First Look: The Future of British Climbing Walls 

Hopefully, as per Tom’s sentiments, it’s an area we’ll see grow. The fact they’re making such good cracks/volumes now - and that there’s people demanding them - should filter through eventually (or at least that’s what you’d hope)!

Whats the centre called so I make sure im never there, poor attitude

​@@paulhoulden It's The Boardroom, near Chester. Although that was a comment from one of the staff (who I think is an instructor, not a route-setter), I suspect the other staff/setters don't hold the same bizarre opinion. To their (partial) credit, they do have a few wideboyz crack volumes but they're quite unimaginative and reluctant in putting them to use. I think, over many years, I've also only ever seen just one single hand jam from a couple of well-placed smaller holds anywhere on their lead & top-rope routes. Well done to that one setter, I suppose. 'Must do better', to the other setters. Mind you, the same could be said of the vast majority of other walls I've been to over the years.

@@danhawson3242 I guess that's another factor to take into account: not just the development of decent cracks/volumes, but also the ability to set good problems with them too, as that's a skill within its own right (and hopefully one that'll improve in time).

I make a point to pester my local gyms for crack problems- show there's a demand for it and if they're a savvy business, they'll answer

YES!! As a lover of the thumb wrap/small crimp, I would love to see this happen!

There's definitely been a trend towards this, so maybe we just need to seed the idea to the right people 😉

This will be music to the Wideboyz ears 😅

There’s a whole lot more to come from him too 🤩

Amen to that 🙏