WOMEN'S
CLIMBING
SYMPOSIUM
WCS25
Our coaching workshops have been carefully collated using feedback from previous events so expect some special twists and new ideas courtesy of the WCS community layered on top of the favourites you just can't get enough of. The aim for every workshop is to develop and inspire your personal climbing, providing you with as much insight as possible within the one-hour time slot. Climbing is for every body, and whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned climber our expert coaches are here to support and guide you.
​
This year we have eight different workshops to choose from; your ticket provides you with the time and opportunity to attend two coaching workshops. Take a look below for more information about the workshops we have on offer this year, and the exceptional coaching team we have supporting you.
​
IMPORTANT: This year you will submit your coaching workshop requests a few weeks before the event. Before doing so, please take some time to familiarise yourself with the programme and read about each of the available focus talks and the inspiring women hosting them.
​
Click on the links below for more information about each of our coaching workshops and the inspirational coaches that are delivering them, or scroll on down to see them all!
Commitment Issues! Xian Goh | Climbing Coach
Curious Minded Climber: Growth Mindset Flo Tilley | Climbing Psychologist
Dynamic Climbing Be Fuller | Climbing Coach
Fancy Footwork: Heel Hooks and Toe Hooks Jemma Powell | Climbing Coach
Slab is scary sexy Katherine Schirrmacher | Climbing Coach
Mantel movement Suzan Dudink | Climbing Coach
Steep Climbing Danielle Griffith | Climbing Coach
Flexibility: Tasking and Tracking your Training Fran Giacomezzi | Flexibility Coach
commitment issues!
WITH Xian goh (SHE/HER)
Just can’t get yourself to stand up on that rubbish foothold?! Mental blocks when it comes to those nervy, insecure moves? Find it much harder to commit to moves high up?
​These are common themes for all levels of climbers, and are skills that take time and effort to develop. This workshop will look at how to grow your ability to commit to insecure or scary moves. Xian will focus on building up to high moves, developing confidence in falling, and building progressions so that you feel more comfortable on scary moves.
Xian is a climbing coach whose practical approach has helped many climbers achieve their goals, dream bigger, and most importantly have fun along the way! Xian’s coaching is based on keeping things simple - build a deep understanding of the fundamentals, and develop easy-to-repeat habits that compound progress over time. Xian is part of The North Face Explorer Team and personal bests include competing at the World Cup, BBC finalist, Boulder 8A and Sport 8a.
​
Read more about Xian's new book 'Smooth' here.
curious minded climber: growth mindset
with Flo Tilley (SHE/HER)
Want to be able to stay focused and work through a seemingly impossible move? Do you find yourself giving up quickly or feeling frustrated when climbing at your limit? Do you jump from climb to climb without putting in enough time to really work one climb? This can be a common pattern that can hold us back from pushing our limits. In this workshop, Flo will guide you through discussions and practical exercises to help you build a personal toolkit. You will learn how to maintain motivation and enjoyment and approach your projecting, or limit climbing, with curiosity and playfulness.
Flo is a Sheffield based climber with 20 years of experience across the disciplines. With a Masters degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Flo now coaches for Lattice Training with a speciality in Mindset coaching using her Flow Coaching accreditation. This winter has been focused on a mix of DJ'ing, Gritstone boulder projects and sun in Costa Blanca.
DYNAMIC CLIMBING
WITH BE FULLER (SHE/HER)
Get ready to grow your reach! Dynamic movement can seem wild, but it’s also really fun and very useful! With the right technique and a bit of practise you’ll be jumping further than you’ve ever imagined; maximising your momentum to dramatically extend your reach. In this workshop you'll learn how to use your legs and hips effectively and efficiently, becoming more confident, fluid and coordinated on dynamic moves. It's time to bounce and fly!​
​
Be Fuller is a highly accomplished climber and coach. Having formerly ranked as one of the top 10 UK women in bouldering, Be also coached the GB Paraclimbing team to its greatest medal haul to date. It is in coaching where Be truly shines; understanding what it takes technically, physically and mentally to develop her clients to reach their potential and (most importantly) keeping things fun too. beclimbing.co.uk
Want to know event more about Be? Of course you do! We sat down and had a chat with her... take a look.
​
​
FANCY FOOTWORk: heel hooks and toe hooks
WITH Jemma Powell (SHE/HER)
Heel hooks and toe hooks....do these techniques seem difficult or underused in your climbing toolbox? Join this workshop to grow your footwork repertoire. Footwork tricks like these provide you with opportunities to take weight off your arms, are useful in all styles of climbing, and can be particular game changers for short climbers! In learning how to make these footwork techniques really work for you, you'll gain the tools needed to figure out clever beta, create rest points mid-route, and make those strenuous moves feel that much easier.
