Emma is a boulderer on Team GB. 2025 was her debut in the senior world cup circuit and she already made a world cup finals! However, if you don’t recognize her, it may be because that was Prague where her finals round got rained out. In this episode, we’ll go over ALL the mishaps that happened at Prague including an allergic reaction, and we’ll learn about her training schedule, team GB, the climbing culture in commercial gyms, and how often she goes through climbing shoes, which was MIND BLOWING.

Guest links:

Emma’s Instagram

Reference links:

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

Learn more about the podcast at www.thatsnotrealclimbingpodcast.com

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Timestamps of discussion topics

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:31 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

2:11 - My annual stretching resolution

5:29 - Used to do 6 days on 1 day off?!

9:29 - Getting into climbing and competing

11:47 - First year in the Senior Circuit

14:28 - Starstruck warming up next to Miho & Janja

16:02 - AUDIENCE Q: Advice for youth climbers transitioning to senior?

17:02 - Climbing styles

20:12 - Prague allergic reaction disaster

24:59 - Prague finals getting rained out

27:31 - AUDIENCE Q: How do you feel about the mental side of comp climbing?

29:51 - Pretty decent prize money! :o

31:40 - Being a taller climber

32:45 - Team GB training in commercial gyms

38:09 - British Youtube + Zoella

39:47 - Season expectations?

42:14 - Toxic Gym Culture?

46:45 - Outdoor Climbing

47:55 - Enjoying sedentary activities

50:29 - Trying to balance training with school

53:27 - AUDIENCE Q: How do you decide what gyms to train at?

55:12 - AUDIENCE Q: Making climbing shoes last?

59:09 - AUDIENCE Q: Favorite boulder from Brussels European cup?

1:00:35 - AUDIENCE Q: What's the difference between TC and world cups?

1:02:42 - AUDIENCE Q: Does your brother climb harder than you yet?

1:04:43 - Words of wisdom and where to find Emma

This is Charlie’s second time on the podcast and he’s back with a big announcement! For those who aren’t familiar, Charlie preceded Matt Groom as the IFSC/World Climbing commentator. This time, he’s back to talk about the brand new competition series, Pro Climbing League. In this episode, we’ll go over all the details of what a PCL competition will look like, the challenges they faced the past 5 years putting this together, and I’m diving into all the finances as well.

Guest links:

PCL Website

PCL Instagram

Charlie’s Instagram

Reference links:

Solo Documentary (Kayaking Story)

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:33 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

2:13 - PCL test event

3:32 - IFSC/World Climbing Background

6:17 - What is Pro Climbing League?

11:18 - Live routesetting during a competition

15:21 - YOU may be able to compete!

19:25 - Hardest part of setting up a climbing league

24:25 - Why PCL was started

29:16 - AUDIENCE Q: What prompted the head to head format?

34:18 - AUDIENCE Q: Did you consult with athletes for this format?

40:00 - AUDIENCE Q: Challenges broadcasting this comp?

44:22 - Getting sponsor money for the league

47:08 - Most expensive part

53:00 - AUDIENCE Q: What will the prize money look like?

1:00:07 - I'm addicted to the concept of sports betting

1:05:08 - What does success look like?

1:08:51 - AUDIENCE Q: Future schedule and locations?

1:11:18 - AUDIENCE Q: What aspect of the format excited athletes the most?

1:14:16 - AUDIENCE Q: Will you use adjustable walls for the comp?

1:17:07 - Where to find PCL deets!

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

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

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

You may have heard of him as the slab master, but Hannes is a climber on Team Belgium who just recently got silver in boulder at Arco Rockmasters and also won a bronze in Innsbruck this past 2025 season! In this episode, we’ll go over his 2025 season, get his tips on slab climbing, and learn about how he tries to stay in the right mindset during stressful competitions.

Guest links:

Hannes’ Instagram

Reference links:

Amazing Arco Rockmaster Slab Top

The Backflip of Anger

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:12 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

1:56 - Elbow surgery!

4:20 - Rockmasters reflection

10:55 - Getting into climbing and competing

15:27 - Transitioning out of youth comps

17:24 - 2025 season reflection

22:41 - Comps are going back to old-school climbs

26:08 - Instagram influencing world cups

28:44 - Staying in shape throughout a long competition season

32:10 - Lead vs boulder preference

35:43 - Training schedule + lifting vs gaining weight

43:12 - Pressure being the slab master

47:31 - Top slab tips

49:45 - The fickle mental game of comps

52:58 - Power of visualization for mindset

56:55 - The backflip of anger!!

1:00:16 - Taking his driving test

1:05:03 - 2026 goals

1:06:44 - AUDIENCE Q: What is the language situation in team Belgium?

1:09:37 - AUDIENCE Q: Do you think calisthenics/gymnastics is necessary now in comp climbing?

1:11:35 - AUDIENCE Q: How to stay calm during competitions?

1:16:43 - Words of wisdom + where to find Hannes

Ben is a climber on Team USA and hold shaper for Pusher holds! In this episode we’ll get some insight into the grades of world cup boulders, how depression, anxiety, and ADHD shapes his relationship with climbing, how he balances working as a routesetter with training, and get his thoughts on hold shaping.

