October 30 Webinar: Building with Purpose – Balancing Passion, People and Profit for Lasting Impact

Building with Purpose - Balancing Passion, People and Profit for Lasting Impact

Is your new gym project well-balanced?

To successfully bring a meaningful building project to life, it’s essential to balance passion with practical business needs. Focusing on People, Purpose and Profit can help you align your vision with long-term sustainability:
  • People: Create something that resonates with and serves a community.
  • Purpose: Build around a mission that reflects your passion and vision.
  • Profit: Ensure financial stability to fund the project’s growth and sustain its future.
Whether you’re operating a nonprofit or a for-profit business, generating sufficient revenue is critical. It gives you the freedom to shape your project’s future, explore new opportunities, and continue developing what you’re passionate about. Without a sustainable profit model, even the most inspiring project won’t last. This session is a great fit for anyone planning or dreaming about a new climbing gym location. Ready to learn more? Join us Wednesday, October 30th at 10:00am MDT. Host Chris Ryan of Chris Ryan Studio will lead this webinar as part of the ongoing CBJ Climbing Gym Management Series. CBJ Members: RSVP Here for Free Access** Not a Member? Purchase Access Here for $59
Trango Holds Pardners

All staff of CBJ members are invited!

**Live webinars are offered as a FREE member benefit to staff of CBJ member businesses at the Biz level and above (check if your employer is a member here). Each staff member must RSVP, although managers can RSVP for multiple staff. On-demand video recordings are available to staff at Plus or Premium member businesses and individual purchasers. Questions about accessing these recordings? Email us at info@climbingbusinessjournal.com. See All CBJ Webinar Recordings Here

Meet your presenter:

Chris Ryan Studio, led by building design and development consultant Chris Ryan AIA, works with climbing gym owners to turn their ideas into successfully completed building projects and thriving businesses. Together, we organize top-tier projects with a combination of advising, financial planning and analysis, and visualizations. www.chrisryanstudio.com Chris Ryan Studio
 

Climbing Escalade Canada to organize first-ever National Para-Climbing Championships

image of CEC para championships We are delighted to announce an important milestone for the Canadian climbing community: Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) will be organizing, in collaboration with Accès Grimpe, the very first National Para-Climbing Championships on February 8 and 9, 2025, at the Campus Escalade Voie located in Victoriaville’s Complexe Promutuel. This historic event, which will be coordinated by the Access Grimpe team, represents a major step forward in our commitment to inclusivity in our sport and offers an exciting opportunity for para-athletes to showcase their skills on a national stage. CEC has teamed up with Accès Grimpe, an organization with unique expertise in para-climbing in Canada. Accès Grimpe has already organized several provincial competitions, and accepted the challenge to make the first National Championships a success! The strength of their network of partnerships and volunteers, as well as their expertise, provide us with a solid foundation for organizing this major event. The National Para-Climbing Championships will also form an integral part of the National Team selection process for the 2025 season. More details, including registration information and specific competition formats, will be shared in the fall. For now, mark this date in your calendars and stay tuned for more information! We look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches and the entire climbing community to celebrate this historic event. Save the Date: February 8-9, 2025 Venue: Complexe Promutuel de Victoriaville Together, we’re making Canadian climbing more accessible than ever.
CBJ press releases are written by the sponsor and do not represent the views of the Climbing Business Journal editorial team.

Climb Insider: our communities and our industry

image of climber in comp

Just a few thoughts

Great variety of freshies for you this week. Talks with legends. Lessons from marginalized communities. An exploration of belaying. An Olympian’s story. Comp announcements. World Cup news. Webinars for gym staff and managers. Updates from industry trade shows. A huge new outdoor wall in Spain. Good stuff. Make sure you vote in the Grip Showcase SLC by Sept 29! See The Freshest Job Posts Here

Community & Culture

Eldorado Climbing

World Cups

Comp Scene

Our Industry

Eldorado Climbing

For Routesetters

For Managers

Routeset at HiClimb – Climbing Jobs Weekly 2024 September 26

hiclimb header image CBJ hosts the most active job board for climbing businesses and organizations. Below are the latest posts from this past week…
Routesetter HiClimb Honolulu, HI “The Route Setter is an experienced setter who will work directly for the Route Setting Manager (RSM) to help shape the team as well as set. For this position you must be highly proficient in rigging and setting roped routes. You will also be expected to set high quality boulder problems, based on community needs while still expressing your individual style and skill.”
Trango Holds Pardners

JOB SEEKER TIPS:

Career Capital: Definition, Importance and How To Leverage It By Indeed “Career capital is any skill, piece of knowledge, credential, personality trait, financial resource or connection that helps you produce economic value or produce a greater influence in the future. Professionals often use these skills and experiences as leverage in initially building their careers. Career capital typically helps professionals invest in themselves and develop a breadth of traits that help them advance in their careers.” Read the full article here

LATEST JOB OPENINGS

See all current jobs // Post your job FT = full time PT = part time
RECENT/TOP JOB POSTS AT CBJ LOCATION TYPE
Coach with Routesetting Duties at Bolder Calgary, AB FT – coach
Front Desk Supervisor at Movement Centennial, CO FT – front desk, manager
Youth Program Coach at Whetstone Fort Collins, CO PT – coach
Website Admin at Climbing Business Journal Remote/Boulder, CO PT – other
Routesetter at Rock Climb Fairfield Fairfield, CT FT – routesetter
Routesetter at HiClimb Honolulu, HI FT – routesetter
Routesetter at North Mass Boulder Indianapolis, IN FT – routesetter
Comp Head Coach at Mesa Rim Reno, NV FT – coach
Marketing Director at Portland Rock Gym Portland, OR FT – manager, mktg/sales
Routesetter at Portland Rock Gym Portland, OR FT – routesetter
Regional Facilities Manager at Movement Dallas, TX FT – manufacturing
Youth Instructor at Half Moon Seattle, WA PT – instructor

