Climb Insider: So. Much. This. Week.

Just a few thoughts

I’ve gotta apologize for doing this to you. I missed last week due to camping with my kiddos in a place with no internet. It’s only my 3rd miss in 279 weeks, so hopefully you’ll forgive me. But it means THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS to share with you below. A double dose, something for everyone, truly. Sorry 🙂 -Scott

Community & Culture

• Podcast: Pete Woods, MC + Commentator (That’s Not Real Climbing)
• Is This New Tipping App the Answer to Better Routesetter Pay? (Gavin Feek, Outside)
• Peace Out, Plastic. These New Climbing Holds Are Made of Mushrooms. (Maya Silver, Outside)
• How Not to Be THAT Climber – A Beginner’s Guide to Gym Etiquette (Hunter Price, Movement Gyms)
• The Lady of the Lake, at the crossroads of climbing and parkour (Rémi Lemettre and Augustin Rogeaux, Grimper)
• You Are A Dirtbag (Doug Schnitzspahn, Rock Fight)

Comp Scene

• Aug 7-17: How To Watch The IFSC World Games Chengdu 2025 (USAC)
• Japan Dominates Boulder At IFSC Youth Worlds 2025 (IFSC)
• Hamada Doubles Up On Youth World Titles As Lead Reaches Its Conclusion (IFSC)
• Speed Brings 2025 IFSC Youth Worlds To A Close (IFSC)
• Breaking Down Boulder Styles (Inside Climbing)
• Were There Too Many Dynamic Moves? (Inside Climbing)
• Why Did USA Climbing Just Ban Trans Women From All Events? (Samantha Macilwaine, Outside)

Industry Scene

• Call for Proposals is Open for CWA Summit (CBJ)
• Are You Our Next Board Member? (CWA)
• Join the NICAS Board of Trustees (Tom Vaessen-Walker, NICAS)
• ABC welcomes new interim Chair Dean Straw (ABC Walls)
• Sender One Partners with Impact Fund to Secure Permanent Home (CBJ)
• July Gym Round Up (Callum Taylor, Euro Climbing News)
• Tariff Ripple Effects – Businesses Take Profitability Hit as Stressed Consumers Buy Less (Nicole Silberstein, Shop-Eat-Surf-Outdoor)

For Managers

• Aug 28: What to Know About CWA’s Industry Practices (Monument, CWA)
• Sep 16: Digital Advertising for Climbing Gyms with Ty Morrison-Heath (CBJ)
• Season Starts Soon – Host An Event (ASCL)
• Disasters – Plans All Climbing Gyms Can Have in Place (Robert C. Angell, CWA)
• What’s the Best Belay Device With Assisted-Braking for You? (Julie Ellison & Matt Samet, Outside)
• Why the Climbing Industry Needs High Quality Leadership Now More Than Ever (Pete Ward, Rise Above Consulting)
• Video: Mission First – Designing Third Place Ecosystems (Chris Ryan Studio)

For Coaches & Instructors

• Aug 25: Coaching and Programming Roundtable (CWA)
• Oct 23: NICAS Pro Connects – Midlands (Tom Vaessen-Walker, NICAS)
• Nailing Your Competition Day (Marisa Romero, CWA)
• Showing Up as an “Imposter”: 5 Tips From a Seasoned Instructor (Heather Reynolds, CBJ)
• SCOP against the Uberization of climbing instructors (Pierre-Gaël Pasquiou, Vertige Media)
• Bouldering Route Markers for Coaching, Spray Walls & Home Walls: Less Memory Games, More Climbing (CBJ)

For Routesetters

• • Sep 9: Growing as a USAC Routesetter with John Muse (Vortex Routesetting, CBJ)
  • Sep 9-13: Setter Summit in Salt Lake City (Proxy)
  • Sep 19: Setter’s Competition in Maryland (Endure Climbing)
  • Podcast: Setting the Tone: What Makes a Space Feel Good? – Jesse Safford (Holly Chen, CBJ)
  • Podcast: Routesetter Ryan Henderson Part 2 (Jack Masel, Climbing Curated)

• • New Climbing Holds and Volumes: August 2025 (CBJ)

• Climbing Hold Decommission Rate Survey (Routesetting Institute)
• Routesetting Contest 2025 Results (ArtLine)
• Blocz Launches Esperanto PU Holds in North America (CBJ)
• Video: Studio Session – Brendan Scorpio – 5 boulders – 5 angles (Kilter Grips)
• Videos from Battle of the Bloc: The Third Competitor – Season 2 Debrief (Trango)
• Video: Mentoring the Next Generation with Louie Anderson (Vortex Routesetting, CBJ)

Training Tips

• Video: 8 Weeks Out – Training for Autumn Sending (Eric Hörst, Training 4 Climbing)
• Video: How to Fix Ulnar Wrist Pain (Hooper’s Beta)
• How Is Discomfort Holding You Back In Climbing? (Neely Quinn, TrainingBeta)
• Micronutrient Deficiencies That Sabotage Your Training and Performance (Eric Hörst, Training 4 Climbing)
• Podcast: The Best Board Session Ever, 2024 MoonBoard Deep Dive, and What Makes A Board Problem ‘Good’ (The Testpiece)

Many of the links above are from third-party sources, and the views expressed at those links do not necessarily represent the views of the CBJ editorial team. We share this content to help readers stay informed about what is happening in the industry and the community of climbing.