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On February 18, 2001, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash involving three cars on the final lap of the Daytona 500. After making contact with two other cars, Earnhardt’s vehicle hit the wall at an angle, with the right front of the car making contact with the wall. Watching... Continue Reading
I hadn’t seen a belay orientation video until I was well into my climbing career. I actually saw one for the first time while climbing after work at my girlfriend’s gym. As usual, I prepared to display my belaying skills to receive the coveted belay check so I could go climb. After I... Continue Reading
I remember one time I was setting at a dingy, University Climbing Wall. I am sure many of our readers here at CWA know the kind of wall I am talking about: fake rock, t-nuts that are either stripped or set back so far you sometimes need an extra, extra-long bolt just for a foot hold. We rarely... Continue Reading
Ever hear the saying, from George Bernard Shaw’s 1903 play entitled Man and Superman, which states, “those who can, do; those who can’t teach.” The trouble with coaching and instruction is that those who provide the instruction are given a position of power over those... Continue Reading
As of January 2024, wage and salary workers stayed for their current employers for just under four years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median tenure of workers ages 25 to 34 was 2.7 years, workers ages 20 to 24 was 1.4 years, and workers under 20 didn’t even average a... Continue Reading
For decades, the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) has had representation across the entire spectrum of the indoor climbing industry via its Board of Directors. Michele Lang, CEO of Insight Climbing & Movement, will be the new Chair of the CWA’s Board of Directors, replacing Wesley Shih,... Continue Reading
The job of an instructor is to deliver the content. A competent instructor provides the necessary instruction of content and skills. A good instructor ensures the required content is delivered in a way that is engaging and that students seem to understand. A great instructor continually assesses... Continue Reading
We watched the news accounts in horror. Flash floods caused by almost unimaginable amounts of rainfall struck along the Guadalupe River and its tributaries in the Texas Hill Country over Fourth of July Weekend. At least 135 people died. Among the dead were at least 27 campers and staff at Camp... Continue Reading
Competition day is a big deal for any coach. All of the training, coaching, and effort for both you and your athletes come to competition day. Showing up as your best self is the ultimate goal. Article At A Glance Writer: Marisa Romero, an expert in youth coaching and... Continue Reading
The Climbing Wall Association, as the name implies, is a non-profit organization. Our staff keep some very large programs and initiatives running with limited resources. This is largely possible, thanks to the hard work of our amazing Board of Directors. The BOD of the CWA are volunteers who help... Continue Reading
Climbing gear is an endless, ever-evolving topic. Whether you're a gearhead or not, it's an undeniably fascinating industry feature. As technology provides creative solutions and improves margins of risk, there are some categories of items that are timelessly useful. These are the items we'll be... Continue Reading
Preparing for a crisis in an indoor climbing gym is not limited to risk management for climbing-related incidents or injuries. A crisis can stem from both internal and external risks, many of which may seem beyond your control. This article discusses several of these risks and steps gym operators... Continue Reading
