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Raising Pro Athletes
It takes a village to raise a professional athlete ...
For the first time ever, this podcast talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete. Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the trainers, the nutritionists and the therapists – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a child in reaching their ultimate potential.
What to expect when you listen:
* The real, raw truth
* Laughter, and maybe some tears
* The struggles and the successes
In this podcast, you will find the support you’ve been searching for to RAISE PRO ATHLETES with confidence, and so much more …
Episodes
43 episodes
Homeschooling & Traditional Schooling: Which One is Best for an Athlete?
Today, let's dive into the often debated topic of homeschooling versus traditional schooling for young athletes. We'll explore the reality, challenges, and alternative education options that can support their athletic journey.As we disco...
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4:18
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Competitive Climbing in Front of Cameras: The Benefits, The Risks & Pressures
With a crew of eight to ten cameras capturing their every move, the climbers' true characters emerged. Some blossomed, energized by the attention and excitement - it was evident that being in front of the camera fueled their performance. On the...
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2:56
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Sports and Education: The Options, Costs, and Risks of a Child Athlete Pursuing College
In our society, there's an ingrained belief that university education is the only path to success. But what if your child's passion lies in becoming a professional rock climber or excelling in a particular sport? So today, we're diving into a c...
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4:54
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Buying a Team Uniform for Competitive Climbing: Cost Analysis, the Importance, and the Benefits
As parents, we invest in memberships, coaching, federation, and equipment, but often overlook the significance of a uniform. It's not just about appearance; it symbolizes commitment and belonging. When your child is the only one without a unifo...
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3:23
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Joining a National Climbing Team: Federation Costs, the Pros, the Cons, and Costs
Now, you might be wondering, what exactly is a federation? Well, think of it as the governing body for climbers in your country, like the USA Climbing Team or the Spain Federation. These federations play a crucial role when it comes to represen...
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6:46
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Costs of Joining a Competitive Climbing Team: Teams, Gyms, Training and Preparation Costs
Let’s unravel the hidden costs and uncharted territories of joining a competitive rock climbing team. We start by exploring the different types of teams available, focusing on the advanced and competitive ones that propel young climbers to the ...
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12:00
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How to Keep Your Kid Humble While They Excel in Their Sports and Athletics
In this episode, join me as we tackle a crucial topic: not letting your child's success go to their head. Living in Guatemala, my kids trained extensively, mostly self-taught, until we hired a coach from Chile. As we ventured to Spain, a hub of...
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5:45
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What is the Right Training Plan for Your Kid? Tips for Finding the Right One
Today, let’s delve deep into the heart of finding the perfect coaches and team for both of my sons, who are now at the next level of rock climbing. With me, Marina, we will unravel the complexities of both competition climbing and rock climbing...
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8:58
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Parenting an Athlete: Your Role in Building Your Kid's Journey to Pro
Let’s explore the captivating journey of parenting professional athletes. In this episode, we delve into the crucial roles parents play in nurturing their aspiring rock climbers. Living in Spain, we've encountered families from around the world...
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5:52
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Why I Prefer Rock Climbing as a Parent: Benefits Compared to Other Extreme Sports
Let's talk about the one-of-a-kind bond between parents and their children that can be found in the thrilling sport of rock climbing. As a parent who doesn't climb myself, I'm always on the lookout for ways to connect with my kids. And let me t...
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1:05
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Ethics of Rock Climbing: Where to Pee? Tips on How - To and Where
Get ready to climb into the world of rock climbing ethics with me in this episode! As someone who's never climbed before, I was fascinated to learn about the unwritten rules of the climbing community. Did you know there are certain areas where ...
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1:59
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Ethics of Rock Climbing: Learn When to Stay Quiet and Show Respect
Who knew that one of the ethics of rock climbing is being quiet when someone else is tackling a challenging route? It may seem like a small detail, but it's actually a sign of respect and courtesy towards fellow climbers. It turns o...
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2:00
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The Secret Strength of Climber Kai Lightner - Connie Lightner (His Mom)
"Protecting our kids is our number one responsibility", Connie told me when we first connected.And she took this role incredibly seriously, in the non-conventional ways. Because protecting our kids in sports is rarely ta...
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1:10:40
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Dierdre Wolownick: A Talk With Alex Honnold's Mom
"I’m not the usual kind of ‘athlete’s mom’ that you’re accustomed to interviewing," Dierdre warned me when we first connected about being on the podcast.And that's why I knew I had to speak to the mother of Alex Honnold,...
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29:16

Finding the Right Climbing Team: Why You Need to Choose Wisely
You don't want the coaches to be in awe of your kids because that doesn't really work. Why is it essential to choose the right climbing team for your child? Selecting the perfect climbing team for your child is crucial i...
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3:16
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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and the REAL reasons we moved to Spain
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and the REAL reasons we moved to Spain ________________________________________________About This PodcastIt takes a village to raise a pro athlete....
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2:36
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Welcome to Raising Rock Climbers UNCENSORED Podcast
As a parent of not one but two sons with ambitions to “go pro” as Rock Climbers, your host Marina Kuperman Villatoro began navigating the often rocky terrain of extreme sports a decade ago. She learned quickly that while climbers compete ...
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2:55
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Support Your Child in Sports: Investment In Your Kids Journey (Not Only Financial)
You are fully on board to support your kid especially because they want to go pro in their chosen sport, ie: surfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, motocross, snowboarding, etc…That’s great, so are you ready to make the investment it t...
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6:43
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Pushing Your Child in Sports: Protecting Your Kid From You - Sports Parents What's Your Agenda?
Protecting your child - this will be repeated over and over again because it is THAT IMPORTANTHowever, in this episode we’re going to be talking about protecting your kids from YOUYeah, you read that right.What am I talking...
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6:11
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Are Sports all Glitz and Glamour? Reality of the Sports Journey
Is this going to be all glitz and glamor? Is this going to be champagne popping podiums and huge screams of elation when winning?ABSOLUTELY NOTIs it going to be fun? Is it going to be worth it? ...
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3:04
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Jealousy in Sports: Is Envy in Athletes a Killer or a Motivator?
What is envy when it comes to sports? And why it can either be a killer or the motivator for your child to get better.Understanding where it comes from and handling it properly can help your kid rise above it and become so much better
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5:19
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How to Overcome Adversity in Sports - Helping Your Kids
Dealing with adversities is part of the athletic game.Tears, frustrations, tantrums will be major players.Resilience will be the reward.Sports gives us so much, and when we ignore the difficult stuff, we rob our kids of dea...
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4:02
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Your Kid Does NOT Have to Make Up for Your Lack of Success
Let’s get this straight from the very beginning - Your kid does not have to make up for your lack of success.We don’t care what you did or didn’t achieve. This has nothing to do with your kid.You living your life in a land of regr...
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3:41
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Taking Time Off to Train Athletically - Who's Paying for It?
With climbing in the Olympics for the first time ever, my family became addicted to watching all the qualifying competitions leading up to the Olympics.Since this sport is so familiar to us, and at times it felt like we were watching goo...
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4:49
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