Join The Struggle’s Patreon community to get 100+ hours of Bonus Episodes, Pro Clinics, Uncut Videos, and Submit Questions for Future Guests. FREE TRIAL available!  https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow   In this episode, we connect with Weekend Warrior Stephen Conti to explore: Going from beginner to V9 Transitioning from gym to crag Climbing hard at 200 lbs The key to steady progress Specific technique drills that yielded fast improvements Why finger training wasn't producing results Setting a goal for 50 days outside... and what it did to his climbing The surprising benefit of a spray wall The effects of gaining and losing 30 lbs His road to V11 - BIG THANKS TO THE AMAZING SPONSORS OF THE STRUGGLE WHO LOVE ROCK CLIMBING AS MUCH AS YOU DO: PhysiVantage: the official climbing-nutrition sponsor of The Struggle. Use code STRUGGLE15 at checkout for 15% off your full-priced nutrition order. Rúngne: The softest, most durable, and highest performing pants I've ever worn (on or off the rock). Check out my faves, the Harness Utility, and use code STRUGGLEPANTS for free shipping on any pair of pants!   And check out ALL the show’s awesome sponsors and exclusive deals at thestruggleclimbingshow.com/deals - Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right) 01:41 Host's Personal Climbing Experience 03:47 Upcoming Events and Announcements 04:52 Interview with Stephen Conti Begins 06:44 Stephen's Climbing Background 09:02 Training and Progression Insights 18:33 Skill Development and Drills 35:44 Memorizing Sequences for Climbing 37:47 Setting and Tracking Climbing Goals 39:24 Climbing in Challenging Conditions 43:24 Balancing Indoor and Outdoor Climbing 51:46 Managing Weight and Performance 01:11:22 Future Climbing Goals and Coaching 01:13:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts - Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega. - Follow along on Instagram and YouTube: @thestruggleclimbingshow  - This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry. And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!