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!
Have you ever gone to a movie theater that doesn’t serve popcorn? I haven’t. The movie ticket is only $14, but then the popcorn is $6, and I’m going to need a Coke to wash that down, so that’s another $3. It’s a classic story of add-ons. Although I ended up... Continue Reading
2020 will forever be seared into our collective memory as the year COVID-19 ravaged the country and the world. Yet, when most businesses were bunkering down to ride out the storm, Oso Climbing Gyms took a gamble and opened its doors for the first time last May. Located in Dallas's Design... Continue Reading
The Climbing Wall Association is thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Paula Horwitz, to our team. Paula joins the CWA team with an extensive background in executive leadership of non-profit and membership-driven organizations, particularly in niche, passion-driven industries. "I am... Continue Reading
Photo by Irene Yee This installation of Projecting Anti-Racism is a case study of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and its implementation of affinity programming. As more folks challenge the outdoor industry to be intentionally anti-oppressive, the work goes beyond inclusion to... Continue Reading
In part one of this series, we examined behavioral management and different types of disruptive behavior. We’re continuing to expand on this while providing tactics for effectively handling these issues and proactively using empathy as a coach. While addressing challenging behaviors, it is... Continue Reading
Congress added another $1.9 trillion to assist with recovery from the pandemic with the passing of the American Rescue Plan earlier this month. But many climbing gym owners are wondering where the support is for their businesses. It’s still possible that another stimulus bill could be... Continue Reading
About a year ago, you were probably making some hard decisions. You were at least contemplating them, and the implications of what this new flu-like virus was going to do to your business, your family, and your community. Slowly, then painfully fast, the world changed, and we all came to realize... Continue Reading
Behavior management is a challenging skill to develop for coaches working with youth. It takes consistent practice and requires the coach to evolve along with their groups. Effective group management for youth teams includes a variety of tools that, when implemented appropriately, keeps the group... Continue Reading
It’s hard to believe we have been staying home, wearing masks, and social distancing for a year. As vaccines roll out, many of us may feel like we’re coming around the corner with the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it is essential to remember that the pandemic’s effect on mental... Continue Reading
The CWA is excited to open recruitment for the Industry Practices Committee! This group of industry professionals will help rewrite the current “Industry Practices: A Sourcebook for the Operations of Manufactured Climbing Walls.” Despite the immediate troubles of the COVID-19... Continue Reading
In our previous discussion about the long term athlete development model, we reviewed the history that led to the creation of the program. The goal of the LTAD model is to ensure the quality of sport and physical activity, and to keep athletes and/or participants engaged in sports and recreation... Continue Reading
As the pandemic rages on, climbing gyms continue to be among some of the hardest hit businesses in the country, despite the help offered by the December 2020 COVID Relief Package. The CWA is working hard to understand how our industry is coping with continued government-mandated closures and... Continue Reading