Career Centers of Climbing Industry

NAMETYPELOCATION
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/access-fund.pngAccess Fundhttps://www.accessfund.org/about/careersorganizationUSA - CO
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http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ca-alpine.pngAlpine Climbing Adventure Fitnesshttps://climbatalpine.com/about/careers/facilityUSA - CA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/american-alpine-club.pngAmerican Alpine Clubhttps://americanalpineclub.org/jobsorganizationUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/pa-ascend.pngASCEND Climbinghttps://www.ascendclimbing.com/ascend-jobsfacilityUSA - OH, PA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/co-ascent-studio.pngAscent Studiohttps://ascentstudio.com/employment/facilityUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/bouldering-project-1.pngBouldering Project (pick location)https://boulderingproject.com/facilityUSA - MN, TX, UT, WA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ab-calgary-climbing-centre.jpgCalgary Climbing Centrehttps://calgaryclimbing.com/employment/facilityCanada - AB
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/central-rock-gym-1.pngCentral Rock Gymhttps://centralrockgym.com/careers/facilityUSA - CT, FL, MA, NY, RI
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/eldorado-wall-company.pngEldorado Climbinghttps://eldowalls.com/pages/careersproductUSA - CO - Louisville
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/entre-prises.pngEP Climbinghttps://epclimbing.com/na/en/ep-usa-careersproductUSA - OR - Bend
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/everlast.pngEverlast / Kumiki / Groperz / eXpressionhttps://everlastclimbing.com/pages/careersproductUSA - MN
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/il-first-ascent.pngFA Climbinghttps://faclimbing.com/careers/facilityUSA - IL, PA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/on-guelph-grotto.pngGuelph Grottohttps://www.guelphgrotto.com/careersfacilityCanada - ON - Guelph
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/head-rush.pngHead Rush Technologies // TRUBLUEhttps://trublueclimbing.com/about/careersproductUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/tn-high-point.pngHigh Point Climbing & Fitnesshttps://www.highpointclimbing.com/employmentfacilityUSA - AL, TN
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/impact.pngIMPACThttps://impactclimbing.com/careers/productCanada - ON - Milton
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/on-junction.pngJunction Climbing Centrehttps://www.junctionclimbing.com/employment-opportunitiesfacilityCanada - ON - London
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ma-metrorock.pngMetroRockhttps://metrorock.com/facilityUSA - MA, NY, VT
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/momentum-1.pngMomentumhttps://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/df699b76-9e67-4daa-9236-27d597e75dbf/Momentum-LLCfacilityUSA - TX, UT, WA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/movement-1.pngMovement Gymshttps://movementgyms.com/careers/facilityUSA - CA, CO, IL, MD, OR, TX, VA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/olc-architecture.pngOLC Architecturehttps://www.olcdesigns.com/about-us/#teammemberserviceUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/onsite.pngOnSitehttps://www.theonsite.com/careersproductCanada - QC
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/organic.pngOrganic Climbinghttps://organicclimbing.com/pages/employment-opportunitiesproductUSA - PA - Philipsburg
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/va-peak-experiences.pngPeak Experienceshttps://www.peakexperiences.com/employmentfacilityUSA - VA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/salon-de-lescalade.pngSalon de l'Escaladehttps://www.salon-escalade.com/vertical-jobs/recruteurs/organizationFrance
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/nm-stone-age.pngStone Agehttps://climbstoneage.com/employment-staff/facilityUSA - NM - Albuquerque
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ut-the-front.pngThe Fronthttps://thefrontclimbingclub.com/careers/facilityUSA - UT
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/the-gravity-vault.pngThe Gravity Vaulthttps://gravityvault.com/careersfacilityUSA - CA, NJ, NY, PA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ca-the-pad.pngThe Padhttps://www.thepadclimbing.org/employment/facilityUSA - CA, NV
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/co-the-spot.pngThe Spothttps://www.thespotgym.com/careersfacilitiesUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/trango.pngTrango // Tenayahttps://trango.com/pages/careersproductUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/treadwall-fitness.pngTreadwallhttps://treadwallfitness.com/careers/productUSA - MA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/nc-triangle-rock-club.pngTriangle Rock Club (choose location)https://www.trianglerockclub.com/morrisville/about/employment/facilityUSA - NC, VA
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/co-ubergrippen.pngUbergrippenhttps://ugclimbing.com/jobs/facilityUSA - CO
http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/UK-Climbing.pngUKC (jobs in UK)https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/job_finder/organizationUnited Kingdom
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http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wa-vertical-world.pngVertical Worldhttps://verticalworld.com/facilityUSA - WA
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http://climbsesh2024.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/walltopia.pngWalltopiahttps://careers.walltopia.com/productsBulgaria

