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!
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
The Climbing Wall Association is excited to announce the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City as the location of the 2025 CWA Summit. The 2025 CWA Summit will take place from April 15-19, 2025. Continue Reading
The Climbing Wall Association has expanded its Board of Directors by four members, bringing the total up to nine. Learn about the new board members and the role of the CWA Board of Directors. Continue Reading
The Climbing Wall Association is excited to welcome a new addition to our team, Maddie Hodge, as our new Events Coordinator. Continue Reading
Kai Lightner has leveraged his success as a pro climber to found a non-proft, Climbing for Change, that is inspiring diversity in climbing. Learn how your gym can get involved through grant programs, partnerships, consultations, and connections. Continue Reading
Learn about tube-style and assisted braking devices, how they work, the difference, why gyms have different preferences, and why human error is the most common reason a device fails. Continue Reading
