The #1 mistake to avoid

Too much focus on short time progress is, what I believe, the number one common mistake among climbers. Climbing has been said to by a lifestyle sport were long time progress is just the consequence of being obsessed about solving challenges. Alex Megos trainers have said that they deliberately hold him back being a teenagers so he should not peak too early. Adam Ondra did not have a trainer until he had left his teens. He just climbed as much as possible. A couple of weeks before going to a Boulder WC, he could be in Kalymnos focusing on endurance challenges.

At the same time, the internet is flooded with short term courses and tips how to advance several grades very quickly. Especially kids and teenagers should not just train in order to achieve a certain grade or competition goal. The best thing about climbing is not to be #1 but to have gotten a lifestyle sport that could be your guide having fun around the globe or at your local gym.