Largest Climbing Gym Developers in America

Largest Climbing Gym Developers in America
Background photo of Movement Design District by Michael Emery Hecker, courtesy of Movement
Opening a new climbing gym is not a small undertaking. It takes a labor of love to go through the research, business planning, financing, staffing, design, construction and other essentials required to bring a new gym project to life. Yet those hurdles haven’t discouraged gym developers stateside from taking on the challenge and opening multiple or (in a couple instances) over twenty climbing facilities in communities around the country. This article highlights the climbing gym businesses with the most locations in the United States, based on CBJ’s proprietary dataset.
Rockwerx
Each business on this list has a unique story, but one thing they all have in common is that every one started as a single-location facility going through the grind of a first-time gym operator, before bringing the benefits of climbing to more people and places. That rite of passage is a good reminder that, for all the recent growth, the climbing gym industry is still relatively small compared to other industries out there, and even the largest gym businesses in the industry have humble beginnings behind their success and expansion.
OnSite
Without further ado, below are the gym developers that have grown their small businesses into the largest climbing gym brands in America. In conjunction with this report, be sure to check out the Largest Climbing Gyms, Largest Bouldering Gyms and Tallest Climbing Gyms in America.
FA Station Square
Photo of FA Station Square by Tara Bennett @tarascends, courtesy of First Ascent Climbing and Fitness

9. First Ascent Climbing and Fitness

  • Open Gyms: 7
  • Region: Midwest
  • States: IL, PA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 3
  • Bouldering Gyms: 4
  • Self-Built Gyms: 7
First Ascent is part of a three-way tie for the 9th-largest climbing gym developer in the U.S., with seven open gyms between Illinois and Pennsylvania. First Ascent’s first locations opened in the Uptown and Avondale neighborhoods of Chicago in 2015. Since then, First Ascent has steadily opened four more gyms in Illinois and even expanded into Pennsylvania, opening FA Climbing & Fitness Station Square—the Largest New Bouldering Gym of 2022—in the Pittsburgh area two years ago. In total, First Ascent operates four bouldering and three roped gyms across the two states.
High Point Mid City
Photo of High Point Mid City, courtesy of High Point Climbing & Fitness

9. High Point Climbing & Fitness

  • Open Gyms: 7
  • Planned Gyms: 1 (FL)
  • Region: South
  • States: AL, TN
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 5
  • Bouldering Gyms: 2
  • Self-Built Gyms: 6
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 1
High Point Climbing, tied in 9th place with seven open gyms, is a Southern climbing gym developer with roped and bouldering facilities scattered throughout Alabama and Tennessee. The first High Point location opened in 2013 in downtown Chattanooga, and the Tennessee-based gym developer has added five more self-built gyms since then—including High Point Mid City, the Second-Largest New Climbing Gym of 2019. In 2015, High Point added a second Chattanooga gym by purchasing Urban Rocks (now High Point Riverside), which originally opened in 2008. This year, High Point is expanding into Florida with its Orlando project, the gym developer’s eighth location. In addition to its climbing gyms, High Point operates a Zip Adventure zipline based on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.
VITAL Brooklyn
Photo of VITAL Brooklyn by Madeleine Chan Stanley, courtesy of VITAL Climbing Gym

9. VITAL Climbing Gym

  • Open Gyms: 7
  • Planned Gyms: 2 (NY, WA)
  • Region: Nationwide
  • States: CA, NY, WA
  • Bouldering Gyms: 7
  • Self-Built Gyms: 5
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 2
Since opening their first facility in 2010 in Carlsbad, California, the VITAL team has expanded their gym business to include seven locations, tied for 9th most in the U.S. VITAL initially focused its development on the West Coast but jumped across the country three years ago, opening VITAL Brooklyn—the Largest New Bouldering Gym of 2021 and one of the Largest Bouldering Gyms in America—and acquiring Steep Rock Bouldering’s two Manhattan gyms later that year. VITAL is well-known for operating bouldering-focused gyms (several with 24/7 access) and has two more on the way—one in Bellingham, Washington, and a project in Manhattan.
PRG Oaks
Photo of PRG Oaks by Derrick Ruf of Iron Oak Studios, courtesy of Philadelphia Rock Gym Oaks

8. Climbing Collective

  • Open Gyms: 8
  • Region: East Coast
  • States: NC, NY, PA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 7
  • Bouldering Gyms: 1
  • Self-Built Gyms: 6
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 2
The 8th-largest climbing gym developer in the U.S. is Climbing Collective, an East Coast business with eight facilities across North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania. The first location, Philadelphia Rock Gym (PRG) Oaks, opened in 1994, followed by four additional PRG gyms around the Philadelphia area, then Hudson Boulders in New York last year. Also in 2023, PRG’s parent company, Climbing Collective—not to be confused with the Climbing Collective in Colorado, which is a separate business—was formed and acquired Inner Peaks’ Matthews and South End gyms in North Carolina, bringing the group’s total gym count to eight.
Rock Spot Peace Dale
Photo of Rock Spot Peace Dale, courtesy of Rock Spot Climbing

7. Rock Spot Climbing

  • Open Gyms: 9
  • Region: New England
  • States: CT, MA, RI
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 5
  • Bouldering Gyms: 4
  • Self-Built Gyms: 8
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 1
New-England-based Rock Spot Climbing is the 7th largest climbing gym developer in the U.S., with nine open gyms (five roped and four bouldering-focused). The team’s first location opened in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in 1995 and was originally named Rhode Island Rock Gym, before the gym moved to a new facility in 2002 and rebranded to Rock Spot Climbing. Since then, Rock Spot has opened seven other facilities and acquired an early 1990s gym—Prime Climb, in Connecticut—in 2022. Already in 2024, Rock Spot has added two new bouldering gyms to its Northeast footprint—in Brookline, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut.
Hangar 18 Riverside
Photo of Hangar 18 Riverside by Daniel Viayra, courtesy of Hangar 18

