trad performance coaching
Push your climbing to the next level with our Trad Performance Course — designed for those looking to push into the VS to E1 grades. This course blends lead climbing coaching, gear skills, and advanced movement to help you climb harder, more confidently, and with greater efficiency on traditional routes.
This course is delivered by mountain professionals that are affiliated with the Association of Mountaineering Instructors
2 DAY COURSE
PRICES: £300pp
COURSE OVERVIEW
Our Performance Trad Coaching course is designed for experienced climbers looking to overcome plateaus and improve their trad climbing ability — both physically and mentally. We’ll focus on refining your movement, optimising gear placements, and developing smart, efficient tactics for onsight trad climbing. You'll learn how to manage fear, improve decision-making on lead, and build a mindset for confident climbing between VS-E1.
COURSE OUTLINE
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Movement & Technique:
Refine your climbing movement with technique coaching, focusing on body positioning, footwork, and efficient energy use on steeper or more technical terrain.
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Trad Gear & Systems:
Fine-tune your gear placements, racking systems, and quick-draw use for smoother leads. We'll cover strategies for placing gear under pressure, protecting crux sections and building solid, efficient belays at speed.
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Climbing Tactics:
Improve your route reading, gear spotting, and lead tactics. Learn how to break down routes, manage pump, rest effectively, and strategise for successful onsights.
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Psychology & Mindset::
Work on managing fear, controlling nerves, and building mental resilience on the sharp end. Learn techniques to stay composed when it matters most.
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Lead Coaching:
Climb challenging routes (VS to E1) under close guidance. Receive real-time feedback, personalised coaching, and video analysis (if applicable) to address individual areas of improvement.
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Decision Making:
Sharpen your judgment: when to commit, when to place gear, and how to climb more decisively. Develop faster, more efficient decision-making strategies on lead.
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Self-Reliance & Safety::
Update and consolidate essential technical skills: lead belaying, holding leader falls, retreat strategies and personal abseils.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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Two full days of intensive coaching and lead climbing on real rock
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Targeted instruction to refine technique, build confidence, and push your grade
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Maximum 1:2 ratio for close support and tailored feedback
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Led by highly experienced MCI+ instructors with trad coaching expertise
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A supportive, structured environment to develop both technical ability and mental resilience on the sharp end
SKILLS COVERED:
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Refining movement skills and climbing efficiency
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Route reading and tactical decision-making
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Gear placement and trust-building
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Building solid belays and efficient rope systems and changeovers
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Effective lead belaying and fall management
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Mental strategies for managing fear and improving focus
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Techniques for pushing grade boundaries safely
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Self-assessment and performance goal setting
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
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Are confidently leading Severe/HS routes and want to push into VS-E1 territory
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Those who feel plateaued in their trad climbing progression and want expert input to break through
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Want to refine their technical, tactical, and psychological approach to leading
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Are seeking structured coaching to improve lead confidence, efficiency, and fall management
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Have a good foundation in placing gear and building belays, but want to climb harder, safer, and smarter
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Are looking for a supportive environment to challenge themselves
Anyone aged 16+ (under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
A Trad Performance course is beneficial and prior trad climbing and leading up to Severe is useful for this course.
dates
These courses can be run bespoke for you on any date of your choosing in Spring, Summer and Autumn
It's better to organise bespoke if possible, so we can focus on your climbing and offer an individual course, designed with you in mind.
COURSE RATIOS
Max ratio: 1 instructor to 2 clients
Private/bespoke:
– 1:2 at £150pp/day (bring a partner to save)
Additional instructors provided to maintain ratios for larger groups
All instructors are MCI-qualified and AMI-affiliated, with extensive trad coaching experience
PRE-REQUISITES
Ages 16+ (Under 18s must be with a parent/guardian)
Open to all active trad leaders, regardless of grade
Tailored coaching for all experience levels
Our instructors are here to progress your climbing no matter what you're ability - still enquire of you are looking to improve as climbing to VS-E1 is not always guaranteed or expected.
EQUIPMENT
Harness, helmet, ropes, and climbing hardware are all included in the course price.
You’ll receive kit list during booking to help you prepare.
Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and bring your own rock shoes—if you need help choosing the right shoes, we can offer guidance.
At this level, most participants have their own gear, but we’re always available to discuss equipment options before the course.
VENUE
This course is delivered in the Langdale Valley.
We will meet at the Sticklebarn National trust car park for meetings and course outlines.
We will use a single pitch venue for the day such as:
-Sticklebarn Crag
-Raven Crag
-Kettle Crag
-Long Scar
-Black Crag.
We can progress to multi-pitch venues on day 2.
OTHER COURSES OF INTEREST...
Hire our Lake District Mountaineering instructors for private and tailored programmes.
Experiences suited to your goals & ambitions to make the most of YOUR time in the mountains.
Summer & Winter guiding available - tackle the mountains all year round.
Day rates:
1:1 £250
1:2 £150pp
CONTACT
We look forward to hearing from you and working towards your mountaineering ambitions and helping to achieve your goals.
Phone or WhatsApp:
07458353048
If calls are missed we will respond when possible, please leave a WhatsApp or text message so we can respond to your enquiry.
Thank you