"The Engine Room", in progress.

We've been building a Power Company training room, complete with new toys that you'll be seeing in reviews, including Eva Lopez's Transgression hangboard, and the system holds from Atomik Climbing.

I built a board specifically to try out Atomik's System line (both bolt on and screw on), and the first few sessions have left me incredibly amped, as I think system boarding could be the most overlooked training tool out there. More on that later.

Right now I want to talk about a question that is asked of me nearly weekly.

"What kind of cross-training do you do?"

None. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

Actually, I suppose that isn't true. I climb on boulders to get better at routes, and I hang on small edges to get better at bouldering.

It's not that I believe that cross-training is silly. Not at all.

Ok, that isn't true either.

For a large percentage of the people who "cross-train", it is silly. Pointless. Unproductive.

Let me say this loudly (but not so loud as to be in all caps):

If you're cross-training for fun - because you like it or want to excel at it - or because it simply makes you feel good, then by all means keep doing it and stop reading now.

If, however, you do it because you believe that you'll become a better climber by running, doing CrossFit, or playing soccer two nights a week, keep reading.

Allow me to backup a little. I'm getting too excited and getting ahead of myself. There are people who will benefit greatly from cross-training. If you fall into one of the below categories, then join the cross-trainers over in the corner who are already cursing me out.