6. Hangar 18

  • Open Gyms: 11
  • Region: West Coast
  • States: CA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 7
  • Bouldering Gyms: 4
  • Self-Built Gyms: 5
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 6
Hangar 18, in 6th place for the largest climbing gym developer in the U.S., operates 11 gyms in California. The West Coast business opened its first location in 1998—Hangar 18 Upland—and has since expanded throughout Los Angeles through a mix of self-builds and acquisitions. In 2012, Hangar 18 made its first acquisitions, purchasing The Rock Gym (now Hangar 18 Long Beach) and Beach City Rocks (South Bay); the team then purchased TruHold (Mission Viejo) in 2013, Thresh Hold (East Riverside) in 2014, Arcadia Rock Climbing Gym (Arcadia) in 2017, and The Factory Bouldering (Orange) in 2020. Altogether, Hangar 18 operates seven roped and four bouldering gyms in the Los Angeles area.
Austin Bouldering Project Springdale
Photo of Austin Bouldering Project Springdale by Travis Perkins @travperk, courtesy of Bouldering Project

4. Bouldering Project

  • Open Gyms: 12
  • Planned Gyms: 1 (WA)
  • Region: Nationwide
  • States: AZ, DC, MA, MN, NY, TX, UT, WA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 2
  • Bouldering Gyms: 10
  • Self-Built Gyms: 8
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 4
Tied in 4th place for the largest climbing gym developer in the U.S. is Bouldering Project (BP), with 12 gyms nationwide—all but two of which are bouldering-focused. The first BP location opened in the Poplar area of Seattle in 2011. In 2015, BP then opened its first build outside Washington, in Austin, Texas, and expanded into Minneapolis two years later. In 2022, BP took a big leap on this list by acquiring three Brooklyn Boulders gyms in Boston, Brooklyn and Washington D.C., then opened a new gym in Salt Lake City, Utah, later that year. Already in 2024, BP has acquired Oso Climbing Gym in Dallas. Today, BP runs 12 gyms across eight states/districts—including four of the Largest Bouldering Gyms in America—and has a 13th gym in the works, in the University District region of Seattle, the city where it all began.
The Gravity Vault Marin
Photo of The Gravity Vault Marin, courtesy of The Gravity Vault Marin

4. The Gravity Vault

  • Open Gyms: 12
  • Planned Gyms: 6 (NJ, NY, PA, VA)
  • Region: Nationwide
  • States: CA, NJ, NY, PA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 11
  • Bouldering Gyms: 1
  • Self-Built Gyms: 12
Also in 4th place for the largest climbing gym developer in the U.S. is The Gravity Vault, with 11 roped gyms and one bouldering-focused gym. The Gravity Vault opened its original location in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, in 2005, then added a second location in the state (Chatham) in 2009. In 2014, the team made headlines by opening the first franchised climbing gym in the U.S. and has since started several other franchised locations—including one on the other side of the country, in Marin, California. Currently, The Gravity Vault founder Lucas Kovalcik owns and operates four climbing gyms, while the remaining eight are owned and operated by five franchisees. With six new gyms in the works across four states, The Gravity Vault is set to grow its gym count by 50% and has more planned gyms announced than any other developer on this list.
The Post
Photo of The Post, courtesy of Touchstone Climbing

3. Touchstone Climbing

  • Open Gyms: 17
  • Planned Gyms: 1 (CA)
  • Region: West Coast
  • States: CA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 12
  • Bouldering Gyms: 5
  • Self-Built Gyms: 17
Touchstone is the 3rd-largest climbing gym developer in the U.S., with 17 locations across the state of California. Touchstone opened its first climbing gym in San Francisco in 1995, then expanded into the Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Fresno and Los Angeles areas. In addition to opening new locations, the team at Touchstone has also expanded existing locations, adding 9,000 square feet of climbing to Pipeworks in 2015 and 6,000 square feet to Dogpatch Boulders in 2016—the latter of which is the Largest Bouldering Gym in America. Touchstone also operates the Largest Climbing Gym in America—Pacific Pipe Company, which unsurprisingly won the Largest New Climbing Gym of 2021 award. In 2024, Touchstone has already opened a new gym in the Los Angeles area (Class 5 Torrance) and has a second one on the way, in between San Francisco and San Jose.
CRG Boston
Photo of CRG Boston, courtesy of Central Rock Gym

2. Central Rock Gym

  • Open Gyms: 28
  • Planned Gyms: 3 (FL, NY)
  • Region: East Coast
  • States: CT, FL, GA, MA, NY, RI
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 14
  • Bouldering Gyms: 14
  • Self-Built Gyms: 24
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 4
The 2nd-largest climbing gym developer in the U.S.—founded by Joe and Ed Hardy—is Central Rock Gym (CRG), which operates 28 locations throughout six states. Originally based in the Northeast, CRG opened its first gym in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2009, then added new builds throughout the state as well as in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. In 2023, CRG expanded into the South for the first time, opening two gyms in Florida that year, in addition to three gyms in the Northeast. This year, CRG further expanded its footprint in the South, acquiring the four Stone Summit gyms in Georgia—CRG’s first acquisition. Although not first on this list, CRG does wear another crown: the only climbing gym developer in North America to have opened more than 20+ gyms entirely through self-builds (i.e., not part of mergers or acquisitions). Three more self-built gyms—in Troy (NY), Miami and Fort Myers (FL)—are in the works, making CRG one of only two developers stateside with 30+ open or planned climbing gyms.
Movement Design District
Photo of Movement Design District by Michael Emery Hecker, courtesy of Movement

