The Climbing Wall Association has released its annual report detailing all of the organization’s accomplishments for the year. The advent of indoor climbing facilities completely transformed the sport in the eyes of the public and within the industry, attracting many more participants and lowering barriers to entry considerably. CWA is made up primarily of independent climbing gym operators, but several gear manufacturers and climbing wall designers are involved as well.

During 2005, CWA board of directors was able to hire a new full-time executive director. Bill Zimmermann is an experienced association administrator who came to the CWA from the Association for Experiential Education where he developed a successful accreditation program for the outdoor education community. Zimmerman was given the challenge of developing the CWA into a “viable, self-sufficient, trade association with a variety of programs and services.” The organization was also able to open a new office in Boulder, Colorado, where Zimmerman will be based.

With new regulations appearing in several states that could have a substantial negative impact on climbing wall operators, the CWA began a new push into government affairs.

According to the organization, most states and provinces restrict the regulation of climbing facilities to those clearly covered by existing amusement licensing statutes. However, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio have or have attempted to lump all climbing facilities, regardless of type, into the category of amusements. CWA has stated that it opposes this approach and has dedicated considerable time and resources to this issue.

The CWA was also successful in obtaining much of the intellectual property of the climbing specialty groups of the OIA. The transfer agreement grants CWA exclusive ownership of all trademarks, copyrights, original artwork, and intellectual property for many climbing-specific programs and materials. The CWA plans to revise, re-brand, and re-distribute these materials in the future.

Several other milestones were reached during 2005, including Board of Directors election and expansion of the Board to six members; the national distribution of Industry Practices; the acquisition of copyright to ASTM draft standard for Design and Engineering of Artificial Climbing Structures; and the development of a climbing wall industry public relations program.