WOMEN'S
CLIMBING
SYMPOSIUM
WCS26
WCS26 is our biggest spread of workshops to date!
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 14 different workshops to choose from; a full 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!
The Artful Climber Anna Sharpe | Artist
Board Climbing (Beginner) Ayesha Khan | Climbing Coach
Board Climbing (Advanced) Mina Leslie-Wujastyk | Climbing Coach
Bouldering Falls Danielle Griffith | Climbing Coach
Coordination Moves Lainy | Professional Routesetter
Dynamic Climbing Zoë Peetermans | Professional Climber
Heel Hooks Jemma Powell | Climbing Coach
Reducing Injury: Strong Shoulders Erin Jukes | Physiotherapist
Mantel Movement Ella Main | Climbing Coach
Mind Tools: Building Confidence and Taming Fear Rebecca Williams | Climbing Psychologist
Steep Climbing Michelle Forrest | Climbing Coach
Sport Climbing Skills Holly Peristiani | Climbing Coach
Trad Climbing Skills Holly Peristiani | Climbing Coach
Trust Your Feet Tori Taylor-Roberts | Climbing Coach
THE ARTFUL CLIMBER
WITH ANNA SHARPE (SHE/HER)
An exploratory art session designed to explore your connection with climbing and cultivate experiences that fuel your wellbeing. NO ARTISTIC SKILLS REQUIRED! We'll chat about the power of art to enhance our climbing experiences and boost our wellbeing, have a go at channelling emotions and senses that connect with your climbing practice, and then get creative! Come with an open mind, curiosity and a photo of your favourite climbing location or route, and choose from a selection of arts materials to bring your experiences to
paper.
This workshop will be suitable for any artistic ability, so don't worry if you think you don't have a creative bone in your body! This will be an 'off the wall' workshop, so is also suitable for anyone who wants a less physical workshop option. Bring a photo of one of your favourite climbing locations or memories, but don't worry if you dont have one as we can also provide inspiration.
Anna Sharpe has three key passions in life: mountains, the arts and people. Anna’s love of climbing began in her childhood and has recently been focused on Alpinism, climbing peaks such as the Matterhorn and the West Ridge of the Salbitschijen. The arts allow Anna to further explore her mountain experiences, as well as leading her to exciting collaborations with organisations such as The Kendal Mountain Festival. Alongside her climbing and artistic exploits Anna has pursued her love of working with people through a Masters in Integrative Psychotherapy. Currently Anna enjoys an eclectic patchwork of freelance work where you may find her running a climbing session for recovering military personal, delivering therapeutic arts session for sufferers of gambling harm or maybe in her garden studio working on her latest art project.
BOARD CLIMBING (BEGINNER)
with ayesha khan (SHE/HER)
Most climbing walls now have steep training boards, and these can seem intimidating, hard, or 'not for us'. This workshop will focus on builiding your skills, knowledge and confidence so that you know how to get started on a board, how to actually climb on there, and feel more comfortable turning up and having a go at your local gym. TCH Bristol has a Kilter board, Tension board AND Moon board, so you will get to try a real mix of boards and come away with lots of confidence and knowledge for your own sessions.
This workshop is suitable for a range of abilities, but you will need to be climbing regularly, and for at least a year, to get the most out of this session. There are a range of hold types on the boards, so although they are steep, you don't need to be using small crimps for this session! The Kilter board is also adjustable, so you can try gentler angles as well as the steeper board angles.
Climbing for over 16 years, Ayesha Khan competed on the Youth Canadian National team for several years before turning her attentions to coaching, route setting and climbing outdoors - having had the incredible privilege of experiencing outdoor bouldering for the first time on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). Now living in the UK and still pursuing her outdoor climbing goals (supported by Moon Climbing and Beyond Hope), Ayesha has experienced firsthand the value of shifting focus from bagging grades to making progress and having fun.
IG: @eesh_kebab
BOARD CLIMBING (ADVANCED)
WITH MINA LESLIE-WUJASTYK (SHE/HER)
Mina has used boards to train on for many years, and has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. This session will look at all sorts of different ways to use boards, expanding your training session ideas and using boards to develop technique. You'll also gain tips for projecting, building confidence, and avoiding injury.