1. Movement Climbing, Yoga & Fitness

  • Open Gyms: 30
  • Planned Gyms: 3 (CA, PA, VA)
  • Region: Nationwide
  • States: CA, CO, IL, MD, NY, OR, PA, TX, VA
  • Roped/Mixed Gyms: 21
  • Bouldering Gyms: 9
  • Self-Built Gyms: 8 (as Movement brand)
  • Acquired/Merged Gyms: 22
The largest climbing gym developer in the U.S. is Movement Climbing, Yoga & Fitness, the first climbing gym business to operate 30 open locations across the country, from coast to coast. Movement’s origins date back to the 90s, with the founding of Maryland-based Earth Treks by Chris Warner and California-based Planet Granite by Micky Lloyd. In 2017, the two climbing gym companies merged under the El Cap parent company, which later acquired the Colorado-based Movement gyms in 2019. Mark and Anne-Worley Moelter opened the original Movement location in Boulder, Colorado, in 2009, then added two more gyms in the Denver area over the next decade. Following the acquisition, America’s largest climbing gym network unified under the Movement umbrella and continued to expand across the country through self-builds and acquisitions, purchasing four Summit gyms in Texas and acquiring The Cliffs’ five gyms in New York and Pennsylvania. Movement also boasts some of the Largest Climbing Gyms in America—Englewood (3rd-largest), Rockville (6th), Lincoln Park (7th), Design District (9th) and Crystal City (10th). With 30 open and three planned gyms on the way—coming to the San Jose, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia areas—Movement’s total gym count (open or planned) makes it the largest climbing gym developer in the world. In 2024, Movement named Anne-Worley Moelter as the new CEO of the company, a title she held 15 years ago as co-founder of the first Movement gym. (Click here for an exclusive interview with Anne-Worley Moelter, following the appointment.)

34 New Climbing Products and Services for Summer/Fall 2024

Buyer's Guide Summer/Fall 2024 School is back in session, sweater weather is arriving in many places, the colors are starting to change, and those signs can only mean one thing: the fall climbing season is here! The autumn sending has already been going down at crags and gyms, fueled no doubt by pumpkin spice and everything nice but also by the latest climbing products and services. This Buyer’s Guide features dozens of new arrivals and innovations at industry brands, from high-performance chalk to customizable gear protectors, speed holds adapted to youth climbers, an entire youth training center concept, and an assisted climbing device designed to open climbing up to more people—regardless of physical ability. Enjoy! BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW: 12ClimbArtLineAsanaButoraCapitanClimbing CoversEPEscapeFlashed  –Footing VerticalFriction LabsGnarly DoodsGranite InsuranceGriptoniteMaverick Climbing – Organic ClimbingPetzlPower CompanyRopelessSoiLLSpider ChalkThe North FaceTrango SEE OTHER BUYER GUIDES HERE
Eldorado Climbing

12Climb

12Climb has created an app that tracks your climbing, with easy activity logging to help motivate you for new achievements. The app also has features for gym operators, including Route Management, where you can add routes to the app with QR tags; Events, with live ratings, different level groups and custom filters; and Analytics, with information about your visitor’s preferences, routes and setters. The Basic gym management option is free, while the Premium option is $69/month (or $59/month with the annual billing). 12Climb

ArtLine

New from ArtLine: speed holds finally adapted to youth climbers! The shape is based on the official IFSC model but in a smaller size and with more pronounced grips. The FFME has determined a standardized setup of 8 meters high with a 5° inclination, made up of 12 handholds and 4 footholds. Its layout is similar to the official senior grid but is lower, and the holds are closer together to facilitate the ascent of smaller sized bodies. ArtLine is distributed in North America by Bold Climbing. ArtLine

Asana

The Couch Crash Pad is the newest addition to Asana‘s lineup. Whether you’re setting up your home woodie, sprucing up your van or just looking for a stylish and comfy place to relax, this versatile piece has you covered. The new pad fits most crash pad couch frames and is made of dual-density foam. $199, with free shipping. Asana

Butora

The Sierra is a new, intermediate-style shoe with a lace closure system from Butora. The medium-stiff shoe features an ABS midsole, laced closure system for precision fit, and a comfortable upper. A stiffer midsole platform paired with a power-inducing last shape results in a high-value edging shoe at a great price point. The Sierra’s last features a full-sole construction, for increased stability while edging on the smallest of holds, as well as heel tensioning that runs from heel to forefoot—providing all-around comfort and increased power and precision in the forefoot for superb edging performance. Offered in a unisex med-high volume fit—priced at $139.95 for climbers—the Sierra is part of Butora’s lineup as a high-value, high-performance edging shoe with a lace closure system. Butora

Capitan

Capitan, a CRM software platform for climbing gyms, has launched its new automated membership referral system. The referral system drives membership growth by leveraging the enthusiasm and network of existing members. Through Capitan’s Climber App, members can easily access and share their unique referral codes with friends and family. For more information, schedule a call here to explore how the new referral system can help your organization or contact info@hellocapitan.com. Capitan

Climbing Covers

Take your gear to the next level of branding. Climbing Covers from Conscious Climbers™ provides customizable gear protection designed to meet the unique needs of gyms, professional climbers, guiding companies and lifestyle brands. The covers aren’t just eye candy; they also offer protection from wear and tear, improving your gear’s longevity. Customizable quickdraw covers are $860 for 350 units, or scale up with 700 units for $1715. Climbing Covers

EP Climbing

EP Climbing, a climbing wall manufacturer and official supplier to the IFSC and USA Climbing, is now offering a complete Youth Training Center. Designed with input from top youth coaches and routesetters, the facility concept was built to meet the highest standards for athlete development. Key features of the design include a 1,200-square-foot bouldering wall with competition angles, a 14-foot spray wall for advanced training, and a $10,000 allowance for elite-level holds and volumes. The build also comes with durable, 12” UCS Spirit nylon bouldering pads and has customization options for future expansion. Invest in excellence with a comprehensive training center, starting at $160,000. EP Climbing

