Do Climbers Really Need to Lift Weights? | Part 1

Lattice Training Podcast

Weightlifting in climbing. It’s one of the most debated topics in the sport, and we’re diving into it with the people who coach the best in the world.

In this two-part conversation-style series, host Ollie Torr is joined by an expert panel of performance coaches and elite athletes to explore the evolving role of weightlifting in climbing, looking at strength, injury prevention, mindset, and longevity in the sport.

We’re talking to:

• Steve Thompson – Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for GB Climbing, with over a decade of experience coaching the UK’s top competition athletes. Steve has helped climbers like Max Milne, Molly Thompson-Smith, and Hamish McArthur build power, resilience, and Olympic-level performance.
  
• Dave Mason – Former GB team athlete and IFSC World Cup competitor turned high-performance coach. Dave now coaches both elite-level youth climbers and adult athletes, including those transitioning into lifting for the first time or returning from injury.
  
• Jemma Powell – A Lattice coach, mother of two, and former GB climber. Jemma specialises in coaching pregnant and postpartum athletes, helping them rebuild strength safely and sustainably. She also works with weekend warriors and performance climbers, with a strong focus on injury prevention, movement quality, and mindset.
  
• Jesse Firestone – Performance coach and climbing trainer based in the US. Jesse has worked with athletes like Caroline Treadway, Evan Erickson, and a wide range of recreational climbers looking to break through plateaus. He’s known for making strength training accessible and sustainable, especially for older climbers, athletes with high work demands, and those returning from overtraining.
  

You’ll also hear real-life experiences from athletes at the top of the sport:

• Aidan Roberts breaks down how he stays strong on the road with portable training and why specificity beats max effort.
• Will Bosi shares why he’s not lifting right now—but might again soon.
• Drew Ruana gives insight into his use of lifting for power, endurance, and competition prep.

In Part 1, we explore how climbers and coaches are rethinking lifting—moving beyond outdated fears of bulking and into smarter, tailored training for every phase of the season.

We’ll cover:

• Why climbers are finally embracing strength work (and who needs it most)
• How top-level athletes integrate lifting without compromising performance
  What female climbers should consider with hormones, pregnancy, and strength training
• Portable solutions: what athletes like Aidan use while travelling full-time
  The compound lifts that actually carry over to climbing, and how to use them
• Why “doing less” might be the smartest thing for your climbing
  

Whether you’re curious about hypertrophy, looking to prevent injuries, or trying to train sustainably, this episode offers insight

The Lattice jingle is brought to you by Devin Dabney, music producer of the outdoor industry who also hosts the American Climbing Project.