ClimbScotland Festival report

ClimbScotland is looking to build upon the success of the very first ClimbScotland Festival held at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in June. Over 300 people attended the festival and the activities on offer throughout the day, which included Paraclimbing, professional coaching workshops and outdoor assault courses.

Plans are to run a festival again in 2018 and the ClimbScotland team is keen to see it grow and develop.

ClimbScotland Team Leader Jamie Smith said about a post-festival questionnaire: “We were happy to hear thoughts and suggestions from members, clubs and partners on how we make this bigger and better the next time round.”

Comments on the day included:

• “Activities and organisation worked brilliantly.”
• “Staff/coaches were fantastic, approachable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.”
• “The fun comp was a really great idea and was a blast to do.”
• “This was a really good and enjoyable day out. Fun competition was really good and really enjoyed the no-handed climb, the t-shirt climb and the blindfold climb.”

People of all abilities joined in, from regular climbers to those who had never climbed at all before, and the free come and try climbing sessions proved to be a big hit on the day.

Paraclimbing success.

The free come-and-try Paraclimbing sessions and inspirational talks from top UK paraclimbers also went down well and in the aftermath the ClimbScotland team is working with EICA and Scottish Disability Sports to develop a Paraclimbing group based at EICA which will allow para-climbers to access climbing on a regular basis and receive instruction and coaching. Anyone interested in this should get in touch at: info@climbscotland.net

ClimbScotland would like to say a massive thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who made the festival possible, and to all who came along and enjoyed it all. Sponsors included Clif Bar, Clip'n'Climb, Entreprises, Epic TV, Five Ten, Geckotech Solutions Ltd, Glenmore Lodge, Mountain Boot Company, Psychi, RAB, Tiso.