Escape Climbing

Chunky Nuggets Chalk from Escape Climbing, as the name suggests, consists of larger, coarser particles, in contrast to the smooth, fine particles found in Escape’s Feather Dust chalk. Particle size is a matter of personal preference; climbers who appreciate chunky chalk often enjoy breaking the chunks into a powder and working the chalk into their fingertips. The larger particles can create a more textured surface on your hands, providing a subtly different grip experience. Chunky Nuggets Chalk adheres to your hands, so you have more coverage with less product—which means fewer interruptions, less mess, and more focus on the climbing moves ahead. $12.99 for 200g or $59.61 for 7 gallons.

Flashed

Flashed worked closely with professional routesetters to develop its new 21.5 Setter Bucket to add to your kit. The setter bucket comes with a 21.5-gallon, collapsible plastic bucket; no need to shop around for a separate plastic bucket, it all comes as one. It can easily fold down to 4” in height when not in use—saving valuable storage space—and comes in three standard colors (grape, raspberry, sage). There’s also a bespoke option, where you can use your creativity to brand and design it as you want. Made from robust materials, the Setter Bucket is built to be durable and reliable for all the rigors routesetting demands. $189.99

Footing Vertical

After a rewarding career in climbing, brothers Bassa and Mickaël Mawem felt the need to share their passion beyond the usual boundaries of the sport. Their goal is simple: to provide access to climbing for everyone. Footing Vertical is an ambitious project to allow anyone, regardless of physical ability, to be able to enter a climbing gym and climb with the same freedom as any other climber. ELSA, their proof of concept, is a mechatronic system developed for load balancing that can learn how much weight to remove from a person and follow their movements all the way to the top of the route, eliminating some or all of the physical demands of climbing. This proof of concept is currently being transformed into CAMI, a climbing assistance system capable of automatically adapting to the type of climber, their disability or condition, and their progress over time. Read more about Les frères Mawem’s project here. You can preorder the device on the Footing Vertical website. Footing Vertical

Friction Labs

Athletic Hands from Friction Labs is a restorative hand cream that’s purpose-built for athletes. Developed in partnership with dermatologists and tested by Friction Lab’s Pro Team, the product quickly aids in the recovery of active, dry skin—keeping athletes’ hands in top condition to perform their best. The 75 mL/2.5 oz tube of Athletic Hands should be enough for approximately 100-150 applications. $29.99 Friction Labs

Gnarly Doods

Gnarly Dood’s newest drops are here. The Chalk Bags ($21.95)—crafted from durable materials—feature a drawstring closure, an adjustable belt and a brush holder. Each bag depicts a scene from some of the top climbing destinations in the world. Other new products include the Gnar Hat ($27.95), Quickdraw Pouches ($24.95) and Chalk Buckets ($29.95).

Granite Insurance

Granite Insurance recently unveiled its new Adventure Insurance Program. Built upon a foundation of rewarding, industry-specific risk management characteristics—such as accredited operations and documented training practices—the program represents a significant development in the insurance sector. The Adventure Program currently serves the following industries, with future expansion ahead: Ziplines and Aerial Park; Climbing Gyms; Mountain Coasters; Haunted Attractions; River Outfitters; Guides & Outfitters; Adventure Parks. For more information about the the Adventure Insurance Program and Granite Insurance, visit www.graniteinsurance.com or contact info@graniteinsurance.com. Granite Insurance

Griptonite

Griptonite’s new Route Manager tool allows routesetters to overview their gym’s inventory and layout at a glance, operate in bulk on tasks—setting, stripping, printing and exporting—and more. The software was designed from the ground up to work on larger screens in a browser, making it easier to perform day-to-day tasks in the app and providing the screen real estate for several brand-new flows—such as a calendar, task canvas and data dashboard. The Basic Package allows for 1 seat at £20 per month, Advanced for 3 seats at £65 per month, and Pro for unlimited seats at £85 per month. Route Manager is a “bolt-on” to Griptonite’s existing app products and works in conjunction with them.

Maverick Climbing

Maverick Climbing, a new venture by industry veteran Jerad Wells, officially launched in April of 2024. With over 75 years of combined experience, the team at Maverick Climbing has seen the costs and challenges that typically come with designing and building climbing walls. Maverick Climbing helps transform spaces into dynamic, state-of-the-art environments, connecting gym owners to cutting-edge designs and swift installations—all with a dedication to delivering you world-class climbing walls at highly competitive prices. Maverick Climbing

Organic Climbing

In a continued effort to reduce and reuse their off-cuts of foam, Organic Climbing has developed a burly bed for your canine companion, or pillow for use around the house, camp or van. Constructed from the same materials as Organic’s crash pads, the beds are designed for everyday use indoors and outdoors. On the outside, you’ll find a 1000d Nylon top with light TPU coating and a 1050d ballistic nylon bottom. A hidden side zipper allows an internal pillow of shredded foam to be removed, so the outside can be washed. No extraneous handles or webbing to chew on. Loosely filled to allow for easy nesting. Organic’s Recycled Dog Bed is currently available in two sizes and two colorways. $54-$68 Organic Climbing

Petzl

From headlamps to gear for climbing and progressing in the mountains, Petzl products are designed from an endless pursuit to create efficient, ergonomic and lightweight solutions—tools designed to make life easier for those seeking to go further. Petzl’s new NEOX® belay device ($149.95) with cam-assisted blocking was built for lead climbing and has an integrated wheel that allows you to smoothly and quickly pay out slack to the climber. Also new for 2024 is Petzl’s line of ergonomic chalk bags: the Saka ($24.95), Sakapoche ($29.95) and Bandi ($19.95). And Petzl’s line of harnesses for gym and outdoor climbing—the Corax ($79.95), Corax LT ($69.95) and Corax LT Women ($69.95)—have updated colorways.