This workshop will be suitable for people that already climb on a board, have climbed for several years, and are keen to pick up movement tips and training session ideas to maximise their own sessions and progress their climbing.
Mina Leslie-Wujastyk has been climbing for 30 years and has a keen interest in everything to do with our sport. She qualified as a physiotherapist in her early 20s but instead pursued a career as a professional climber thanks to support from her sponsors, including Arc’teryx, at that time. She has climbed all over the world, both on rock and in bouldering competitions for the GB Climbing team at many world cups; she was ranked ninth in the world for women’s bouldering in 2013. However, climbing outside has always been closest to her heart. Mina has sport climbed up to F8c and bouldered up to Font 8B. In 2017, she studied a foundational course to become certified as a nutritionist, followed by a further two years in postgraduate study of sports nutrition under the International Olympic Committee. Alongside this she is certified as an intuitive eating counsellor. Mina has worked solo and has also supported clients with nutrition services at Lattice Training, the world’s leading climbing coaching company. In 2024, she published her first paper in the Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise which focused on nutrition for female climbers. In Autumn 2025, Mina published Eat to Climb, a book about nutrition for climbers. Mina lives in the Peak District with her husband David Mason and their two children.
IG: @minaclimbing
BOUldering falls
WITH danielle griffith (SHE/HER)
Bouldering falls - it’s a skill not an accident! The first step to bouldering well is falling well. If we are reluctant to fall, chances are we will be hesitant to try new movements, experiment with body positions, or give it our best effort. All of which are essential for learning! But of course big falls are scary and there’s always a chance we can get hurt. Going big and staying safe requires practise, preparation and skill, and that is what this workshop is about. We'll look at developing really good landing technique, how to train your falling, and choosing your own boundaries when bouldering.
This workshop will be suitable for all levels of climbers and we will group people according to ability and experience. You will be able to choose the height you go to on the wall, and there is no expecatation to jump off from the very top! If you currently have lower body or back injuries, then this workshop might not be for you as we will be practising jumping down on to the mats.
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. Danielle is on a Performance Coach pathway and delivers coach education courses up and down the country. She coaches at the She Climbs events and regularly runs a women's coaching night in North Wales.
Danielle's experience includes; coaching the coaches, performance athletes and GB climbers, paraclimbers, squads and individuals just starting out. She uses a holistic approach to improve clients performance with techniques, tactics, mental skills, physical training and most importantly emphasises the importance of finding the motivation to enjoy the process and journey.
COORDINATION MOVES
WITH lainy (SHE/HER)
Stuck on run and jump starts?! Not sure how to move two hands really quickly whilst also catching that toe hook?! Worried to try crazy moves in front of others at the wall? Comp-style what?! This session will look specifically at those coordination moves which can often seem so baffling at the wall! We'll take you through lots of progressions, movement tips and techniques that will unlock those coordination moves, and build confidence to have a go and not worry about what you look like!
This session will be suitable for a range of climbing abilities, and we will group people according to their ability and experience. There will be a range of setting and you'll be able to try moves at the right challenge level for you! You'll get the most out of this workshop if you are bouldering regularly indoors.
Lainy is a professional routesetter, content creator and member of The North Face Explorer Team. Based in Hamburg, Germany, but in demand all over the world, Lainy loves growing her movement repertoire, especially in working dynamic coordination elements. She brings passion and creativity to everything that she does and loves sharing this with others so is psyched to share her approach to having fun flying around the wall!
DYNAMIC CLIMBING
WITH ZOE PEETERMANS (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 moving with more momentum and fluidity, whether that's jumping and moving two hands at once, or just intergrating more dynamic techniques in to your regular climbing moves. 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.
This workshop is suitable for regular boulderers and route climbers who want to learn how to move dynamically and with more momentum. We won't focus on specific 'comp style' coordination moves (see our other workshop for this topic!), but will look at jumps and dynamic movement that can be incorporated in to more regular indoor and outdoor climbing. The workshop will be suitable for a range of abilities, but avoid this workshop if you have any current shoulder injuries.
