Networking at the CWA Summit can feel daunting before you ever scan your badge. The room is filled with longtime gym owners, veteran routesetters, vendors and industry leaders, and it’s easy to assume everyone already knows one another and you’re stepping into conversations that began years ago. The word itself doesn’t help: “Networking” sounds stiff and overly corporate, especially in an industry built around climbing, community, and shared adventures.
With the event drawing near, we sat down with Kasia Pietras, a longtime CWA Summit attendee and vendor who has been routesetting since 2003, to get her advice on how to approach networking at the CWA Summit and make the most of the experience.
“It’s not something you need to overthink,” Pietras said. “Everyone is there to meet people.”
Networking at the CWA Summit can mean grabbing coffee between education sessions, swapping stories about setting days, or reconnecting with someone you climbed with years ago. Most of the time, it isn’t about pitching yourself at all. It’s about making friends in the same industry you already care about.
Still wish you had some networking advice before the event? Below are some tips from Pietras on how you can make your time at the CWA Summit more rewarding and build real connections throughout the week.
Take Advantage of Every Session—But Make the Most of What Happens Around Them
The 2026 CWA Summit features a wide range of education sessions, pre-conferences, Community Hubs and roundtables. The topics go far and wide, from “Managing Youth Athlete Training Load” to “Scaling Up: When and How to Expand Your Climbing Gym” and “Stay Creative & Efficient: Avoiding Groupthink in Routesetting.”
Pietras encourages attendees to approach each opportunity with intentionality and curiosity. “If you’re open-minded going into a session, you’ll always walk away with something,” she said. “Even if it’s a topic you’re already strong in.”
Pietras also emphasizes that formal programming is only part of the networking ecosystem; the sessions can offer natural conversation starters for later on. Some of the most valuable connections and conversations happen in the moments between sessions, on the show floor, and at the events that follow. Treat the sessions as your foundation, then use what you learn there to spark meaningful conversations with peers, partners and vendors throughout the CWA Summit.
Don’t Leave When the Sessions End—That’s When the Real Networking Starts
“The after-hours events are just as important as the trade show itself,” Pietras added, referring to the Women’s Fireside Chat as well as the pre and post CWA Summit Parties that kick off and close the week. “That’s where you actually get to talk to people in a more informal and candid way,” she said.
For Pietras, some of the most valuable conversations happen outside structured programming, particularly with staff from smaller, independent gyms. A recurring theme she hears in those informal conversations is concern about the sustainability of climbing careers.
“There needs to be more realistic conversations about what a career in the climbing industry actually looks like,” she said. “A lot of people stay in it because they love climbing, even when it gets hard. You hear a lot of talk from big organizations. But the mom-and-pop gyms and smaller chains face different challenges. Hearing more from them would help a lot of people.”
Topics may get brought up during a panel Q&A, but she said it’s those moments over coffee, in hallways, or during evening events that allow attendees to take the conversation further.
Take the First Step—The Best Conversations Don’t Wait for an Invitation
For newcomers to the industry or first-time attendees, approaching someone across a crowded exhibit hall can feel intimidating. Pietras’ advice is simple: keep it short and honest.
“Just walk up and introduce yourself,” she said. “Say who you are, where you work and what you want to talk about.” There is no expectation, she added, that introductions need to be polished or rehearsed.
“Everybody’s pretty chill about meeting new people,” Pietras said. “That’s why we’re all there.”
Even something as old-school as a business card still has a role, especially for people early in their careers. “It gives someone something to walk away with,” she said.
More important than the format of an introduction, however, can be the tone. “I wouldn’t put a lot of pressure on it,” said Pietras. “Trying to make it into something really big just makes it harder. We’re all awkward humans trying our best.”
Turn Conversations Into Opportunities With a Simple Follow-Up
Once the event ends, the work of networking is only half finished. The real value of networking at the CWA Summit often shows up after you leave the show floor. Pietras says the most important step of networking happens one to two weeks after everyone returns home.
“That’s when you reach back out to people you talked to,” she said, speaking on her role as a vendor. “You follow up on orders, new gyms that are opening, and the conversations you started on the floor.”
For attendees, the same principle applies. Pietras advises that a short follow-up message or a thank-you email can turn a brief conversation into a lasting professional connection. Reaching out in the days after the CWA Summit helps keep conversations moving, opens the door to future collaborations, and ensures the relationships you started don’t end when the event does.
A simple follow-up is one of the easiest ways to help make your time at the CWA Summit pay off long after it’s over.
Take Care of Yourself—So You Can Make the Most of the Show
The CWA Summit is fast-paced, high-energy and packed with people, conversations and events, from morning to night.
“It’s a lot of people-time,” said Pietras.
Pietras encourages attendees to find quiet moments between sessions to grab some coffee or seek the company of old friends to recharge their social batteries. Prioritizing your own well-being helps ensure you have the energy to show up fully for everything the CWA Summit has to offer.
If you’re interested in attending this year’s CWA Summit, now is the time to register, check out the stacked roster of speakers, and book your accommodations at special event rates.
This article is a sponsored story and does not necessarily represent the views of the Climbing Business Journal editorial team.