Power Company

The Power Company recently released a new online course and evaluation tool crafted to help climbers better understand and self-assess their movement skills. The goal is to provide a means of accurately identifying where to focus their efforts for more efficient improvement. Owner and coach Kris Hampton had spent years working with clients and other coaches who struggled to successfully identify weaknesses when it comes to climbing movement, often failing to make the distinction between rehearsing a single move and fully understanding a concept; between successfully using a technique and actually building a skill. The solution? By breaking down climbing movement into five basic concepts—what Kris refers to as the “five atomic elements”—and explaining how each one is working in some combination for every move we make, the course provides a new way to think about and understand climbing movement, as well as practical methods for incorporating element-targeting drills into gym sessions. After taking into account feedback from an initial subscribers-only cohort, Kris and the team at The Power Company have made some improvements to the course, called The Atomic Elements of Movement, which is now available for enrollment ($49 for lifetime access to course content and updates).

The Power Company


Ropeless

In 2021, the team at Ropeless met with Disruptive Materials to discuss the idea of developing liquid chalk that would utilize Upsalite®. According to Ropeless, Upsalite®—a material developed by nanotechnology specialists in Uppsala, Sweden—is a mesoporous magnesium carbonate that’s “capable of absorbing moisture at a rate ten times greater than conventional magnesium carbonate.” The end result of the collaboration between the two companies is now on the market: Super Flash, liquid chalk made with Upsalite®. Ropeless

So iLL

So iLL has two new climbing shoes: The Roam Soft ($169.00)—designed and built on a hand-shaped, downturned last by Fred Nicole—is a soft slipper (no midsole) developed with Jason Momoa as part of the So iLL x On The Roam collection. ROAM Soft features a three-way, stretch-knit entry with an elastic band stitched to a durable, comfortable, unlined vegan microsuede upper. The shoe is tensioned from under the toe to the back of the heel, and the laser-etched rand generates tension as well. The Torque ($179.00) features a durable and comfortable, unlined vegan microsuede upper with an elastic integrated tongue and pull tab. The shape of the toe is intended for precise footwork, with rubber made to be thick enough to feel stable but thin enough to maintain sensitivity. Torque is suitable for any outdoor bouldering as well as indoor bouldering, especially climbing on large volumes.

Spider Chalk

New from Spider Chalk: Ghost Grip Clear Chalk Crystals ($19.99). No mess, invisible crystalline chalk repels water, decreases sweat and enhances grip for sports, from rock climbing to weightlifting. Spider Chalk’s new, ultra-concentrated chalk crystals result in better grip for a longer time, with only a tiny amount of powder. The Ghost Grip leaves practically no residue and can be used in most environments that ban powder chalk. Spider Chalk

The North Face

The North Face is excited to introduce LIGHTRANGE™, a new-to-market product technology providing strong UPF protection and enhanced wicking benefits. Engineered with micro-grid weave technology, the slim fit, FlashDryTM materials offer enhanced moisture management to help keep you comfortable, allowing for flexibility and free movements. The LIGHTRANGE™ collection includes two hero products: the LIGHTRANGE SUN HOODIE and the LIGHTRANGE SHADOW TEE. Pricing ranges between $45-$80. The North Face

Trango

Every ounce on your rack can make a difference. That reason is why Trango developed the At⌀mic Sling. According to Trango, the new, proprietary weave is 20 percent lighter and stronger than Dyneema, 40 percent stronger than Kevlar, 15 percent more abrasion resistant than carbon steel, and 8 times stronger than high-strength steel. The At⌀mic slings are naturally waterproof and highly resistant to abrasion, UV light, and chemicals. At a featherweight 14.5 g for the 60 CM length, the slings are designed to not hold you back. Available in 60cm ($12.95), 120cm ($21.95), 180cm ($29.95) and 240cm ($39.95). Trango

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Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

Alaska Gym Encourages Climbers to “Send It and Vote”

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Alaska Rock Gym's Send It and Vote poster
Each election season, a number of U.S. climbing gyms have encouraged voting in their communities, and this year is no exception. Alaska Rock Gym’s “Send It and Vote” poster (pictured) is free for any climbing gym to print and share with the climbers in their gym. (Image courtesy of Alaska Rock Gym)
As the 2024 elections in the United States approach, Alaska Rock Gym (ARG) has launched a nonpartisan effort to encourage more people in the climbing industry to register to vote and head to the polls this coming November. The initiative includes a “Send It and Vote” poster with a QR code that links to vote.gov, a U.S. government website with information on registering to vote, voting in person, mail-in and absentee voting, accessibility accommodations, and more. (The poster files can be downloaded, printed and shared here.) Over the years, numerous businesses and organizations in the climbing and outdoor industries have encouraged voting ahead of elections. In 2020, for instance, Climbing Business Journal interviewed Michael Cano and Korina Scanlon about Armadillo Boulder’s collaboration with MOVE Texas, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which had set up a voter registration booth at the gym. The Access Fund, American Alpine Club and Patagonia also participated in voting initiatives that year, to name a few examples from around the country.
OnSite
According to statistics shared by Bob Butera, an ARG community member and voting rights advocate helping with the gym’s initiative, only 23% of eligible voters aged 18-29 cast a ballot in the most recent midterm elections. Butera notes that a significant portion of climbers fall into that age bracket; based on findings published in the Climbing Wall Association’s 2019 Indoor Climber Survey, 65% of climbers who participated in that survey were 19-34 years old. “The team at Alaska Rock Gym believes voting is important!” says Nicole Jolyn, General Manager at the gym. “With direct access to a large portion of these eligible voters, ARG asks for your support to communicate the importance of exercising the civil duty to vote. With the support of Climbing Business Journal, we’re reminding all climbers to Send it AND Vote!” The 11×17 poster was designed by a local graphic artist, Dean Potter, and is accessible for free here. Climbing gyms are welcome to print out the poster and hang it around their gym, share it at the front desk, or email it to gym members. If you would like a mailed copy of the poster, please contact Bob Butera at butera.ak@gmail.com with your gym’s name and mailing address.