Zoë fell in love with climbing at 13 and has not looked back since. Her early climbing years were marked by low-budget outdoor mother-daughter trips both in the UK and in Europe, often sleeping in their car or befriending their way onto people's sofas. Though Zoë's focus in recent years has been more competition focused, when she manages to carve out time for rocks, she finds it hard to rest, "there's too many rocks to climb!!". Originally a lead climber through and through Zoë now considers herself firmly a dual- discipline athlete and can't pick between lead and bouldering. For the past few years she's been running a Women's night at City Bloc in Leeds. Helping the women manage their fear and gradually conquer boulders is consistently the highlight of her week, as is nudging them to do the odd dyno!
IG: @peetermanss
HEEL HOOKS
WITH Jemma powell (SHE/HER)
Do heelhooks seem difficult or under-used in your climbing toolbox? Footwork tricks like heelhooks provide you with opportunities to take weight off your arms, are useful in all styles of climbing, and can be particular game changers for hard moves and short climbers! In learning how to make heelhooks really work for you, you'll gain tools to figure out clever beta, create rest points mid-route, and make those strenuous moves feel that much easier.
This workshop will be suitable for all levels of climbers and we will group people according to ability and experience. The techniques covered will be relevant to all discplines of climbing whether indoors or outdoors, bouldering or route climbing
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.
INJURY PREVENTION
WITH ERIN JUKES (SHE/HER)
Climbing places unique demands on the body, with repeated overhead pulling movements loading the shoulders, elbows, and fingers. Erin will draw on her experience as a physiotherapist, with special interest in climbing-related injuries, to explore how climbers can better understand these demands and respond to them with confidence. Through a combination of practical exploration and accessible discussion, participants will develop a clearer understanding of joint anatomy, and how to load the shoulders and fingers more intentionally on the wall. This workshop will being to look at assessing range of movement, individual weaknesses and exercise to reduce injury risk (without feeling like an overwhelming addition to your climbing sessions!)
Erin is a physiotherapist and passionate climber based in Sheffield. Currently working as a rotational physiotherapist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Erin supports patients with a wide range of health conditions, from diabetes to soft tissue injuries. Her love for climbing led her to focus her dissertation on A2 pulley injuries, which sparked her interest in climbing-specific physiotherapy. Erin is dedicated to helping individuals be their best selves through encouraging an active, healthy and balanced lifestyle.
IG: @erin_thephysio
MANTEL MOVEMENT
WITH ELLA MAIN (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 ‘Mantle Movement’ workshop we will look at the principles of mantle 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!
This workshop will be suitable for all levels of climbers and we will group people according to ability and experience. The techniques covered will be relevant to all discplines of climbing whether indoors or outdoors, bouldering or route climbing. The movement covered will include pushing down with your arms, so whilst you can choose easier problems to try, it's will be best to have healthy shoulders for this workshop.
Ella has been climbing for 16 years and has been coaching for 7 years. She has coached a variety of people from international para climbers to people learning to beginner trad climbers including volunteer work at the Womens Trad Fest. Ella is also a regular indoor route setter and is known for being adaptable, bubbly and outgoing and has helped many people widen their comfort zones and elevate their climbing skills. Outside of climbing Ella enjoys outdoor swimming, knitting and pottery.
IG: @ella_climbing99
mind tools: building confidence and taming fear
WITH dr rebecca williams (SHE/HER)
If you'd like to find a more confident mindset for your climbing, this workshop is for you. Confidence is not something we either have or don't have, it is a skill that we can grow. Through use of mind tools such as imagery, instructional self talk and harnessing our past experiences, we can grow our confidence muscle. We'll also cover strategies to tame your fear and anxiety, and other difficult emotions such as embarrassment and shame. You'll leave with some strategies to work on, and some reflective exercises to keep the learning live.
This workshop will be floor based, so will also be suitable for anyone needing something less active! Although not 'on the wall', this workshop will still be practical and interactive, and Rebecca will take you through lots of strategies and exercises that will make a real difference to your climbing.
