Stories from the Rock

Rock Climbing Coaching: Break Your Grade Plateau

Rock climbing coaching breaks a grade plateau by finding the one thing holding you back, whether that is sloppy footwork, poor projecting tactics or a head that shuts down above the last bolt. Here is how coaching diagnoses your real weakness, the three pillars we drill, and a realistic cycle from stuck at 6b to a 6c+ redpoint.

Sport Climbing Basics: From Gym Walls to Your First Outdoor Lead

Sport Climbing Basics is a one-week course in Sella, Spain, built to do one thing well: take a gym climber from indoor walls to confidently leading real outdoor routes on their own. No prior outdoor experience is assumed — just the basics, built properly, on the rock where lead climbing actually happens.

Sport Climbing Courses: Gym to Rock, Lead, Project, and Perform Outdoors

A Rockbusters sport climbing course takes you from wherever you actually are — first time outdoors, stuck at a plateau, or six days from a lifetime send — and builds the week entirely around that. We run three distinct courses, each solving a different stage of the gym-to-rock journey: Sport Climbing Basics, Beta Babes, and PROJECT X.

Beta Babes: Why a Women-Only Sport Climbing Camp Changes How You Climb

Beta Babes is a week of sport climbing coaching in Cuenca, Spain, built around a simple idea: women climb best when the coaching focuses on how they actually move — precise footwork, flexibility, and mental control — rather than defaulting to raw power. The coach is a woman, the crew is women only, and the only ego to manage is your own.

PROJECT X: How to Combine Remote Work with a Real Climbing Project

A standard week-long climbing trip is enough to try a project. It is not enough to own one. PROJECT X is a two-week camp in Rodellar, Spain, built around exactly one outcome: clipping the chains on the hardest route of your life — with mornings reserved for your laptop and fast WiFi, so a career doesn't have to be sacrificed for the send.

Bouldering Camps: Power, Movement, and Problem-Solving on World-Class Rock

A bouldering camp is a short, focused trip built around one thing: climbing hard, low-to-the-ground problems on real rock, with people who push you and a guide who can see what you can't. No ropes, no harnesses — just movement, skin, and chalk. Rockbusters runs guided bouldering camps in two of Europe's best bloc destinations: Fontainebleau, France and Albarracín, Spain.

Why Albarracín Is Spain's Most Underrated Bouldering Destination

Albarracín sits in the mountains of Teruel, in Aragón — a medieval town surrounded by red sandstone boulders scattered across pine forest, with almost none of the crowds you'd find in better-known European bouldering spots. If you want powerful, feature-rich climbing without queueing for a mat, this is one of the best places in Spain to do it.

Fontainebleau Bouldering: A First-Timer's Guide

Fontainebleau, an hour south of Paris, is the birthplace of modern bouldering and still one of the best places on earth to learn the sport outdoors. Thousands of sandstone boulders spread across a forest the size of a small country, with problems at every grade from complete beginner to world-class. If you're bouldering outdoors for the first time, Font is one of the most forgiving places to do it — you'll never run out of terrain that matches your level.

Trade Your Christmas Tree for Limestone: Sport Climbing in Sella, Spain

While most of Europe spends the holidays indoors, Rockbusters runs a two-week sport climbing retreat on the limestone of Sella, Costa Blanca — daytime temperatures of 15–20°C, over 2,000 routes within a short radius, and a small group of climbers who'd rather send than sit through another holiday dinner.

Why Leonidio Is Europe's Best Winter Sport Climbing Destination

While northern Europe shivers through January, Rockbusters runs a sport climbing course on the limestone cliffs of Leonidio, Greece — a small Peloponnese town overlooking the Myrtoan Sea that's quietly become one of Europe's most sought-after winter climbing destinations.

Istrian Easter Ascent: Spring Sport Climbing in Croatia

While most people are still hunting eggs, Rockbusters spends Easter on the limestone of Istria, Croatia — a two-week sport climbing holiday across four distinct climbing areas, with daytime temperatures of 16–22°C and Klemen Becan on the coaching team.

The Dolomite Dolce Vita: Sport Climbing in Italy's UNESCO Mountains

The Dolomite Dolce Vita is a two-week sport climbing holiday through two of the Italian Dolomites' best-known bases — Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val Gardena — in a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range known for dramatic pale limestone peaks and hundreds of high-quality routes.

