Anyone who has ever undertaken a longterm project knows that the redpointing process has a huge mental component to it.  Sure, you have to learn how to climb the route and become physically fit enough to send, but as you get closer and closer to success it can become harder and harder to pull onto the wall confidently and try your hardest.  The reason for this is often redpoint nerves.

To help you master the mental part of projecting, here’s an article from Rock and Ice by British coach and trainer Neil Gresham in which he outlines some strategies for coping with redpoint nerves.

“Redpointing is one of the most stressful head games in climbing, imbuing in each of us the demoralizing and spirit-crushing notion that we may never send our project. Many climbers are shocked the first time they take the deep dive and attempt to send sport routes that are hard for them.” – Neil Gresham

How to Cope with Redpoint Nerves

These strategies won’t make you stronger or improve your endurance.  However, they will help you make the most of your abilities.  The redpoint process is filled with potential pitfalls where we can sabotage our own performance.  Learning how to navigate this mental minefield is an important step for any climber looking to push their limits through projecting.

Click through below to read Gresham’s 10 tips for how to cope with redpoint nerves.  They will definitely help you keep perspective and put forth your best performance the next day on your project!

Full Article: Rock and Ice – How to Cope with Redpoint Nerves

(photo courtesy of Matt Pincus | @mpincus87)

Other Articles You Might Like:

• Evening Sends – Tips for Redpointing
• Transcript Highlight: Danny Robertson on Projecting Tactics
• Mental Training Made Simple with Neil Gresham
• TBP 048 :: Neil Gresham on Training for 5.11 and 5.12