The Largest Outdoor Climbing Wall in Spain

The Estepona Fair and Sports Park outdoor climbing wall
The municipal Estepona Fair and Sports Park climbing wall—reportedly the largest open-air wall of its kind in the country—opened in the Spanish coastal city earlier this year. (All images courtesy of EP Climbing)

Estepona Fair and Sports Park Wall Estepona, Spain

Specs: In March 2024, a new outdoor climbing wall opened in Estepona, a resort town on the Southern Coast of Spain, along the Costa del Sol. Built as an addition to the Estepona Fair and Sports Park—a permanent leisure park—the Estepona wall offers 662 square meters (7,125 square feet) of climbing wall surface, with terrain for bouldering, lead and speed climbing. According to manufacturer EP Climbing, the structure is “Spain’s largest outdoor climbing wall”—based on total square meters of climbing—and features “dimensions and functionalities conducive not only to sport climbing but also to hosting national and even international competitions for elite athletes.” Built in a temperate climate with an overhead wall cover and night lights, the wall can be climbed on throughout much of the year.

The bouldering section of the wall
There are two sides of the 662-square-meter climbing wall: taller, roped terrain in the front for lead (363 sqm) and speed (115 sqm); and shorter, bouldering terrain (pictured) in the back (184 sqm).
The municipal wall is operated primarily by the Estepona Mountain Group (GRUME), an organization that has run a climbing school since 2005. GRUME staffs the wall’s operating hours and provides beginner, intermediate and advanced courses for youth and adult climbers, hosting activities Monday through Saturday. Similarly to many indoor climbing gyms, GRUME requires a skills test to be taken prior to accessing the wall.
Atomik Climbing Holds
The wall can also be reserved outside of regular operating hours for school programs, training, classes and sporting events. According to an article on RealEstepona, the initiative “seeks to promote the sport of climbing among students, as well as provide a unique educational experience that fosters teamwork, confidence and physical development.” Per that article, financing for the climbing wall came from “the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan-Funded by the European Union-Next Generation EU.” And a second article at Tao Livin adds that the project “is part of the city’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2022-2024,” indicating a “commitment to enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities” in the area.
A close up of the roped climbing terrain
EP Climbing used its Mozaik surface technology to construct the walls, which consist of geometric, 2D curves and the brand’s highest T-Nut density.
Walls: EP Climbing Flooring: EP Climbing Instagram: @rocodromo_estepona In Their Words: “Estepona is reaching new heights with the creation of Spain’s largest outdoor climbing wall, promising a unique and thrilling experience for climbing enthusiasts and athletes alike.” – EP Climbing

Southeast Paraclimbing Competition

3rd Annual Paraclimbing Competition
Presented by The Dralla Foundation

paraclimbing clinic header

Saturday December 7th, 2024 Kennesaw, GA

Whether you are an experienced climber or new to the sport, this regional competition is a great opportunity to compete against other adaptive climbers and a chance to gain competition experience prior to entering National Level events.

Register to compete under one of the six categories. Anyone under 16 is eligible for the Youth open category. If you have a question about the categories or are unsure of your eligibility please contact us.

Please note: In order to compete, climbers should be able to climb independently on a loose belay, and unassisted by side climbers or the Wellman harness. 

Location:

Central Rock Gym- Kennesaw

2801 George Busbee Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

Entry Fee:

Thanks to the Dralla Foundation, we are able to offer a reduced registration rate of $25. 

Paraclimbing Categories: Visual Impairment, Neurological / Physical Disability (R/P), Upper Extremity Amputee, Lower Extremity Amputee, Seated, Youth (Under 16 on day of competition). 

Any questions about categories or if you are unsure which category you should enter please contact us.

Competition Format: Each category will have 3 routes to try. The climber can try each route as many times as they would like. The highest score of each route is taken. The score is counted by points marked at specific holds. Results will be determined during the main round and medals will be awarded before finals.

Optional Finals Round

After the main competition, there will be a finals round, which will be open to all competitors but is also optional. For this round, climbers will only have one attempt at each route. This will simulate the environment at Paraclimbing Nationals Finals. There will be prizes! 

Hotel Accommodation for Climbers

We are able to cover the cost of one hotel room on Saturday December 7th for any registered climbing competitors. Competitors may be asked to share a hotel room with another climber. When you register for the comp, please indicate if you will be requiring a hotel room. The rooms will all be within the same hotel at a location near the climbing gym. 

Volunteers:

We are looking for belay certified volunteers to help with this comp. You do not need to be certified with Central Rock Gym, but you do need to have a certification from any other gym. Please sign up as a volunteer below. Question regarding this role? Contact us.

Climber Registration Volunteer Registration
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