Comments on: CWA Summit Success! http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/ Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:35:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Wheels http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-784 Wheels Mon, 12 May 2008 18:10:58 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-784 I'm not sure why but I've been shot down on my ideas for spotting and falling clinics for about a year now. I routinely see people teaching their friends without a second thought towards instructing how falls should occur or even making sure pads are properly placed beneath the climber. I really thought the workshops were great at the CWA summit, the only issue I think holds more importance that other gym operators didn't put too much into is quality movement instruction. Our efforts to make sure people are safe when they learn to climb is great but I find its not engaging and fun enough to draw in and keep new climbers. I have been working on methods of bringing in a person brand new to climbing and teaching them enough to make them feel comfortable in the gym within an hour or two. Focusing on this has definately made the facility I work in more approachable to new climbers (namely more girls who don't climb rediculously hard hanging out and having fun) I’m not sure why but I’ve been shot down on my ideas for spotting and falling clinics for about a year now. I routinely see people teaching their friends without a second thought towards instructing how falls should occur or even making sure pads are properly placed beneath the climber.
I really thought the workshops were great at the CWA summit, the only issue I think holds more importance that other gym operators didn’t put too much into is quality movement instruction. Our efforts to make sure people are safe when they learn to climb is great but I find its not engaging and fun enough to draw in and keep new climbers. I have been working on methods of bringing in a person brand new to climbing and teaching them enough to make them feel comfortable in the gym within an hour or two. Focusing on this has definately made the facility I work in more approachable to new climbers (namely more girls who don’t climb rediculously hard hanging out and having fun)

]]> By: Horton http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-772 Horton Thu, 08 May 2008 18:52:49 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-772 A kick in the pants is exactly the tone for a keynote adress. It focuses attention on the "what could be done better" question. With that in the back of your mind you can proceed through the rest of the conferance with some intent of answering that question. A kick in the pants is exactly the tone for a keynote adress. It focuses attention on the “what could be done better” question. With that in the back of your mind you can proceed through the rest of the conferance with some intent of answering that question.

]]> By: lachelt http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-771 lachelt Thu, 08 May 2008 15:38:16 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-771 I really liked Timy's session also. Lots of great ideas. It was nice to hear some congruence with my own thoughts about natural lighting and keen attention to cleanliness and customer service. My biggest take away was his thoughts about safety, especially related to bouldering. We train people how to belay but NEVER a word about spotting or falling... and bouldering is surely the area of highest likelihood of accidents. Inspiring? Yes, but it also felt a bit like a kick in the pants... which, granted, the US gym industry may very well need. I do wonder if that is the tone you want for a key-note... where you generally want to build some excitement for the rest of the conference. I'm not saying that Timy couldn't deliver that also... I suspect he could! -Jon I really liked Timy’s session also. Lots of great ideas. It was nice to hear some congruence with my own thoughts about natural lighting and keen attention to cleanliness and customer service. My biggest take away was his thoughts about safety, especially related to bouldering. We train people how to belay but NEVER a word about spotting or falling… and bouldering is surely the area of highest likelihood of accidents.

Inspiring? Yes, but it also felt a bit like a kick in the pants… which, granted, the US gym industry may very well need. I do wonder if that is the tone you want for a key-note… where you generally want to build some excitement for the rest of the conference. I’m not saying that Timy couldn’t deliver that also… I suspect he could!

-Jon

]]> By: newtondominey http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-770 newtondominey Thu, 08 May 2008 01:47:58 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-770 i thought timy's session was possibly the best i attended (aside from mike's head routesetter session of course). i spent most of the time trying to type fast enough to not miss anything, seeing as 85% of the shit he was bitching about exists in my gym. I'M TRYING TIMY!!! I'M TRYING!!! i thought timy’s session was possibly the best i attended (aside from mike’s head routesetter session of course).

i spent most of the time trying to type fast enough to not miss anything, seeing as 85% of the shit he was bitching about exists in my gym.

I’M TRYING TIMY!!! I’M TRYING!!!

]]> By: Luke http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-769 Luke Thu, 08 May 2008 00:33:51 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-769 Its Timy Fairfield. Who made it to Timy's talk? It was inspiring and very focussed. He gets real worked up and you can feel and see that he knows his shit when it comes to indoor climbing facilities and the programs they offer. He is very obviously disconcerted with the status quo of the gyms going up in our country. He ended the talk with a sick slide show of gyms from around the world. I honestly think he would make a great keynote speaker for any conference having to do with the Indoor climbing industry. If you were there what did you think? Luke Its Timy Fairfield.

Who made it to Timy’s talk? It was inspiring and very focussed. He gets real worked up and you can feel and see that he knows his shit when it comes to indoor climbing facilities and the programs they offer.

He is very obviously disconcerted with the status quo of the gyms going up in our country. He ended the talk with a sick slide show of gyms from around the world. I honestly think he would make a great keynote speaker for any conference having to do with the Indoor climbing industry.

If you were there what did you think?

Luke

]]> By: Joe Czerwinski http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-768 Joe Czerwinski Wed, 07 May 2008 17:34:20 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-768 How about the one American with one of the largest, most impressive domestic and international competition resumes? One who knows the most of what it takes to host successfull comps, and how the rest of the world can do this so easily and the US is struggling. One who is a highly experienced route setter as well as accomplished climber. I wish the US had one of those.........oh wait, I know who it should be. Any guesses (no its not me)? How about the one American with one of the largest, most impressive domestic and international competition resumes? One who knows the most of what it takes to host successfull comps, and how the rest of the world can do this so easily and the US is struggling. One who is a highly experienced route setter as well as accomplished climber.

