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!
Routesetting, auto belay maintenance, cleaning, decorating, inspections. All of it happens off the ground, and all of it is covered by a web of industry, local, and national regulations. The CWA’s mission is to help climbing walls operate responsibly and Work at Height (WAH) compliance has... Continue Reading
We are excited to introduce the new CWA Community Hub, your central destination for staff training, professional development, industry resources, and operational guidance for climbing walls. Designed to bring learning, connection, and support together in one place, the Hub makes it easier than... 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
Running a climbing facility means managing risk daily. But one scenario that can catch any operator off guard is a formal workplace health and safety inspection. Whether it's triggered by a complaint, an incident, or a scheduled visit, inspections don't need to be a source of panic. With some... Continue Reading
Bouldering is often the first activity a new climber tries when they come through the door. There is no harness, no belay check, and no partner system to rely on. For many gym operators, that simplicity can make the bouldering area feel like the lowest-risk part of the facility. In practice, it... Continue Reading
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
Throughout the last decade, indoor rock climbing has experienced an exponential boom. What was once a niche sport brought indoors to combat bad weather and enhance off-season conditioning, has become a multi-billion-dollar industry worldwide. This shift, while positive for the industry, poses... Continue Reading
This article is sponsored content written by EP Climbing. A preview of EP Climbing’s Heritage holds, new panel materials, and what we’ll be sharing at CWA 2026 The climbing industry has changed a lot over the years. Gyms have grown larger and more diverse, setting styles continue... Continue Reading
During a recent Instructor Certification Course, participants were asked to share their takeaways from the course delivery. One student shared the following: “This course elevated these scattered experiences into clear risk management concepts, allowing me to more fully understand the... Continue Reading
Being a business owner in the climbing wall industry has its host of issues. Two that we’ve seen become more alarming over the last year, though, have surfaced. General economic uncertainty The need for effective (and affordable) marketing materials and skills. For many indoor... Continue Reading
