Interview: Rockbusters Founder Jany Novotny on Climbing, Mindset, and Building a Global Climbing Community

Rock climbing is about more than just strength and technique. For many climbers, the real growth happens mentally—learning to trust yourself, face fear, and step beyond what you thought was possible.

At Adventurtle, we love highlighting guides who dedicate their lives to helping others experience that journey. One of those guides is Jany Novotny, founder of the European climbing guiding company Rockbusters.

Through guided climbing trips, performance camps, and coaching programs across Europe, Jany has helped climbers push past mental barriers while exploring some of the continent’s best rock.

We sat down with Jany to talk about how he got into climbing, the psychology behind improving, and what climbers gain from joining a guided climbing trip.

Jany climbing in the Alps

How Did You First Get Into Rock Climbing?

Adventurtle: How did you first discover climbing, and what eventually led you to become a guide?

Jany Novotny:“I started climbing when I was in Pennsylvania with a family during high school. There was a guy running an adventure program for teenagers and he took us climbing and caving.”

Before that, climbing wasn’t really part of Jany’s life.

“I was mostly playing basketball and skiing. My whole family are skiers. Climbing was actually kind of a forbidden activity where I grew up because the sandstone climbing there can be very risky.”

Eventually, a climbing trip to Spain helped him realize he could turn his passion into a career.

“I went to Spain, did some climbing there, and found a job as a ski instructor in Sierra Nevada. That’s when I started thinking—maybe this is the way to go. Maybe I can turn climbing into a job too.”

Why Did You Start Rockbusters?

Adventurtle: What inspired you to start your own climbing guiding company?

For Jany, the answer comes down to lifestyle.

“From the beginning I always felt like the world is a little bit wrong,” he laughs. “It’s not normal to spend eleven months working and then have one month of vacation.”

For someone passionate about the mountains, that schedule didn’t make sense.

“If you want to ski powder or climb cool routes, you need time for it. Sometimes you have to wait for the conditions, and that doesn’t happen during one week of vacation.”

So Jany built a life around guiding and coaching climbers, eventually creating Rockbusters as a way to organize climbing trips and share those experiences with others.

What Has Climbing Taught You About Life?

Adventurtle: What’s something climbing has taught you that people outside the sport might not expect?

For Jany, climbing is about commitment and priorities.

“You need to set priorities and give up lots of things, but it’s worth it,” he says.

And perhaps more importantly, climbing teaches you not to wait.

“If you want to climb, just go climbing and do it now. Life is too short.”

Why Is the Mental Side of Climbing So Important?

Adventurtle: Rockbusters focuses heavily on mindset and mental training. How do you help climbers push through fear?

According to Jany, fear is one of the biggest obstacles climbers face.

“Lots of people just need to open their eyes and understand that the only way to get rid of fear is to keep going for it.”

The process isn’t instant.

“You slowly push the boundary higher and higher. The more times you get out of your comfort zone, the bigger your comfort zone becomes.”

What’s the Biggest Mistake Climbers Make When Trying to Improve?

Adventurtle: When climbers feel stuck in their progress, what do you usually see holding them back?

For Jany, the answer is simple.

“The biggest mistake is that climbers are not truthful with themselves.”

Instead of addressing the real problem, climbers often look for easier explanations.

“If someone is scared, they might say, ‘I need to get stronger,’ or ‘my technique is bad.’ But they are just avoiding the real issue.”

That doesn’t mean strength and technique don’t matter—but ignoring the mental barrier limits progress.

“They might get stronger and climb harder, but they will never reach their full potential if they don’t address the real problem.”

What’s One of Your Favorite Memories From Guiding?

Adventurtle: After guiding so many climbing trips, is there a moment that stands out?

Jany laughs before answering.

“There are so many memorable things,” he says.

But what stands out most to him is the friendships that come from climbing.

“Many clients become friends. People meet on a Rockbusters trip and then they go climbing together all over the world.”

Sometimes those friendships continue long after the trip ends.

“They send me photos years later from trips they planned together. That’s really cool to see.”

What Do You Hope Climbers Gain From a Rockbusters Trip?

Adventurtle: When someone joins their first Rockbusters trip, what do you hope they take away from the experience?

Improving as a climber is part of the goal, but it’s not the whole story.

“Hopefully they improve their climbing,” Jany says. “But also they make new friendships and get introduced to a new climbing area.”

Rockbusters trips are designed to help climbers see their movement and technique from a new perspective.

“You get information and feedback from someone watching you climb from the outside, not just yourself and your friends.”

That outside perspective can often unlock breakthroughs climbers struggle to reach on their own.

Why Guided Climbing Trips Can Accelerate Your Progress

Climbing with an experienced guide can transform how quickly climbers improve.

Guided trips provide:

• Personalized coaching and feedback

• Access to world-class climbing destinations

• Local knowledge of routes and conditions

• A supportive climbing community

And as Jany’s experiences show, the relationships built during those trips can last far beyond the climbing itself.

Discover Guided Climbing Adventures Through Adventurtle

At Adventurtle, we believe great adventures start with great guides.

Climbers like Jany Novotny represent the heart of the outdoor community—guides who dedicate their lives to helping others grow on the rock while exploring incredible places.

Whether you're looking to improve your climbing technique, overcome mental barriers, or experience iconic European climbing destinations, guided trips can open the door to unforgettable adventures.

Because sometimes the biggest breakthrough in climbing begins with the right guide.

Click here to download our app and explore trips from Rockbusters.