Sport Climbing Holidays: High Performance, Sun, Great Routes, Great People

A Rockbusters sport climbing holiday is built around one goal: put you on the best routes in your grade, with a coach who actually watches you climb, for a week or two, somewhere the sun is out when your home crag is closed for winter. We run these holidays in four destinations across the year — Sella in Spain, Leonidio in Greece, Istria in Croatia, and the Dolomites in Italy — each timed to its own best season.

A MUERTE: Train Like a World Champion with Patxi Usobiaga

Patxi Usobiaga is the first climber in history to onsight 8c+ — he did it in 2007 on Bizi Euskaraz at Etxauri, Spain — and he's since coached climbers like Adam Ondra and Chris Sharma. A MUERTE is a six-day performance camp built around his personal training system, for climbers stuck at a grade plateau who want a professional diagnosis of exactly what's holding them back.

The Performance Lab: Break Your Plateau with Klemen Becan

The Performance Lab is a two-week technique and mental coaching camp designed by Rockbusters founder Jany Novotny and coached by Klemen Becan, a climber who has sent multiple 9a+ routes. It's built for one specific problem: climbers who train consistently but have stopped seeing grade improvement.

Climbing Helmet Review - Testing the Singing Rock Aura in Rodellar

Climbing Helmet Review: Singing Rock Aura Tested in Rodellar’s Demanding Terrain In May 2026, a select group of climbers gathered in the limestone paradise of Rodellar, Spain, for an extraordinary opportunity. During The Performance Lab: Tech & Mind event, Rockbusters clients...

Rock & Road 2026 Lotery

ROCK & ROAD: The Ultimate European Sport Climbing Adventure Embark on the climbing journey of a lifetime with Rockbusters' ROCK & ROAD European Tour – where the send is just the beginning. This nomadic climbing adventure takes you on a meticulously crafted circuit of Europe's...

The Benefits of Training for Your Climbing Trip (+ Free 4-Week Plan)

Why training before a climbing trip pays off, plus Marta Palou's free four-week plan for three levels: dead-hangs, bouldering, pull-ups, core and stretching.

Ticino, Switzerland: Granite Perfection

Why the Ticino valleys hold some of the best granite bouldering and climbing in Europe.

Kalymnos, Greece: Sport Climbing Season Notes

How to pick the right season, sector, and rest-day rhythm for a Kalymnos climbing week.

Interview with Rockbusters Founder Jany Novotny

Rockbusters founder Jany Novotny shares insights on climbing mindset, coaching, and guided rock climbing trips across Europe. Learn how climbers improve faster through coaching, mental training, and adventure climbing camps.

Finding Your Perfect Climbing Course: Understanding Our Level System

Rockbusters climbing course levels explained: Beginner (6a), Intermediate (6a-6c), Advanced (6c-7b), Expert (7b+). Choose your perfect program.

RODELLAR BASE CAMP: Let’s Build Our Climbing Home Together

Invest in Rodellar Base Camp - a climbers' community house in Spain's limestone paradise. Get lifetime credit for climbing trips & courses plus VIP gear discounts from top brands. Join us!

Master Your Mind, Conquer Any Climb: Rockbusters Launches Revolutionary Fear Management Course

Master fear of falling & unlock your climbing potential. Join Hugo's mental coaching course in Margalef, Spain, Apr 25-May 2. Transform your mindset!

Elevate Your Climbing: The Benefits of Rockbusters' Multipitch Climbing Course

Take your climbing to new heights with Rockbusters’ Multipitch Course. Learn from elite climbers, master essential techniques, and bring a partner at NO extra cost! Maximum climbing = maximum learning.

Fontainebleau, France: The Birthplace of Bouldering

Discover the birthplace of bouldering at Fontainebleau with Rockbusters. 20,000+ sandstone problems, color-coded circuits, and perfect friction await climbers of all levels. Book your Font adventure today!

Magic Wood, Switzerland: Alpine Bouldering Gem

Climb world-class granite at Magic Wood, Switzerland's alpine bouldering paradise. 1,000+ problems set in a magical riverside forest. Perfect summer escape for serious boulderers!

