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!
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
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
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
One of the biggest struggles many facilities face is how to effectively integrate programs, and youth programs specifically, into the gym during busy times. Article At A Glance NOTE: An earlier version of this article was incorrectly attributed to a different author. The mistake was... Continue Reading
Enthusiasts are flooding the sport of rock climbing, with their primary avenue to the sport being through the doors of indoor climbing gyms. There is a growing need for education to ease the transition to outdoor climbing, and gyms remain the leader in this arena. Some skills we learn in the... Continue Reading
Just under three weeks ago, a global swath of professionals met in Salt Lake City for the 2025 CWA Summit. It’s no secret it’s been a (at minimum) raucous year for the indoor climbing industry. Political uncertainty, consumer behavior, government tariffs, inflation, and market... Continue Reading
