Do you feel a gap between what you are physically capable of climbing… and what you actually manage to execute on trad gear?

You have the technical skills, but the moment you need to commit, something changes.

• You hesitate.

• You over-protect.

• You climb tense.

• You feel like your mind takes up too much space—especially when the runouts get longer, the rock demands focus, or the decisions really count.

In trad climbing, the difficulty isn’t just physical or technical. It’s mental. And that is precisely what this workshop helps you work on.

Over two days in Annot—one of France’s most beautiful trad climbing playgrounds—you will learn to better understand your relationship with fear, commitment, and decision-making, so you can climb with more presence, flow, and confidence.

Who this course is for

This workshop is designed for climbers who want to progress in trad climbing but feel that a mental block is holding back their potential.

You might recognize yourself in one or more of these situations:

• You have the physical strength but don’t always dare to commit when you need to.

• You are afraid of falling on trad gear—or maybe it’s a subtle fear, but something holds you back at the crucial moment.

• You doubt your placements and waste a lot of mental energy constantly second-guessing them.

• You tense up when the protection gets further apart.

• You struggle to stay calm and clear-headed through uncertainty.

• You want to learn how to make better decisions on the wall.

• You want to climb with more flow, intention, and peace of mind on trad gear.

• You want to develop a healthier relationship with commitment, without putting yourself in unnecessary danger.

Whether you can put precise words to your blocks or not, this workshop is here to help you understand exactly what is going on… and to help you rediscover freedom in your trad climbing.

Why work on the mental game in trad climbing?

Many climbers think they lack trad technique or confidence in their placements. But very often, what is truly limiting progression is more subtle:

• The fear of falling—sometimes vague, sometimes highly intense.

• Hesitation at the exact moment a clear commitment is required.

• Difficulty distinguishing between an acceptable risk and a real danger.

• Mental overload caused by managing placements and decisions simultaneously.

• A loss of flow due to doubt or over-analysis.

• Difficulty staying focused under stress.

The result: You know how to climb. But you aren’t climbing to your full potential. Your mental energy is consumed by fear, doubt, and hesitation.

The goal of this course is to reduce this mental friction so you can regain presence, discernment, and efficiency in your climbing.

What you will learn

• Falling with confidence on your gear Gradually build your capacity to fall on trad gear using a structured approach, real-world experience, and back-up belay systems that let you explore falling in a safe environment tailored to your comfort level.

• The commitment mindset in trad climbing Learn to climb with more presence, channel your attention, and stay connected to what truly matters in key moments.

• Understanding “Yes-Fall” and “No-Fall” zones Learn to clearly distinguish between sections where you can commit to a fall and sections where you cannot, allowing you to make smarter, clearer, and less emotional decisions.

• Intelligent risk assessment Develop a clearer reading of the terrain: rock quality, placements, load directions, potential fall consequences, and the actual risk factors involved in trad climbing.

• Building a mental route strategy Learn to break a pitch down into manageable mental and technical sections: when to move forward, when to rest, and when to fully commit.

• Building confidence in your placements Work on your relationship with your gear and gain peace of mind in your choices.

• Stress and energy management Breathing, recovery, focus, pacing, and emotional regulation: learn to stay clear-headed even when exposed.

• Advanced belaying techniques Discover the principles of dynamic belaying applied to trad climbing to foster climber commitment and improve the overall safety of the team.

• Progression without forced situations Exercises are progressive, individualized, and adapted to your level. You will never be pushed past your absolute limits; instead, we build a more conscious, functional relationship with commitment.

An internationally recognized approach: The Rock Warrior’s Way®

This course is based on the Rock Warrior’s Way® method, developed by Arno Ilgner, author of the bestselling book The Rock Warrior’s Way. For over 25 years, this approach has helped thousands of climbers transform their relationship with fear, commitment, and performance. It teaches you to climb with more awareness, accountability… and freedom.

Why Annot?

Annot is an exceptional venue for exploring these themes. Its famous sandstone, varied cracks, technical gear placements, and demanding nature make it the ideal place to learn trad climbing in a real-world context. Here, commitment isn’t just decided. It is built. The rock invites you to slow down, observe, read the terrain, and make high-quality decisions. It is the perfect setting to develop a more mature and conscious relationship with trad climbing.

Pedagogical approach

You won’t just understand the concepts—you will live them. Each day alternates between:

• Short, targeted theory sections

• Progressive practical exercises

• Time for reflection and integration

• Immediate real-world application on the crag

The coaching is personalized, supportive, and tailored to your goals. The work follows a concrete progression model that balances safety, commitment, and autonomy. The goal: to help you climb with more intention, discernment, and freedom.

Guided by Alma Esteban

This workshop is led by Alma Esteban, a certified Rock Warrior’s Way® coach specializing in mental training for climbing. Her approach combines movement coaching, a deep understanding of fear mechanics, and individualized guidance to help every climber regain confidence and flow.

Prerequisites

• Ability to lead climb autonomously

• Recommended minimum level: 6a on sport crags

• Basic knowledge of cams and nuts

• At least one year of outdoor climbing experience recommended

Required Gear

• Harness

• Climbing shoes

• Helmet

• Belay device

• Slings

• A basic trad rack (cams/nuts)

Practical Information

• Dates: October 17 & 18

• Location: Annot

• Format: 2 days on the crag