The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast E164: Zoe Wood and Ros Beveridge - Route setting pod Mk 2, this time with different perspectives!
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Sep 3, 2025 Zoe Wood and Ros Beveridge, both renowned route setters, delve into the world of climbing route setting from unique female perspectives. They discuss the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry and emphasize the importance of inclusivity within climbing communities. The conversation highlights their personal journeys, from passion to profession, and tackles the balance between freelancing and climbing aspirations. They also reflect on the significance of diversity in route setting teams and the evolving dynamic of competition climbing.
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Representation Improves Calibration
- Good setters can produce climbs for a wide range of body types; morphology myths often overstate limitations.
- Representation helps spot subtle issues (reach, texture) that a single dominant body type might miss.
World Cups Lag But Will Catch Up
- Competition-level setting lags female representation because athlete pipelines and experience take years to feed into setting.
- Ros expects more women at elite comps as former athletes transition into setting with time and investment.
Comp Week Is Complete Immersion
- Zoe described the comp week immersion where every move is analysed and the team lives and breathes the climbs.
- She says the post-comp drain is intense and she needs long rest after events like BBCs.