Guest links:

Ben’s Instagram

Reference links:

Seoul World Champs Boulder Semis

The Boss hold

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:10 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

1:53 - World champs experience

11:51 - Difficulty of semis boulders at world cups

18:33 - Getting into climbing and competing

22:36 - Climbing as self-medication for ADHD

30:20 - Training routine...or lack thereof

38:44 - Actually a lead climber

45:21 - MORE power boulders!

51:55 - Competitiveness with Colin

55:11 - Becoming a hold shaper

59:00 - Good holds vs bad holds

1:09:54 - Thoughts on no tex

1:20:05 - 2026 goals

1:21:56 - AUDIENCE Q: Did you really start climbing at 2?

1:26:19 - AUDIENCE Q: What kept you motivated to keep trying after failures at nationals

1:30:53 - AUDIENCE Q: What local climbers helped you growing up?

1:33:51 - Shoutouts + where to find Ben

Annie is a climber on Team USA and she had an amazing world cup season this year with 2 boulder golds and a lead gold and even more podiums! In this episode we’ll learn about what goes through her mind during her crazy beta breaks, what her training routine looks like, and how gym access really influences performance.

Guest links:

Annies’s Instagram

Annie’s Xiaohungshu (red book)

Reference links:

Women’s Boulder Final Seoul World Champs

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

0:56 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

1:39 - Jetlag + travels

5:29 - Growing up in a climbing family

7:09 - Static + slow climbing style

10:07 - Regretting static beta breaks??

12:08 - Timing out in lead

18:22 - 2026 goals

20:49 - Annie's training plan

24:32 - Lack of gym access

27:43 - Post-high school plans

30:22 - Outdoor climbing

33:38 - AUDIENCE Q: Can you still be an elite climber without passion?

35:43 - Audience Q: Mindset during comps?

41:36 - AUDIENCE Q: Tips for endurance?

42:26 - Audience Q: Advice on how to break dynos?

43:23 - AUDIENCE Q: Is it hard previewing climbs with other athletes?

45:57 - Outro and where to find Annie

Sagi has been the German team’s bouldering coach since 2022! In this episode, we’ll get insight into Team Germany’s training and challenges, hear why he thinks the losses hurt the coaches more than the competitors, we’ll get a story about his experience as a homeless person while in the US, and most importantly, we’ll DEBUNK his famous statement in the Magnus video that Olympic qualifiers will still be in the combined format for 2028!

Guest links:

Sagi’s Instagram

Reference links:

IFSC Format Experiment Upcoming Comp

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:40 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

2:24 - Youth worlds + Spain travels

4:59 - Climbing + coaching with no experience!

12:02 - Becoming the German bouldering coach

19:42 - Do pros still need climbing tips??

22:41 - Team Germany's training breakdown + reaction time practice

28:19 - Comforting athletes who have a bad round

37:58 - DEBUNKING LA 2028 qualification process

44:07 - The issue with bouldering points system

47:32 - HOT TAKE: Bouldering is no longer real climbing

54:53 - New generation of climbing

1:02:55 - German team challenges

1:09:42 - Price of hosting world cups

1:11:13 - Bouldering needs to change

1:18:50 - USA travel nightmare

1:28:03 - IG Q: Athletes in Germany that hate the DAV?

1:32:11 - DISCORD Q: Talk through the process of an appeal

1:38:58 - DISCORD Q: What do you do in ISO?

1:40:55 - Words of wisdom + where to find Sagi

Miguel is a climbing physical therapist who works closely with the Method youth climbing team in the US and recently worked his first youth nationals! In this episode, we’ll learn about the danger of growth plate injuries in youth climbing athletes, we’ll get a glimpse into youth ISO, we’ll rank 3 of the most dangerous comp moves we’ve seen so far, and we’ll hear about his own journey trying to make the Peruvian national team!

Guest links:

Miguel’s Instagram

Miguel’s website

Reference links:

Thank you Mad Rock for sponsoring this episode! Use code 'notrealclimber' for 10% off your ENTIRE order, even if you're a returning customer! https://madrock.com/

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

Timestamps of discussion topics

Timestamps of discussion topics

0:00 - Intro

1:18 - Mad Rock Shoutout!!

2:03 - Getting into PT and climbing

4:09 - OTs vs PTs and insurance battles

7:26 - Working with youth comp climbers

9:44 - What ISO is like at youth nationals

14:38 - Massage guns? And my bro-science musings

16:43 - Injuries in kids vs adults

19:37 - The big one: growth plate injuries in kids

25:01 - When to rest vs train through an injury

27:34 - General recommendations for climbing injuries

32:45 - S+C to prevent ankle, shoulder injuries

35:26 - Ranking 3 dangerous comp moves

42:27 - When NOT to tape

47:28 - What injuries do vs don't require time off the wall

52:53 - Chronic injuries? Maybe you're climbing wrong...

59:33 - Training for Peruvian nationals

1:06:37 - DISCORD Q: What advice would you give to PT students looking to work with climbers?

1:08:46 - DISCORD Q: What are the pillars of a strong climbing warmup?

1:12:27 - DISCORD Q: top 2 exercises for injury prevention

1:17:29 - Words of wisdom and where to find Miguel