I wish the US had one of those………oh wait, I know who it should be. Any guesses (no its not me)?

]]> By: mike http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-767 mike Wed, 07 May 2008 05:17:23 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-767 I like that idea of bringing in outsiders from the fitness or sports industry. They've been doing this sort of thing for a long time and I'm sure could offer some good advice. Who should do it next year? I'm not sure. I like that idea of bringing in outsiders from the fitness or sports industry. They’ve been doing this sort of thing for a long time and I’m sure could offer some good advice.

Who should do it next year? I’m not sure.

]]> By: newtondominey http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-766 newtondominey Wed, 07 May 2008 04:32:18 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-766 That's a good point. This isn't me being argumentative, but more to start a discussion (hopefully): Who would be a better keynote speaker? The suggestion was thrown out on Sunday about classes or speakers from the fitness industry - or industries from outside the climbing community. Would that be good for a keynote? That’s a good point. This isn’t me being argumentative, but more to start a discussion (hopefully):

Who would be a better keynote speaker? The suggestion was thrown out on Sunday about classes or speakers from the fitness industry – or industries from outside the climbing community. Would that be good for a keynote?

]]> By: mike http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-765 mike Wed, 07 May 2008 04:19:16 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-765 I agree. However, the point of a keynote speaker is to inspire and set the tone for the conference. Mr. Powers speech did not do that. His points about bringing the climbing community together were half hearted and strained. I agree. However, the point of a keynote speaker is to inspire and set the tone for the conference. Mr. Powers speech did not do that.

His points about bringing the climbing community together were half hearted and strained.

]]> By: newtondominey http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-763 newtondominey Tue, 06 May 2008 20:54:20 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-763 maybe i'm naive, or maybe i was impressed by mr. power's tick list, but i actually thought his speech was mostly good and mostly appropriate. his point about all disciplines of the climbing industry working in congruence was one that i agree with, in particular. maybe i’m naive, or maybe i was impressed by mr. power’s tick list, but i actually thought his speech was mostly good and mostly appropriate. his point about all disciplines of the climbing industry working in congruence was one that i agree with, in particular.

]]> By: Horton http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Horton Tue, 06 May 2008 03:03:58 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-762 Word-- I can't agree more with Luke's comments. The routesetters involved in the symposium were clearly commited craftsmen/women and the value of their contribution to the industry was certainly already evident to them. Availabilty of certifications through the USAC definitley bode well for showing the value of setters to others. Competition is certainly the most immediate and powerful marketing tool for our business. However, the developement of more certifications for commercial setters may even have a stronger effect on the climbing wall industry as a whole. How can an new owner who is not a setter make the decision to invest in quality setting without confirmation of what they are buying? I think that many new and future owners are getting involved on the front end of a growing industry and need to have concrete evidence of the qualifications of those who produce what they are marketing. P.S. The USAC Level 2 setting clinic really was fantasic and I would encourage any setter to pursue the certifications offered by the USAC. Word–
I can’t agree more with Luke’s comments. The routesetters involved in the symposium were clearly commited craftsmen/women and the value of their contribution to the industry was certainly already evident to them.

Availabilty of certifications through the USAC definitley bode well for showing the value of setters to others. Competition is certainly the most immediate and powerful marketing tool for our business. However, the developement of more certifications for commercial setters may even have a stronger effect on the climbing wall industry as a whole. How can an new owner who is not a setter make the decision to invest in quality setting without confirmation of what they are buying?

I think that many new and future owners are getting involved on the front end of a growing industry and need to have concrete evidence of the qualifications of those who produce what they are marketing.

P.S.

The USAC Level 2 setting clinic really was fantasic and I would encourage any setter to pursue the certifications offered by the USAC.

]]> By: Luke http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Luke Tue, 06 May 2008 02:11:04 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-761 I tried to attend anything and everything to do with routesetting while at the CWA. I felt that in most of them were well summed up by the phrase "preaching to the choir". I know there were probably a handful of people who were gym managers that did not set, but largely the routesetting workshops were attended by routesetters or people who already believe in its importance. I would like to see a workshop on routesetting for new gym owners or those looking to open a gym. Let's make sure those people know how important it is to hire a competent setter that can set quality routes. There was also a USAC Level 2 setting clinic held 2 days prior to the CWA Summit that was great. Thanks to all of the instructors and forerunners who helped out and to the setters who participated. Luke I tried to attend anything and everything to do with routesetting while at the CWA. I felt that in most of them were well summed up by the phrase “preaching to the choir”. I know there were probably a handful of people who were gym managers that did not set, but largely the routesetting workshops were attended by routesetters or people who already believe in its importance.

I would like to see a workshop on routesetting for new gym owners or those looking to open a gym. Let’s make sure those people know how important it is to hire a competent setter that can set quality routes.

There was also a USAC Level 2 setting clinic held 2 days prior to the CWA Summit that was great. Thanks to all of the instructors and forerunners who helped out and to the setters who participated.

Luke

]]> By: Horton http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/comment-page-1/#comment-760 Horton Tue, 06 May 2008 01:42:16 +0000 http://www.routesetter.com/2008/05/04/cwa-summit-success/#comment-760 Timy Fairfield for next years keynote!!!!! Timy Fairfield for next years keynote!!!!!

]]>