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!
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 keeps 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... 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
“[People] are still led by instinct before they are regulated by knowledge.” Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie (1900) Article At A Glance Writer: Robert Angell, the CWA's General Counsel. Robert writes legal and claim-related articles for the CWA. Who Should Read: Decision... Continue Reading
Building programs based on customer feedback isn’t considered common. But could it be? In this article, we’ll explore the idea of sourcing and integrating customer feedback into programming both in practice and in hypothetical. Article At A Glance Writer:... Continue Reading
Intermediate and advanced climbing programming can be some of the most challenging gaps in climbing programs to build, sell, and do well. There are several hurdles in the way, including recruiting and retaining talented staff who can teach the material, building a curriculum, filling classes,... Continue Reading
Routesetting is creative as it is strategic, and learning how to be efficient and risk-averse in the industry not only produces a better product, but may help with longevity in the profession. Article at a Glance Writer: Jess Malloy, head coach at High Point Climbing Gym. Jess has... Continue Reading
Procrastination can be deadly for a lawyer. Miss a deadline and you can lose a case, gain an angry client, and maybe get sued for malpractice. So we quickly unlearn the habit when we go to law school. Article At A Glance Writer: Robert Angell, the CWA's General Counsel. Robert writes... Continue Reading
Back in mid-2024, the CWA Summit Content Committee began constructing what would become one of the most attended and highly reviewed sessions that would take place at the conference. The Industry Economic and Market Conditions session, which drew almost 25 percent of attendees who work at... Continue Reading
The ability to cross-train staff is dependent on gym size, classes, programming, and the number of roles available to cross-train into. Bouldering gyms may have fewer positions than gyms that offer ropes and auto belays. Facilities that offer youth programming and competitive teams have more... Continue Reading
