The Climbing Wall Association's blog is a place for indoor climbing professionals to find useful and relevant information from industry and business experts. Stay on top of best practices, thought leadership, and trends by subscribing to our newsletter!
Recently, I had the exciting opportunity to attend the 2022 CWA Summit for the first time in Salt Lake City. Compared to the schedules from 2018 and 2019, it was inspiring to see so many routesetting sessions that were focused on the professionalization of our facet of the indoor climbing... Continue Reading
Let’s be honest, we have all envisioned ourselves riding off into the sunset. Modern-day cowboys (see: dirtbags) in a kitted-out Sprinter van instead of a horse with no name. The flip side is that in the indoor climbing industry, we often see our best employees making that a reality,... Continue Reading
The lights dimmed, the music flared, and a silver mohawk walked out on stage. Paula Horwitz pumped her fist to the music and the crowd was stoked. As I looked across the hall, I knew I was with my people. Before she introduced our keynote speaker, Kevin Jorgeson, Paula shared a heartfelt story... Continue Reading
There are three “angles” to look at great wall design, according to The Pad Climbing team. Setting, climbability, and aesthetics. Typically when we design walls, it starts with taking the space and visualizing the best use based on the flow of climbers, then designing the... Continue Reading
Macon Rocks, located in Macon, Georgia, has incorporated a community focus before they were even a gym. Whether by preserving community history in their building or working with local businesses and non-profits to benefit their members, Macon Rocks has not only expanded their business but... Continue Reading
There are many reasons we work at climbing gyms, and no matter where you are on the career ladder, there are several skills and abilities we can develop to enhance our lives and strengthen our resumes.As we explore some of these areas of growth, we discover their interconnectedness and how they... Continue Reading
Six minutes, and eight seconds. A new personal best (22 minutes faster than her first attempt) is set by thirteen-year-old climber, Yashu Badalamenti. Yashu has cerebral palsy and started climbing last summer in an adaptive summer camp. She is delightful, encouraging, and a blast to be... Continue Reading
Monument Sports Group is pleased to introduce Missy Finnerty who recently joined the team as a Customer Service Representative for the CWA Insurance Program. Missy is a graduate of Radford University, and prior to joining Monument Missy was a claims examiner at The James River Insurance... Continue Reading
Imagine a packed 30,000-square-foot climbing gym. The lead wall looks like a tangled spiderweb, the bouldering pit is ringed with climbers and onlookers. There are at least 400 people and an appropriate cloud of chalk dust throughout the space. What if I bet you a shiny quarter that I could... Continue Reading
One of the most special things about indoor rock climbing is its ability to introduce someone to the sport in a place where climbing isn’t already woven into the cultural fabric. Stop any person in your gym, and I’d bet a substantial sum that climbing means more to them than just a... Continue Reading
What happens when young climbers “age out” from participation in youth teams? What recourse do individuals have if they’ve gotten into the climbing game “too late?” Adult avenues for professional training or guidance in climbing aren’t always as well... Continue Reading
The Seattle area has been steeped in indoor climbing history. Indeed, being the birthplace of indoor climbing in America, and having numerous climbing gyms in the metro area of almost four million, it’s the perfect case study to discuss market differentiation. As the next CWA Summit... Continue Reading
