Weekend Warrior: V9 at 200 lbs, Not Finger Training, and How to Improve Without Getting Stronger

09/07/2025 1h 15min Episodio 247
Weekend Warrior: V9 at 200 lbs, Not Finger Training, and How to Improve Without Getting Stronger

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Episode Synopsis

Join The Struggle’s Patreon community to get 100+ hours of Bonus Episodes, Pro Clinics, Uncut Videos, and Submit Questions for Future Guests. FREE TRIAL available! 
https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow
 
In this episode, we connect with Weekend Warrior Stephen Conti to explore:


Going from beginner to V9


Transitioning from gym to crag


Climbing hard at 200 lbs


The key to steady progress


Specific technique drills that yielded fast improvements


Why finger training wasn't producing results


Setting a goal for 50 days outside... and what it did to his climbing


The surprising benefit of a spray wall


The effects of gaining and losing 30 lbs


His road to V11


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BIG THANKS TO THE AMAZING SPONSORS OF THE STRUGGLE WHO LOVE ROCK CLIMBING AS MUCH AS YOU DO:

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Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right)

01:41 Host's Personal Climbing Experience
03:47 Upcoming Events and Announcements
04:52 Interview with Stephen Conti Begins
06:44 Stephen's Climbing Background
09:02 Training and Progression Insights
18:33 Skill Development and Drills
35:44 Memorizing Sequences for Climbing
37:47 Setting and Tracking Climbing Goals
39:24 Climbing in Challenging Conditions
43:24 Balancing Indoor and Outdoor Climbing
51:46 Managing Weight and Performance
01:11:22 Future Climbing Goals and Coaching
01:13:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega.
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Follow along on Instagram and YouTube: @thestruggleclimbingshow 
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This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry.
And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much! 

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