Climb With People Who Are Better Than You!
There’s a moment in every climber’s journey when progress slows down. You’re sending some problems, plateauing on others, and wondering why the other climbers seem to float up the wall while you’re stuck analyzing your foot placement for five minutes straight. Ofc, what slowed me down too was my back surgery, I started climbing ASAP when my physiotherapist gave me green light, but the beginning was veeeery slow and I didn’t even believe I will climb again on the same level than before the surgery.Â
Also, a few things changed during my recovery phase and one big sorrow was that my best friend move to an other city with whom we trained 2-4 times per week. But losing my training buddy actually worked miracles in my climbing journey. Almost immediately I found myself – not to climb alone which I thought I would be doing as I enjoy it actually a lot – syncing with one climber I knew that climbs very good (he has climbing years +30), and been seeing him time to time at the gym… and now, we train all the time together and we train hard and I enjoy every minute of it! And addition to him, we have these few other fellas who join in our sessions (or we join theirs) pretty much weekly. They all are ~V7 and above climbers.
I’ve been kind of slowly trying to push my grades up a bit, but I don’t know if I’ve truly believed I could do so as I have been “stuck” on the 6C+ level so long (occasionally sending 7A). BUT!!! Now it is pretty common that I send at least one 7A-7B route per week! I’ve had weeks that I send +7 grade every day! AND that’s when I realized something simple but game-changing: climb with people who are better than you. PERIOD.
At first, it’s intimidating. You think, “They’ll notice how bad I am” or “I’ll just slow them down.” But here’s the truth — climbing with better climbers accelerates your growth more than any training plan.
What Happens When You Climb With Better Climbers
🧗‍♀️You push your limits.
Being around people who climb harder routes changes your internal baseline. What once felt impossible starts to feel… within reach.
🧗‍♀️You see smarter beta.
Watching how others approach a route teaches you creativity. Sometimes, they’ll use a completely different sequence you never noticed. Suddenly, a “reachy” move isn’t about reach — it’s about balance and body position.
🧗‍♀️You mirror their confidence.
When someone hops onto a 7A (or harder) with zero hesitation, that attitude is contagious. You start trusting it can be done!!
My Experience
When I started climbing with these fellas who were all at least a grade or two above me, I felt out of my depth. But they encouraged me, offered beta, and cheered for my sends as if they were their own. Within a few months, my climbing improved faster than it had in a year or two! Seriously!
In addition to “normal” training, we also did a lot (and I mean A LOT)Â of Kilter training during last summer and we still do! Our training sessions have now exceeded the limit of minimum 3h! And last but not least, we have so good time with the fellas every time we are together! The cheering for each others successful sends feels amazing!
You can use this “formula” in every level you are at your climbing journey. It does not matter have you climbed only V1.. or V6. Get to know people at your gym, socialize, try to sync your climbing sessions with the people you like AND. JUST. CLIMB.
Happy climbing everyone!Â
P.S. I’m starting to record more of my climbs so I can post them here and IG too!