Home » Events » Climbing Wall Summit 2012 » Sessions + Workshops
The Summit offers content in a variety of formats from plenary presentations and concurrent sessions to intimate workshops and trainings. This year, we’ll augment highly relevant, quality Workshops and Sessions with separate Product Presentations from leading industry vendors.
We are currently tailoring this year’s content to fit your needs. Topics will include: research and trends, business development, marketing, retail development, climbing instruction, standards, risk management, and responsible climbing wall operations. This page will host the schedule and descriptions of 2012 Sessions once selected.
Want to share your expertise? Propose a Session you’d like to present.
Gain additional, in-depth training with leading professionals on Thursday. Space is limited. Choose from these topics:
Review the 2011 Summit Program for details on last year’s Sessions and Speakers.
Mock Trial
Attorney Reb Gregg, brought us into the proceedings of a high-stakes bouldering fall. The Plaintiff claimed negligence on the part of climbing gym staff. The gym claimed the climber lied about his ability and background.
Attendees saw firsthand how civil suits work inside the courtroom, an overview of negligence and its defenses, then watched examination of the gym representative. The audience was the jury and had to answer the big questions: Does the gym pay?
Keynote Address
Duane Raleigh, president of Big Stone Publishing (Rock and Ice and Trail Runner magazines) kicked it off recounting a win-at-all-costs race, complete with a little friendly “smackdown.” In sport and business alike completion yields innovation, growth and some creative—though not exactly certification worthy—equipment and techniques.
Climbing Wall Instructor Certification
Three years in the making, the Climbing Wall Instructor Certification Program was featured at the 2011 Climbing Wall Summit. A valuable advantage for professional climbing wall instructors, the curriculum is based upon the Industry Practices and consensus standards developed by the Climbing Wall Association (CWA). The standards summarize the minimum qualifications necessary for climbing wall instructors and promote a consistent set of training guidelines across North America.
Marketing a Climbing Wall
Jerad Wells led an interactive session to share ideas for programming, marketing and increasing revenue from your climbing wall. Attendees swapped tips for attracting new climbers, retaining customers and increasing revenue per climber by targeting different demographics and incorporating multiple marketing channels.
Meanwhile Chris O’Connell tore open the can of worms of deal-of-the-day websites (like Groupon) to expose what works, what fails and how to target a specific geographic market.
Personal Protective Equipment and Auto Belays
Rick Vance provided a framework for monitoring and maintenance specific to the PPE used in climbing facilities, then covered basic skills and procedures for equipment examination and documentation. Kolin Powik facilitated a forum to discuss the most common questions about climbing gear use, maintenance and life-cycle.
Representatives from three top auto belay providers teamed to offer a one-stop round table. Discussion included the different braking technologies and products: hydraulic, brake pad, and magnetic resistance.