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How to Avoid High Employee Turnover in Climbing Gyms
How to Avoid High Employee Turnover in Climbing Gyms

High turnover of employees costs businesses money and time, and can lead to a further trickle down of discontent on your team. Learn some reasons why employees are leaving your climbing gym and strategies to combat turnover while building a stronger team. Continue Reading

Date posted02/1/2023


A Common Misconception of Coaching
A Common Misconception of Coaching

Many potential coaches in the indoor climbing industry feel that their climbing talent or background isn't strong enough to take the step to become a coach. Chris Oshinski is here to provide some empirical evidence to correct this misconception and bolster the ranks of coaches. Continue Reading

Postedby Christopher Oshinski
Date posted01/22/2023


The Indoor Climbing Industry Needs Certification
The Indoor Climbing Industry Needs Certification

When this writer started in the climbing world, there was no local indoor climbing gym and there was no Climbing Wall Association. I learned how to climb from someone from Utah with what I understood to be a lot of experience. I was given use of a seventeen-year-old harness, some nuts and... Continue Reading

Postedby Heather Reynolds
Date posted01/20/2023


7 Quotes That Changed My Life
7 Quotes That Changed My Life

Over the last decade, many people have asked me how to be a better leader. There are a million ways to answer that question; be humble, ask questions, listen twice and speak once, etc. etc. etc. Many of the answers are cliché, but sometimes a cliché is accurate. Any success that I... Continue Reading

Date posted01/20/2023


The Sustainability of Indoor Climbing Coaching
The Sustainability of Indoor Climbing Coaching

It’s a bluebird autumn day, golden leaves are raining from every direction, and I’m filled with joy as I drive home from my first yoga for climbers retreat at the Red River Gorge, Kent. While driving, I thought about where my professional coaching journey began and how far it has... Continue Reading

Date posted01/6/2023


Create a Retail 'Go' and 'No Go' List
Create a Retail 'Go' and 'No Go' List

Leaving after eight years at Amazon, I considered myself an expert at moving cardboard boxes around in cavernous warehouses. Unfortunately, that left a few notable gaps in my expertise as I started working as the Retail Director for Summit Climbing Yoga and Fitness. After spending a few days... Continue Reading

Date posted01/5/2023


Why is the 2023 CWA Summit in Pittsburgh?
Why is the 2023 CWA Summit in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh might not be the first place you think of when you picture climbing. You might have some preconceived, and outdated, notions about the city, owing to its history as the Steel City prior to deindustrialization, images of frigid wind whipping off its famous three rivers, or even its... Continue Reading

Postedby Matt Pucak (deleted)
Date posted01/5/2023


CWA to Debut Coffee & Collaboration Networking Experience at 2023 CWA Summit
CWA to Debut Coffee & Collaboration Networking Experience at 2023 CWA Summit

CWA Summit attendees can sign up for this brand new opportunity to network, conversate, and learn from their peers Continue Reading

Postedby Matt Pucak (deleted)
Date posted12/15/2022


Is Adaptive Climbing Part of Your Gym Culture?
Is Adaptive Climbing Part of Your Gym Culture?

When checking my email some weeks ago, a name popped up in my inbox that I did not recognize. It was from a person promoting an accessibility event at their climbing gym. The person is not in management or even a gym employee; she is a volunteer, and she wanted me to know about the great work... Continue Reading

Postedby Jake Byk
Date posted12/6/2022


Keep Your Climbing Teams Injury Free
Keep Your Climbing Teams Injury Free

Coach at Momentum Indoor Climbing. Credit: Jake Byk/CWA at Momentum Indoor Climbing “You can’t grow as an athlete if you’re spending your focus on healing.” I’ve heard a lot of wisdom from my older sister over the years, and this bit of advice stood out. Sarah... Continue Reading

Date posted12/6/2022


Indoor Climbing Programs Assessments: A How To Guide
Indoor Climbing Programs Assessments: A How To Guide

In our last blog post, we wrote about some lessons we have learned in our work supporting indoor climbing gyms and program teams in designing staff training. One of the key takeaways from our work is the power of assessment in identifying needs, means of change, and progress. With limited... Continue Reading

Date posted11/29/2022


Member Spotlight: Shaker Rocks
Member Spotlight: Shaker Rocks

As indoor climbing has grown in popularity, new indoor climbing gyms are popping up in areas one wouldn’t traditionally associate with rock climbing. Based in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Annie Richman and the rest of the Shaker Rocks team have built a modern indoor rock gym that... Continue Reading

Postedby Quinn Gordon
Date posted11/24/2022