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!
One of the most interesting sessions, for me at least, at the 2022 Climbing Wall Association Summit was the auto belay discussion between gym owners. The session was billed as a discussion of the mitigation of risk, and I think most of us were expecting hard statistics and clear guidelines, but... Continue Reading
“Why do you throw up sometimes?” I asked my sister on our way home from school. Silence hung in the air. “I don’t know.” She breathed. In my freshman year, there was often tension between us. I needed her to know that I cared about her and that I was a safe person to... Continue Reading
Climbing is used by many of us for myriad purposes: stress relief, physical activity, pure pleasure, and so much more. Recently, our sport has gained a lot of traction for its constructive potential for neurodivergent folks experiencing a broad range of symptoms. I chatted with Molly... Continue Reading
Imagine you’re stepping into the climbing gym for the first time. What are your first impressions? The way the staff greet you, the sounds and smells emanating from the facility, the height of the walls, and the feeling of space. Above all, many new indoor climbers notice and gravitate... Continue Reading
North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, recently saw a fresh renovation to its on-campus climbing facilities. In this member spotlight, learn how Erin Heiser, NC State’s Assistant Director of Outdoor Adventures, built administrative and community support for the project managed... Continue Reading
If you think of the indoor climbing industry on the timeline of an average human lifespan, I think we are probably at the tail end of puberty. Growth is booming, but there are thoughts that aspects are plateauing. The industry’s strength has increased exponentially, but there’s a long... Continue Reading
Last year, after seeing the success of Rana Accawi’s Climb Like a Girl (CLAG) program at Brooklyn Boulders, I knew I wanted to trial a similar program at The Crag. While I have very little coaching experience and no formal coaching training - five years of full-time routesetting and climber... Continue Reading
Communication is the tool we use to reach goals or accomplish tasks that we can’t achieve on our own. “Homo sapiens conquered the world thanks above all to its unique language.” Now, you may not be planning to conquer the world, but if this simple statement from Ph.D.... Continue Reading
Part One of this series left off by highlighting the value of a diverse team of interviewers for a given role and why panel interviews are often not the best option. With each of these items, the goal was (and is) to provide a wonderful experience for your potential candidates. In this concluding... Continue Reading
This article is submitted content. Of the many benefits offered by the CWA, Monument Sports Group insurance is one of the best known. The program continues to grow alongside the indoor climbing industry. When the Monument Sports Group was awarded exclusivity for managing the CWA Insurance... Continue Reading
The CWA's Industry Survey, which will be transformed into an interactive report of the indoor climbing industry, is taking submissions currently. We sat down with CWA Executive Director Paula Horwitz to go through the benefits and changes the survey's newest year will have in store for both... Continue Reading
Routesetting is the product that ultimately pays most of the bills in the indoor climbing industry. Regardless of your title or role, it almost all comes back to how Johnny Boulder and Jane Team Kid grab those grips. Boulders or rope. Competition style vs. replicating outdoor boulders. Each time... Continue Reading