For over 20 years Dr Rebecca Williams has been coaching climbers on mental skills for climbing, working with hundreds of climbers every year on all aspects of their headgame to develop their confidence and improve their climbing psyche. A qualified Rock Climbing Instructor and author of Climb Smarter, Rebecca prides herself on being a psychologist first and foremost. In order to improve her clients climbing performance Rebecca makes psychological theory practical; utilising psychological formulations and evidence based techniques and tools, and adapting and applying the latest sports and clinical psychology research. Rebecca is also trained in a number of therapies and techniques including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and behavioural techniques such as exposure and systematic desensitisation, commonly used to help people with fears and phobias (e.g fear of falling). smartclimbing.co.uk
steep climbing
WITH michelle forrest (SHE/HER)
This workshop will help you make steep climbing feel easier! Whether you feel like steeper walls are your weakness, or would just like to learn how to twist and turn more on steeper terrain. We’ll look at the best techniques for this angle, helping you to move more efficiently and easily on steeper terrain.
This workshop will be suitable for all levels of climbers and we will group people according to ability and experience. The techniques covered will be relevant to all discplines of climbing whether indoors or outdoors, bouldering or route climbing.
Climbing has been at the centre of Michelle's life for many years, both as a coach and as a climber. She has spent over 15 years working with climbers of all abilities across trad, sport, and bouldering. Over the last decade, she has worked with GB Climbing’s young and talented athletes, including supporting them at international competitions, alongside developing bespoke and sustainable training programmes for outdoor climbers juggling careers, parenthood, and the changing demands of long-term climbing. She is currently studying an MSc in Sport Psychology, which informs a thoughtful and holistic approach to her coaching. Above all, she's a climber first and foremost, motivated by her own enjoyment of climbing in all its forms.
SPORTS CLIMBING SKILLs
WITH Holly peristiani (SHE/HER)
This floor based workshop will take you through some essential skills for outdoor sport climbing. We'll look at rethreading sport anchors, using sport climbing equipment, avoiding accidents, and tips for getting going outside. Please note: you will need to bring a harness for this workshop.
This workshop is suitable for those that can belay and climb routes indoors, and are either new to outdoor sport climbing, or want to refresh skills. This workshop will be floor based, so will be suitable for anyone with injuries or restricted mobility.
TRAD CLIMBING SKILLs
WITH Holly peristiani (SHE/HER)
This floor based workshop will take you through some essential skills for trad climbing outdoors. We'll look at key ropework skills, trad equipment, belaying from the top of a route, and top tips for getting going. Please note, you will need to bring a harness for this workshop.
This workshop is suitable for those that can belay and climb routes indoors, and are either new to outdoor trad climbing, or want to refresh skills. This workshop will be floor based, so will be suitable for anyone with injuries or restricted mobility.
Holly is a Development Coach and Rock Climbing Development Instructor. She started climbing comparatively late in life, but quickly made up for lost time and has since coached a wide range of climbers indoors and outdoors, from beginner to 8a. She runs women’s climbing trips as well as weekly coaching of a women’s social indoors. Holly believes in the power of climbing to improve mental as well as physical health, and has training in mental health first aid. Holly is most at home on gritstone cracks, and will not miss an opportunity to tell anyone, whether they asked or not.
trust your feet
WITH tori taylor-roberts (SHE/HER)
Just can’t get yourself to stand up on that rubbish foothold?! Feel more comfortable on steep, positive footholds than slopey volumes and sketchy feet?! 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 trust your feet. We'll look at actual techniques and movement tips, as well as tactics for building confidence and approaching those tenuous foot moves.
This workshop will be suitable for all levels of climbers and we will group people according to ability and experience. The techniques covered will be relevant to all discplines of climbing whether indoors or outdoors, bouldering or route climbing.
Tori Taylor-Roberts has an abundance of energy and motivation for exploring and coaching in the outdoors. A qualified teacher specialising in Outdoor Adventure and Education, Tori now focuses primarily on climbing coaching and instruction, using both indoor and outdoor venues to facilitate client development in their sport, trad or bouldering goals. Tori engages with clients on a 1:1 basis and runs regular climbing courses in the South West focusing on sport, trad and movement development - all with an emphasis on building self-believing, confident climbers.