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Climbing coaching in the Peak with Adrian Berry

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 Adrian Berry Global Crag Moderator 29 Apr 2008
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How well do you want to be climbing this summer?
How much is success in climbing worth to you?

For the last six years I have been developing techniques for rapidly improving climbers’ abilities. My books Sport Climbing+ and Trad Climbing+ are now recommended texts on many well-established climbing courses, including those run by the National Mountain Centre, Plas y Brenin.

Private coaching sessions
This year I will be available for private coaching sessions in the Peak District from May to September 2008.

The positive approach:
I have yet to meet a climber who could not climb a grade or two harder than they think they can!
Using what I call the positive approach I will quickly work out your strengths and weaknesses, and then focus on each in turn to make immediate, and dramatic improvements. The methods I use have been developed entirely separately from those used by traditionally trained climbing instructors, and they have been refined over years of coaching literally hundreds of climbers. The effectiveness of my coaching methods is guaranteed. I am also the only dedicated climbing coach to specialise in trad climbing. I have no minimum level – all are welcome!

My methods:
If you’ve done a learn-to-lead course (as have many of my clients) you will find my approach very different. I fully expect you to see a change in your climbing after just a couple of hours, and you should expect to improve your leading grade by one or even two notches by the end of the day. My approach is very much geared to looking at the ‘positive’ side of climbing, put simply; I’ll show you how to get to the top – physically, technically, and psychologically.
The coaching days I provide are set entirely around your current level, and your goals – there are no ‘standard days’, and the more time I have, the more progress you will make.

A typical day:
The night before an arranged coaching day I will contact you to discuss the weather, if the forecast isn’t good, we can reschedule the day – there’s no point going out if the weather’s bad! I don’t take deposits, and if you’re unable to make the day, then we can simply reschedule.
On the day itself, I would typically meet you around 10am in Hathersage, and after a chat I will offer a plan for a day that builds up technical skills and confidence using carefully chosen boulder problems, before moving onto a series of routes that increase in difficulty. If I feel your footwear may be letting you down, I will help you sort that out before hitting the crags. I am perfectly happy to drive if you wish to arrive by train.
If the session is one-to-one, I will belay, if it is one-to-two, your partner will belay you, and I will arrange it so that I am on a fixed rope, able to give advice as you are climbing. The climbing you will do will push you, but you should expect to move through grade barriers without feeling like you are far out of your comfort zone. I will be improving your ability as a climber, and expect you to climb harder routes, without them feeling too much harder!
The day ends when the learning ends or you’re too tired to climb anymore! Lastly, if I cannot improve your climbing, I will not charge a penny. But I will, so don’t forget your wallet.
I frequently run two days back-to-back, where the first day is spent solely on technique, and the second day looking at applying that tecnique to leading routes. It’s entirely your choice.

About me:
  • Author of both Sport Climbing+ and Trad Climbing+ published by Rockfax. http://www.rockfax.com/publications/country.html?id=21

  • Performance climbing writer for the BMC’s Summit magazine.

  • The UK’s leading climbing coach specialising in trad climbing.

  • Creator of the climbing coaching holiday.

  • Have climbed at an international level.


  • What I offer, and how much it costs:
  • One-to-one day-long session in the Peak District £150

  • One-to-two day-long session in the Peak District £180

  • Coaching sessions at The Climbing Works (Sheffield) £35 per hour

  • I am available 7 days a week including public holidays from May to September.


  • Non-meteorological conditions:
  • - I will assume you have the basic safety skills for the style of climbing you wish to improve, unless you tell me otherwise. I will also assume you have all your own gear, though I have a large array of climbing gear that I can bring along if you are lacking some pieces. I will also bring a large DMM bouldering mat.

  • If you are under 18, I will require a parent to be present.

  • There is no minimum grade – nor a maximum!


  • Recent voluntary feedback:
    “I've been recommended your services by some friends of mine ... slightly shell shocked, but said you were very good and they got a lot out of the day.”
    Simon

    “I have been climbing on and off for twenty years but I think I learnt more in one day than in the previous twenty years. Insights into climbing physiology and training, tips on tactics and technique, pointers on gear and a boat load of motivation.”
    Roger

    "Just wanted to say thanks for all of your help over the last few days. Your guidance (and perseverance) has helped me to push the boundaries of what I previously deemed beyond my capability. No more limiting myself to S and HS. A good stack of VS and some HVS climbs is now on the cards!”
    Mike

    "Your structured build up through the day gave me more confidence than I'd had for a long time."
    Alan

    "Many thanks for another enjoyable and productive day yesterday and for the feedback. In terms of the number of good hard problems ticked it easily goes down as my best ever day of bouldering and the most fun as well!"
    Jon

    “Never thought I would ever lead E1, so a clean on sight of an E2 was a real bonus... I got a shed load done in two days, a lot more than I had reasonably expected to achieve, a lot of mental distance travelled”
    Paul

    “I learnt so much, much more in that day than I have in the past 5 years, and I achieved my goal. Adrian is a really good coach, explains things well, is pretty patient and makes you believe in yourself. He gave me some things to work on and I will definitely be going back for another session."
    Caroline

    Moving forward:
    I can be contacted though UKC or through my website: http://www.positiveclimbing.com/
     kitkat78 13 May 2008
    In reply to Adrian Berry:

    I have to add to this thread after going out on Saturday with Adrian. If you are even half considering it, do it. Two grades harder in just a few hours, but more importantly climbing those harder grades with more style, less anxiety, and more left in reserve at the top of a route than I have had for five or six years. And thanks to some excellently targeted advice, I have come away from the day seeing it as start of a whole new chapter, rather than something that I could only achieve on that particular day. Do it! It's worth every penny.
     James Oswald 14 May 2008
    In reply to kitkat78:
    Was that a 2 hour course with just you or was it a group session?
     SteveM 14 May 2008
    In reply to james oswald:

    Kitkat78 & I did the day with Adrian together. It was a 1-to-2 all-day session. We saw benefits right from the first warmup and all the way through the day.
     Twisty 15 May 2008
    In reply to Adrian Berry:

    I've heard good things too- have no problem pushing myself on sport, bouldering or indoor routes but when it comes to trad it's different.

    Do you do student discounts :-p

    If so...i'm free all summer
     James Oswald 16 May 2008
    In reply to Adrian Berry:
    Yep do you do student discounts?
    OP Adrian Berry Global Crag Moderator 17 May 2008
    No discounts, sorry! I'm a bit too busy for that.

    Cheers
    Adrian

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