Get the Right Climbing Shoes

How to Choose Climbing Shoes That Fit Like a Glove Choosing the right climbing shoes is arguably the most crucial decision when selecting new climbing gear. Unlike harnesses, ropes, or quickdraws, climbing shoes have the most significant impact on your climbing performance. A...

Rockbusters: Combine Remote Work and Climbing Adventures

In today’s fast-paced world, striking a balance between work and passion is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for personal fulfillment and professional productivity. Enter Rockbusters, a unique concept that ingeniously combines the flexibility of remote work with the thrill...

Rockbusters - About Us

LEADING COMMUNITY OF EXPERIENCED ROCK CLIMBING GUIDES & COACHES We help you improve, reach your individual climbing goals, and pursue your climbing dreams. Climb BETTER, HARDER & MORE! LEARN FROM THE WORLD’S BEST CLIMBERS & COACHES Get coached & spend some time climbing with t...

Climbing Movement Specialist

Meet Matej, our newest addition to the Rockbusters coaching team. Matej is a climbing movement specialist who provides movement therapy and coaches effective and healthy climbing movement patterns. He also advises on the health risks associated with sport climbing and climbing...

The best rock climbing shoes

Not really any safety concerns need to be taken when buying climbing shoes but believe me, it is quite an alchymy to choose the right ones and the proper size for you. When looking for the best rock climbing shoes for yourself you are searching for the balance between performa...

Quickdraws

There are not that many tricks when choosing quickdraws. What we can definitely say is what not to buy. To us there is no sense to get quickdraws with short 10cm or less and rigid slings as on longer routes they will create quite a drag and they are not that resistant to the p...

Belay Devices

Nowadays there is a big selection on the market you can choose from. There are two, maybe three things to consider when buying one. Again, the same with ropes, harnesses, and shoes, … the main decision-making factor will be the type of climbing you will use it for and we will...

Climbing Summer 2022

Hello Busters. The vacation time is knocking on the door and of course, we do have planned a few cool coaching courses and climbing trips as usual, and we are ready to accommodate you all. I will be sending more concrete info about each event but here is the little intro and l...

Climbing Grades Conversion Table

Balkan Rock Trip - Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania

In November 2021 we are kicking off with a new epic climbing road trip in the Balkans and here you can read some lines about Bosnia, Montenegro, and Albania. Written by Klemen Becan, the local climber and route developer. >> Balkans Rock Trip 2021 << Bosnia Mostar, čevapčiči,...

Rock Climbing in Balkans - Croatia

In November 2021 we are kicking off with a new epic climbing road trip in the Balkans and here you can read some lines about Slovenia. Written by Klemen Becan, the local climber and route developer. >> Balkans Rock Trip 2021 << Just across the border from Slovenia, half an hou...

Rock Climbing in Balkans - Slovenia

In November 2021 we are kicking off with new epick climbing road trip in Balkans and here you can read some lines about Slovenia. Written by Klemen Becan, local climber and route developer. >> Balkans Rock Trip 2021 << Balkan is a place where good things happen. It starts from...

That thing, which is missing... Advance Sport Climbing with Patxi Usobiaga coaching

Join us in Oliana, Spain this coming October 2021 >> ADVANCE SPORT CLIMBING COURSE with Patxi Usobiaga << We are in the same boat, we both love rock climbing. Maybe you just recently discovered this amazing activity, maybe you started some years ago. Climbing is becoming a big...

Interview with Alex - Europe Rock Trip

Europe Rock Trip is a unique rock climbing course/trip concept we have set up many years ago and have been polishing for many years. It hits Europes best sport climbing crags and gives climbers the opportunity to maximize their climbing time without any hustle “pack your climb...

"Abusive" use of clip-stick

Suggestion to create unwritten ethics to use of clip-stick.

Climibng On-Sight

Rockbusters trips for hard on-sight climbs.

The best climbing harness

How to choose the best climbing harness.

Win free trip or climbing equipment

Now, as the good weather is coming to Europe and we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, Rockbusters climbing trips and coaching camps are back! And better than ever! Rockbusters is hosting a giveaway contest for the first time ever, where the winners will get a fre...

The best rock climbing rope

Short article explaining less experienced or beginner climbers what to look into when buying the best rock climbing rope.

La Sportiva DEMO

Test La Spotiva top climbing shoes with us and get on pair for FREE!