​
Jemma Powell has over 25 years of climbing experience, having spent 10 years competing internationally for GB Climbing, as well as becoming British Champion for five consecutive years and achieving several international podium places. Currently working as a climbing coach for Lattice Training, Jemma has worked with intermediate to elite level athletes from around the world. With a Masters Degree in Applied Sports Science, Jemma also completed experimental research into the impact that performance pressure can have on sporting performance through attentional losses and impaired problem solving.
​
Slab is scary sexy
WITH Katherine schirrmacher (SHE/HER)
Do tenuous slab moves fill you with dread?! Are you baffled by balancy moves?! Are you better rocking over on your left or right foot?! This workshop, using a combination of a slabs systems board and boulder problems, will grow your skills and confidence on slabby terrain, helping you to improve your balance, commitment and movement.
Katherine Schirrmacher's years of experience in both personal climbing and climbing coaching and instruction have compounded her vast knowledge of technique, tactics and training. A former member of the British Bouldering Team and a former GB Climbing Team coach, Katherine is one of the top climbing coaches in the country; able to guide people from beginner through to improver and beyond. Her personal climbing has also seen her onsight Trad E5 and Sport 7c, and redpoint Trad E7, Sport 8a and Bouldering 7c. Beginners and advanced climbers alike will reap the benefits of Katherine's coaching expertise and inherent belief that we should all climb from a place of kindness and joy. lovetoclimb.co.uk
Mantel movement
WITH SUZAN DUDINK (SHE/HER)
Ever found yourself stuck on the lip of a boulder unable to to move up or down? Or wondered how to move out of a position where your hands are next to your feet? Then this workshop might be for you!
Shouldery ‘push’ moves, getting over bulges, or climbing 3D moves can really scupper us both indoors and outdoors, and often require a specific set of techniques that we don’t use that often.
In this workshop we will look at the principles of mantel technique that are relevant to top-outs, ledges or big volumes. We’ll cover how to initiate the movement, how to execute it and what you can train to get better at it.
It’s so beneficial to practise and grow your skills for these committing moves low down, and whilst it might not be a move you do all the time…you’ll be so glad next time you are high up on a wall or boulder!
​
Suzan (Suz) Dudink has been coaching in climbing and athletics for over 30 years: analysing what affects our movement and how we can change and control it is a fascination of hers. In 2009 she became one of the first woman to climb F8a+ boulder. In addition to being a highly in-demand climbing coach and route setter, Suzan also teaches Sport Psychology at Sunderland University and is currently conducting research into how our senses affect our movement. A regular Women's Climbing Symposium coach, Suzan describes WCS:"as one of the best coaching days in the year... I'm honoured and excited to be part of it again this year." upgradeclimbing.com​
​
STEEP CLIMBING
WITH Danielle Griffith (SHE/HER)
How to make steep climbing feel easier... who wouldn't love that?
Whether you feel like steeper walls are your weakness or you're simply looking to gain tips and techniques to develop in this area, we'll be exploring the best techniques for climbing at an angle and help you grow your options to move more efficiently and easily on steeper terrain.
Danielle Griffith is a highly qualified and experienced coach with nearly a decade of experience. She's worked with climbers and gymnasts across a whole spectrum of abilities and ages, from competition climbers through to paraclimbers, youth squads and individuals.
Danielle is working towards her Performance Coach qualification, and delivers coach education courses up and down the country. She uses a holistic approach to improve clients performance using technique, tactics, mental skills and physical training, and most importantly emphasises the importance of finding the motivation to enjoy the process and journey.
​
flexibility: tasking and tracking your training
WITH Fran giacomezzi (SHE/HER)
Want to learn how to find efficient and measurable ways of progressing in your flexibility and tailor them to your climbing needs?
Fran has spent a lifetime stretching, dancing and being fascinated by the body and the mind!
Spurred by her love for travelling, Fran began her professional life in events management but in 2019 took the leap and decided to pursue her secret passion for helping people move their bodies better. Since then, she has taught thousands of people how to practice yoga, movement, mobility and is now psyched to help climbers reach their limits! Fran is a qualified FRC Mobility Specialist. Alongside her work at Lattice, she is also a yoga teacher based in Manchester. Over her 7 years of climbing, Fran has been a boulderer through-and-through… however, more recently, she has been tempted by the gorgeous sport routes of Kalymnos and Finale Ligure. Fran is psyched to support climbers from all corners of the globe reach new heights through pursuit of flexibility lattice training.com