Hi, I'm Petr.

I'm Petr Hess, a strength and conditioning coach based in Prague. I coach individual clients and sports clubs, building training plans that make people stronger, more resilient and healthier, whether they run, play a team sport or just want to move without pain.

Climbing came into my life as a complement to my other training, and it quickly became one of my favourite ways to move. Bouldering puts everything I care about as a coach into one activity: finger and grip strength, shoulder stability, mobility, body tension and problem-solving under fatigue. It is also brutally honest about weak links, and that is what makes it such a good teacher.

Why I started Chalk & Crag

Most climbing training advice online sits in forum threads or comes from elite athletes training 20 hours a week. I wanted something in between: clear, evidence-based training for everyday climbers, written by someone who plans training for a living and climbs because he loves it.

• Training: finger strength, hangboarding and bouldering programs built on the same principles I use with my clients and clubs: progressive overload, smart recovery and long-term development.
• Injury prevention: warm-ups, antagonist training and load management. Injury and rehab articles are reviewed by a licensed physiotherapist before publication.
• Gear: honest guides to the equipment that actually helps you train and climb better.
• Crags: practical guides to bouldering destinations like Fontainebleau.

My approach

1. Evidence first. I cite research and say clearly where the evidence is thin.
2. Train the athlete, not just the fingers. Climbing performance rests on general strength, mobility and recovery, which is my daily work as a conditioning coach.
3. Long-term, injury-free progress over quick fixes.

Work with me

I coach individuals and sports clubs in person in Prague and online: petrhesskondice.cz.