Halls & Walls 2022 Review

Halls & Walls the must-attend event for managers of climbing and bouldering gyms for years.

This year, the climbing gym industry met again at the DAV climbing gym meeting. Halls & Walls took place at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition near Lake Constance on November 25/26 as part of Vertical Pro, the trade fair for "Vertical Professions". Once again, the well-known format of experts presentations and trade fair had been very well accepted and attracted 2100 visitors from 38 countries.

The lectures organized by the DAV were very popular. This year's main topic of sustainability was illuminated in all facets and actively discussed: Reasons and ways for sustainability, how sustainability is already implemented in climbing gyms, ecology in the building sector and diversity in route setting. The lecture program was opened by DAV Vice President Manfred Sailer.

• Why do we need sustainability?

  Only development that is permanently ecologically compatible, socially fair and economically efficient is sustainable development that meets the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  Speaker: Angela Imdahl (Imdahl Institut), moderated by Thomas Bucher (DAV press officer)
   

• Sustainable climbing and bouldering gyms - Do the to-do for yourself and your customers

  What can my climbing gym do for a future worth living? It was about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), corporate responsibility with regard to ecological, social and economic goals. How to achieve a lot with little money but with commitment.

  Speaker: Jonas Loss (chief operation officer DAV Kletterzentrum Bremen DAV Kletterzentrum Bremen), moderated by Thomas Bucher (DAV press officer)
   
• What do climbing and ecology have in common: Striving for efficiency

  In the presentation, the need for environmental and climate protection in general and from the company’s perspective was discussed in more detail. The current funding programs and their hurdles were described. Practical examples with considerations of economic efficiency completed the lecture. The focus was particularly on the building sector, but related topics were also considered.

  Speaker: Dr. Ulrich Kohaupt (RKW BW - enabler of small and medium-sized enterprises), moderated by Thomas Bucher (DAV press officer)
   

• Diversity in route setting and climbing - How diverse is climbing really?  
  Historically male-dominated and for a long time inadmissible for women, climbing is now considered to be a sport that welcomes everyone. Climbing should be easily accessible, virtually free of -isms of any kind, and stands for openness.

  Using climbing, bouldering and route setting as example, we dared to take a look at the climing sport as FINTA+people* experience it. How diverse is climbing really? Which myths persist and which solutions are there? What is diverse route setting and why is it so important for the climbing experience?
  
  * „FINTA+“ means: Female, Inter-, Non-, Trans- and A-gender persons.
  
  Speakers: Nora Caterin Born und Alise Zvigule from Team Routesetting Symposium, moderated by Niklas Wiechmann (route setter)

The presentations can be found in the download section below.

In the exhibition hall A7 companies of climbing wall construction, bouldering mats, grip shapes, wall equipment, climbing equipment, operating software and other accessories were represented at the booths. In addition, visitors could have take a look into hall B5, the exhibition area of high ropes courses, industrial climbing and height rescue. In total, 139 exhibitors from 36 countries were represented.

At the DAV booth, all visitors were welcomed for an industry exchange and long-time DAV partner Seeberger offered coffee and snacks. In the context, the DAV safety research has also presented its latest video on climbing with autobelays, as there have been accidents in climbing gyms in recent years. To watch the video and for more information see here. The video is at free disposal and can be downloaded in German and English from Skyfish.

In addition, the revised "Recommendations for the Installation of Toprope Stations in Climbing Gyms" was available for a look by climbing gym managers. The document is available in the download area below and here.