Like any good event, the CWA Summit is dynamic. It changes from year to year in small but meaningful ways based on the feedback received from our community. As a member-based non-profit, this is your event. Because of this, the CWA works hard to meet the differing needs of all our members across the indoor climbing industry.

The first CWA Summit took place in Boulder, Colorado in April of 2007 with 175 people and 10 sponsors and exhibitors. The early days of the conference looked a lot different, with an expo hall on the pool deck of the Hotel Boulderado. Since then, the industry and the Summit have evolved to offer more sessions covering cutting-edge topics and a trade show hall with all of the industry’s latest and greatest product innovations.

The 2025 CWA Summit has the same great programming as previous years, but the way it's scheduled is a little different this year. There are exciting new opportunities to meet the diverse needs we’ve heard about in your feedback.

Let’s discuss the different aspects of the CWA Summit to understand what’s changing, and what’s not, about your beloved event.

Pre-Conferences and Certifications

The CWA has invested heavily in our certification offerings in the last four years. We’ve piloted new courses, created the Community Hub for digital learning, and moved Certification Summits around the U.S. and Canada to make them more accessible. This year, we’re offering the following certifications at the CWA Summit, many of which are new:

• Climbing Wall Instructor Provider
• Work at Height Level 1,2, and Provider
• Professional Routesetting Direct Entry

Pre-conference sessions have been a fixture of the CWA Summit in some capacity since its inception in 2007. Though they have fluctuated throughout the years, pre-conference sessions aim to provide attendees with even more learning opportunities through a more in-depth and personal experience.

Pre-Conference sessions are in-depth workshops that cannot be taught during the regular schedule. These sessions are often held off-site so that people can do hands-on learning right in a climbing gym environment. Pre-Conferences go for a minimum of a half day. That’s more than double the length of a regular session!

“Pre-Conferences are unique; they allow the speaker freedom to teach content in the best format for the learner. We’re excited to release these workshops earlier this year so folks can plan to attend ahead of time,” says Jake Byk, Content Manager for the CWA.

Pre-Conferences are released on a rolling basis. View the latest Pre-Conference workshops here.

Education Sessions:

For the past 10 years, we’ve had about 6 hours dedicated solely to breakout sessions and workshops, give or take 45 minutes each year. In 2025, we’ll continue that same trend, with most of our education sessions happening on Thursday. Additionally, we’ll be adding even more education and networking time with the addition of community-driven sessions on Friday. These Friday sessions will mostly happen in our Community Hub spaces located in the trade show hall.

“We have intentionally created these Community Hub spaces that serve as an alternative area for folks to gather, collaborate, meet-up, and present ideas in a shorter fashion than a regular education session,” says Maddie Hodge, Events Coordinator for the CWA.

We introduced these community-driven sessions focused on the professional indoor climbing community’s needs at the 2024 CWA Summit. The Community Hub sessions can take many different shapes depending on the topics or ideas being presented.

“Get creative, empower some change, and bring key groups together here,” says Maddie.

From our Canadian Roundtable to more conversational sessions to support specific jobs in the industry - or even networking and support groups. We invite you to take control and propose the sessions you want to see at the CWA Summit. We will provide the infrastructure and support to make it happen.

Submit your proposals for Expo Education Sessions here

Trade Show Only Day

The Trade Show has been a mainstay of the CWA Summit since its inception. It has expanded over the past four years, forcing the CWA out of the small venues in Colorado and into larger convention centers across the U.S.  The CWA Summit’s sponsors and suppliers represent the full spectrum of the industry, offering products and services from wall builders to hold manufacturers, gear makers, and more

“Our industry is growing fast thanks to the connections you can build on our Trade Show floor. The relationships you build today can help your business grow for years to come,” Tilde Bombardo, Membership Manager of the CWA, says.

This year, we’ve created the Trade Show Only ticket. Though we have other programming on the Trade Show Only Day, the main focus is on our exhibitors. For example, our Community Hub Sessions are held on the Trade Show floor. Trade Show only tickets are offered at a lower price to improve accessibility to the CWA Summit and let teams customize their event experience.

“Here at the CWA, we increase access, variety, and the chance to be a part of the indoor climbing industry in the best ways that fit our community.”

“The Trade Show Only Day ticket allows gym owners the opportunity to attend the CWA Summit at a decreased cost while also pouring revenue and connections back into the community,” says Maddie.

Purchase a Trade Show Only Day Ticket at the CWA Summit registration page. under "Day Passes".

If there’s something you want us to know, don’t be shy, this year’s changes come directly from the valuable feedback from CWA Summit attendees. We spent all summer as a team building the event based on expert guidance and feedback from our community. We will continue to adapt and improve the CWA Summit every year to meet the indoor climbing industry’s needs.

We look forward to seeing you in Salt Lake City!