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!
Most gym operators have a gut feeling of where incidents are likely to happen. Boulders and auto belays, maybe the occasional slip and fall. But the climbing wall industry needs more than gut feelings.For the first time, the CWA and our CWA Insurance Program partner Monument Sports Group have... Continue Reading
After more than a decade of operating in a shaky legal environment, Oregon's climbing gyms, along with ski areas, fitness studios, rafting outfitters, and a wide range of other businesses, finally have some support for their use of waivers. Oregon Senate Bill 1517, signed into law in early 2026,... Continue Reading
Trends from the 2019 and 2026 CWA Indoor Climber Surveys, and what they mean for gym operators In 2019, the Climbing Wall Association set out to better understand who indoor climbers were, how they used gyms, and what they valued most. At the time, the industry was still riding a long wave of... Continue Reading
The Climbing Wall Association (CWA) is proud to welcome Josh Haynes (he/him) as its new Education Program Manager. Josh brings more than 25 years of experience in the climbing wall industry—spanning guiding, routesetting, programming, and education. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas,... 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
In a significant milestone for the indoor climbing industry, the CWA has officially released the Fourth Edition of the Industry Practices (IPs), ushering in a new era of climbing-specific operational guidance for the North American climbing gym industry and beyond. This latest revision is not... Continue Reading
Climbing facilities face various challenges, from consistent operations that keep up with industry trends to finding new ways to engage members. You may not realize that the CWA has a network of committees working behind the scenes to address the issues you deal with daily. These committees are... Continue Reading
This year, the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) and USA Climbing (USAC) formed the new Competition Advisory Committee, to include indoor climbing gym operators in discussions of the industry, the future of competition climbing, and how to strengthen collaboration. “It has been a pleasure... Continue Reading
Attending training courses and getting certified is a time commitment and can be expensive. Many folks in the indoor climbing industry have years or decades of experience but would still benefit from certification. To this end, the CWA is very pleased to be launching a Direct Entry pathway for... Continue Reading
At the 2024 CWA Summit in Portland, the CWA announced a new project in partnership with the Monument Sports Group to provide orientation videos for the indoor climbing industry. Attendees at the show had a chance to see some of the preliminary graphics and see some short snippets. Climbing gyms... Continue Reading
The CWA is excited to announce the hiring of a new Membership Manager. Tilde Bombardo brings a rich tapestry of experience to her new role as the CWA's Membership Manager. Hailing from Naples, Italy, Tilde discovered her passion for climbing at the age of 12. She fell in love with the cliffs of... Continue Reading
The Climbing Wall Association (CWA) is excited to announce legendary climbers Tommy Caldwell and Alan Watts as the closing keynote speakers at the 2024 CWA Summit. Caldwell and Watts join previously announced opening keynote speaker Sasha DiGiulian to form a climbing all-star lineup that will... Continue Reading
