Phil was and still is a regular indoor climber he found himself wanting to improve his climbing technique and his grade so he came along to the Rock & Sun Performance Coaching Level 1. He came to Rock & Sun climbing F5. His enthusiasm and willingness to try everything made him a star pupil. He worked through all the consolidation work given by his instructor Chris after the course and was climbing harder and harder. After level 1 he was climbing 6b! He soon came back for more and joined a level 2 course and then a bouldering level 3 weekend. He is now climbing 7a!

Phil says ‘I found the Rock & Sun performance coaching holidays the ideal way to improve my climbing, certainly more quickly than I could ever hope to achieve working by myself. The courses are structured so that new techniques are first learned, cemented and then applied. The coaches know the crags intimately and select routes designed to challenge and as the week progresses the confidence increases, as do the grades - by the end of level 2 I found myself climbing routes I thought I would only ever be able to look up at!

Oh yes I’ve had great holidays too!’

His instructor Chris ‘Yoda’ Newton-Goverd says ‘Phil’s zest for learning and trying anything ensured he was quickly climbing harder and harder routes. He is an inspiration to anyone who wishes to climb harder. Phil has really shown with concentration and some hard work you really can see your grades soar higher than you thought was possible.’

Steven aspired to climbing more remarkable routes made up of a variety of different rock formations of varying technical difficulty and gradient. Steven was willing to try a number of different techniques but was not willing to spend many days working a route for a redpoint ascent. He was keen that the emphasis should remain on fun.

The solution…….

Steven enrolled onto the Rock & Sun Performance Coaching Scheme, where he worked through from level 1 to level 3. Chris Newton-Goverd, his instructor, says ‘Once Steve overcame the mental barriers and limiting perception of his climbing abilities he was able to try and succeed harder and harder routes also gaining skills in every area of his climbing. I expect him to continue to push his grade ever further and I will always enjoy climbing with him.’

The results……

Steven’s technical climbing ability has been developed such that he is comfortable and confident on many different rock types and climbing styles. He continues to aspire to climbing the most remarkable and significant lines and his overall technical ability has risen from F4 to F7b.

What Steven has to say……

‘The staff at Rock & Sun undoubtedly utilised their extensive experience to the benefit of my performance levels….I was extremely impressed with the results and have subsequently undertaken more advanced performance coaching courses with them. I felt that the coaching Rock & Sun provided was particularly beneficial in helping to develope my technique and inspire an inner confidence so that I would continue to climb with an enhanced performance level.’