Sept. 15, 2026

45 - Comp Climbing Chronicles with Joe Goodacre

Joe Goodacre grew up in North Boulder and started climbing at just 4 years old through Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou’s Team ABC—one of the strongest youth programs in the country. In this episode, Joe shares what it was like to come up through competitive climbing, from early top‑rope comps to winning youth nationals and becoming a National and Pan-American champion.

We get into the hyper‑technical world of speed climbing—micro‑beta, head‑to‑head racing, and this niche sport's evolution. As well as Joe’s time spent climbing over the water both outdoors and in the exhilarating Psicobloc competitions all over the world. Lastly, we dive into Joe's transition into outdoor climbing, skipping v10, climbing high above the water and what it's been like to work a climb for more than the comp-allotted 5 minutes. It’s a fun look at what happens when someone raised in the gym discovers the full spectrum of climbing.

A huge thank you to our sponsor, Misty Mountain, for supporting The Ground Up Podcast. Since 1985, Misty Mountain has been handcrafting climbing harnesses and equipment in North Carolina, building gear that's trusted by climbers no matter the challenge.

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