#117: Manage Fear Like A Pro - 18 Tips for Winning the Climbing Head Games!

2025-07-09

Nothing is more elemental to climbing than fear. The fear of falling, getting hurt, failing, looking foolish, or simply facing the unknown can feel torturous—and even paralyzing. To climb efficiently and confidently—and to pursue your peak performance—you must learn to assess and manage fear effectively. In this 90-minute episode, Coach Hörst delivers a tour de force of 18 fear management techniques designed to help you unlock a new level of mental mastery. These practical strategies will empower you to perform at your best on boulders, at the crag, and in everyday life. (Because effective fear management is just as vital for achieving great ...

Nothing is more elemental to climbing than fear. The fear of falling, getting hurt, failing, looking foolish, or simply facing the unknown can feel torturous—and even paralyzing.

To climb efficiently and confidently—and to pursue your peak performance—you must learn to assess and manage fear effectively.

In this 90-minute episode, Coach Hörst delivers a tour de force of 18 fear management techniques designed to help you unlock a new level of mental mastery. These practical strategies will empower you to perform at your best on boulders, at the crag, and in everyday life. (Because effective fear management is just as vital for achieving great things off the rock as it is on it!)

Podcast Rundown

0:25 – Introduction to the topic of fear management for climbers

3:25 – The 5 most common types of fear in climbing

4:10 – Reflection break: Pause the podcast and consider some of your recent climbing fears. Can you identify a few that were especially acute or held you back? Write them down, and take notes as you learn techniques for managing these fears.

5:50 – FEAR #1: Fear of Falling
Learn 4 powerful techniques for handling falling-related fear

36:00 – FEAR #2: Fear of Dying or Getting Hurt
Discover 6 essential methods for using this fear productively—and quashing it when it’s unfounded

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1:03:40 – FEAR #3: Fear of Failure
Ironically, fear of failure often results in failure itself. Learn 3 strategies to overcome it

1:11:28 – FEAR #4: Fear of Embarrassment and Criticism
Explore 2 key strategies for dealing with these potentially debilitating fears

1:17:50 – FEAR #5: Fear of the Unknown
Master 3 strategies for managing the intangible fear of uncertainty

1:27:37 – Recap of 11 powerful tips to assess and manage common climbing fears

1:33:07 - Critical take-home point: Love climbing unconditionally!

1:33:23 - Final comments...and mention of Eric's book Maximum Climbing: Mental Training for Peak Performance and Optimal Experience.

1:35:00 - PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW...and share this podcast with your friends!

1:36:18 - Hörst Out!

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Thank yous: La Sportiva, Maxim Ropes, DMM Climbing, Friction Labs, Organic Climbing.

Music by Misty Murphy