51 - Fixing his SLC finals mindset
1:15:39 - Meditation for climbing
1:22:43 - "Being comfortable with the uncomfortable"
1:29:40 - Balancing other sports with climbing
1:40:16 - Using your non-dominant hand
1:45:17 - Making time for Youtube
1:50:05 - Proudest moment as a coach
1:55:42 - Discord Q: How to use skincare products for comp climbing?
2:00:27 - Discord Q: How to incorporate outdoor climbing into training? Any projects?
2:07:51 - Discord Q: Favorite non-US teams to train with
2:11:30 - Discord Q: Is the USA team dynamic more competitive or supportive?
2:15:07 - Leave a comment with more questions if you want a pt 2/Where to find Ross
Erin is a boulder and lead climber from team GB who has been having a stellar 2024 season so far, making finals for boulder in Keqiao, lead in Wujiang, and getting bronze in Shanghai OQS! In this episode, we’ll get some insight into how she seemed to rise out of nowhere, her brutal off-season training, we’ll learn a bit about team GB, and stay for the end to hear about where the Erin McBeast nickname came from.
Guest links:
Reference links:
Keqiao Boulder Finals Difficult Paddle
Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast
Join the FREE community in Discord! https://discord.gg/QTa668g8zp
If you're able to help support the podcast, you can "buy me a chalk refill" :) current proceeds are going toward a webcam! www.buymeacoffee.com/compclimbing
Timestamps of discussion topics
0:00 - Intro/Rest after Shanghai OQS
2:52 - Starting climbing + skateboarding
9;12 - Her dad’s gymnastics/climbing background
11:29 - Jumping without bending your knees
13:26 - Climbing preferences, strengths, weaknesses
15:53 - Traveling for climbing experience
17:36 - Team GB training process
21:48 - Finding incredible form this season
26:25 - Taking on a less serious mindset
34:06 - Training goal setting
35:41 - Difficulty maintaining friendships through training
39:45 - Competing against your idols
42:43 - GB Climbing Funding
44:59 - Need for sponsorship
46:33 - Handling the quick OQS -> Olympics turnaround time
49:28 - Future climbing goals
50:55 - Planetology interests
53:20 - Living in Malaysia
56:11 - Erin McBeast origin story
57:29 - ISO activities
59:28 - Discord Q: Did you ever had doubts in wanting to become a pro climber?
1:02:30 - Discord Q: Training at home vs abroad
1:03:59 - Discord Q: Do you do any other sports? Is cross-training beneficial?
1:06:03 - Where to find Erin
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