Performing under environmental pressure is a feature of onsight comp climbing that is difficult to practice. Comps are violently loud and bright, and often feature a style of climbing where the moves and falls are spectacular. All this leads to a very distracting situation for high performance.
The single most important thing during a high pressure performance situation is to be able to return to your center regardless of what happens. Loud crowd, annoying MC, big fall, flashing lights – all of these things should not distract you, but instead should enhance your focus on the situation.
Remember, it’s not if you can do it. You can do it. But can you do it in 5 minutes, while distracted?
This is the drill:
1. While climbing before competition, each time you fall or fail, think to yourself, “return to the goal.”
2. Check your timer. Breathe.
3. Focus on the next step to completing the climb. Breathe.
During a competition, whenever you are distracted, follow the same steps:
Return to the goal. Check the clock. Focus on the climb.