Spain - climbing

Spent the last week climbing in Spain, completing some classic routes in the area. Highlight of the week was climbing the Penon de Flach in Calpe, a great route, eight pitches complemented by fantasic weather. Certainly would recommend the Costa Blanca as a venue for winter rock, I have been going for the last five years and still find exciting new places to climb.

Psychological approaches to coaching climbing

I have had the pleasure of spending last week up in Gloucester, delivering a course to climbing coaches from the Warehouse. I was asked to put a programme together which looked at the psychological approaches we as coaches can employ to build confidence, tackle fears, coping strategies both before and on the route and the language we use as coaches.

The programme consisted of mental researshal techniques, visualisation, anxiety control, coping strategies, relaxation methods and selective attention.

WWSR, Skills courses and sea paddling

Last week/weekend we were blessed with good water levels and I was able to get out and run a white water safety and rescue course and a skills coaching day on the River Erme. Once the weather changed again to beautiful sunshine we ran a BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach Course for a local outdoor education centre, and climbed a few routes.

Friday, me and very good friend Nick Arding managed to catch up and get out in our sea boats. In moderate to rough conditions with a steady force five wind we made our way from Looe to Polperro, the return was harder work but we found some really good rock hopping around the island.