Just a few thoughts

An XL serving of stuff below this week (thanks for the break, had a stellar family vacation). Lots happening on the international comp scene. Perspectives on climbing and industry growth. A few legal cases. Setter certification events, and a boulder in 15 minutes. Board talk. The origin story of circuits.

Community & Culture

• Podcast: The History of Fontainebleau Bouldering Circuits (Plug Tone Audio)
• B.H. (Before Handholds): Memories From America’s First Climbing Gym (Rich Johnston, CBJ)
• Climbing & Capitalism – The Death of Climbing Culture (Ariel-Britany Ward, The Dihedral)
• At the French Alpine Club of Casablanca – “It started with comments about my body, about my buttocks.” (Pierre-Gaël Pasquiou, Vertige Media)
• Are we all addicted to boards? (Laurence Guyon, Grimper)

Comp Scene

• Aug 29: BFL Climbing Combine in Colorado (Beast Fingers League)
• Oct 2-4: The Rock Master 2026 – Garda Trentino celebrates 40 years of climbing history (Lacrux)
• Podcast: Building A Youth Comp League From Scratch – Theresa Morris (Scott Rennak, CBJ)
• Baseball Stadium To Host World Climbing Series Boulder Finale (World Climbing / IFSC)
• World Climbing Assembly Cancels Vote on Banning Israel, Russia, and Belarus (Kate McMahon, Climbing-dot-com)
• World Climbing Commentator Apologizes for Sexist Comments on Europe Youth Series Livestream (Sam MacIlwaine, Climbing-dot-com)
• “We’re starting to look like FIFA” – 8 federations protest against World Climbing’s governance (Matthew Amaré, Vertige Media)
• IPC Releases Qualification Pathway To LA28 (World Climbing / IFSC)
• In India, climbing remains stuck in a federal knot (Pierre-Gaël Pasquiou, Vertige Media)
• Video: Deep Water Soloing in the Heart of London (UK Climbing)

At The Crags

• Trump Just Stripped 1,200 Indian Creek Climbing Routes from National Monument Protections (Maya Silver, Climbing-dot-com)
• Are 3D Topos and AI Climbing Assistants the Future of Climbing? (Scott Van Haren, Climbing-dot-com)

Industry Scene

• Latest legal case – Youth training camp in French Alps (UIAA)
• A Divided Economy, Real Tariff Refunds and the AI Edge – RSM’s Read on 2026 (Tiffany Montgomery, Shop-Eat-Surf-Outdoor)
• Mammut Sold to Chinese Investment Firm CPE (Tiffany Montgomery, Shop-Eat-Surf-Outdoor)

Gym News

• Chicago Climbing Gym Ordered to Pay $50 Million for Negligence in Child Sexual Abuse Case (Sam MacIlwaine, Climbing-dot-com)
• Climb Up in receivership (Matthew Amaré, Vertige Media)
• Free ABC conference tickets scheme 2026 (ABC Walls)
• July 2026 Gym Round Up (Euro Climbing News)

For Managers & Owners

• Your Gym Isn’t Competing With Other Gyms (Harness Consulting)
• Where Should You Open A Climbing Gym? (Gavin Heverly, Rise Above Consulting)
• Why Climbing Wall Design Matters – Experience, Flow, and Safety (Elevate Climbing Walls)
• Welcome to CWA’s New Community Hub (CWA)
• Harnesses for Every Body Poster (ABC Walls)

For Routesetters

• Aug 31-Sep 4: Setter Summit (Proxy Climbing)
• Video: 15 Minutes to Set a Boulder… Is It Actually Possible? (Impact Route Setting)
• Video: Wuhan Routesetting Vlog – Part 1 – Part 2 (Beta Routesetting)
• What Professionals Learn in Work at Height Level 1 (CWA)
• Peak Performance Polymers Introduces GripTech & New 13-Color Core Palette (CBJ)
• Podcast: Ben Moon – The Moon Spray (Careless Talk)

Training Tips

• Podcast: Endurance Masterclass – Training & Tactics To Beat The Pump (Eric Hörst, Training 4 Climbing)
• Climbing and the brain – What neuroscience knows about fear of falling (Lacrux)

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.