Europe Trip 2019: Zillertal - Sport Climbing With Alpine Touch

Zillertal welcomed us with its sharp peaks rising above the narrow valley, fresh cool alpine air and the pleasant noise of the Zemmbach river. What excitement to experience all this again. Like last year, we stayed in a cozy alpine farmhouse in Ginzling. Though the weather was...

Europe Trip 2019: The Birthplace of the Redpoint

For those who don't know: REDPOINT was invented in Frankenjura by Kurt Albert, a local climber and now a climbing legend. For more info google out... Coming to Frankenjura from the Elbe Valley makes for a dramatic twist. If there is a single word to describe the climbing style...

Europe Trip 2019: Sandstone Of The Elbe Valley

Rockbusters have hit the road again. And won’t come back any soon. Like every year, we started our European journey at our local area. The scenic valley of the river Elbe offers epic climbs on sandstone up to 80 meters long and is infamous for huge run-outs typical for sandsto...

Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker climbing on Czech Sandstone Towers

<p>Click <a href="https://rockbusters.net/event-date/sandstone-climbing--2018-08-11-177" target="_blank">here</a> to book Czech Sandstone Towers Climbing this August.</p> <iframe width="700" height="392" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zMC7dGCCztM?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;s...

CLIMBER PERFORMANCE RATING

The new standard in climbing rankings and benchmarking Let’s be honest with ourselves: most climbers are geeks. We love our guidebooks, logbooks, hair-splitting the grades and the history of our sport. Many of us are also fanatically into training: tracing progress, measuring...

Test

Matt Groom and the EpicTV Climbing crew visited us in Margalef to attend coaching with Adam Ondra. Watch Matt’s vlog for a peek behind the scenes. You can watch EpicTV Climbing Daily episode with physiotherapist Pablo Scorza here.

VIDEO: Pete Whittaker climbing El Capitan rope free solo in under 24h

In November 2016, British climber Pete Whittaker became the first to rope free El Capitan in under a day. Rope solo free climbing is a technique that allows climbers to venture into big walls without the support of a partner but with the safety of gear to catch a potential fal...

Edu Marin bolts the biggest roof climb in the world

“During the last years I have been repeating and free climbing the most extreme and difficult multi-pitch routes but my true dream has always been bolting and doing the first ascent of the largest roof in the world,” admits Spanish climber Edu Marín. This is a new route envisi...

EpicTV Climbing Daily visit Rockbusters and Pablo Scorza in Margalef

During the Rockbusters trip to Margalef with Adam Ondra, Patxi Usobiaga and physiotherapist Pablo Scorza, the EpicTV crew joined in to get some tips from Pablo on how to stabilise the body and increase climbing performance with a few swi

Klemen Bečan: from competitions to the hardest rock climbing

How to Share With Just Friends How to share with just friends. Posted by Facebook on Friday, December 5, 2014

Patxi Usobiaga climbing "Pachamama" 9a+/b

<p>Patxi Usobiaga is possibly the hardest working climber we know and definitely one that knows the most about training. His 8 years long battle with “Pachamama” 9a+/b finished last year and now he shared this beautiful video that illustrates his process.</p><p> <iframe width=...

27Crags: From passion for climbing to building a company

Building a business out of your passion is an amazing feeling. It’s definitely not for everybody and plenty of people say they prefer to keep their work and passions separate. Combining the two has the same risks as building a business partnership with your spouse: things can...

Hard Projecting with Paul Robinson: "Jumpman" V14/8B+

Failing over and over again is ingrained in the nature of bouldering but the only real failure is when you stop trying.”I lost many battles with Jumpman over the past year but finally managed to win the war! I figured out a small fix to my beta that was the real game changer f...

MOVIE TRAILER: The Dawn Wall with Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson

Watch the latest trailer of the long awaited feature documentary on Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s ascent of the Dawn Wall, the hardest free climb on Yosemite’s El Capitan. images: Brett Lowell and Tim Kemple | Red Bull Content Pull

Climb with the best, climb better: the benefits of pro climbers’ coaching

I’m a big believer in the importance of quality coaching, especially when it comes to learning - and training for - a sport as complex as climbing. While basic climbing movement is indeed intuitive, advanced climbing skills and techniques are not.” - Eric Hörst The value of co...

Adam Ondra's "SILENCE" Premiere (world's firs 9c)

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What's Europe's best bouldering destination?

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