CWA Blog Archive-Women And Competitive Climbing Creating Environments That Foster Growth

Women And Competitive Climbing Creating Environments That Foster Growth

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This article uses the author's own disheartening first competition to argue for creating competitive environments that foster women's growth in climbing. The author vividly recounts their first citizen's comp at 20, fairly new to climbing and showing up alone: they competed for less than an hour, felt so disheartened they threw their scorecard in the trash, and left for The Obed outdoor crag to salvage the day. Crucially, they're honest that no one drove them away, the sets weren't too reachy and no guy sprayed them down or discouraged them. Instead, they arrived expecting a familiar experience and were completely unprepared for how the gym transformed in a highly competitive atmosphere. They felt unsure how to negotiate their turn on the wall, self-conscious of messy footwork, and frustrated by an inability to route-read competition-style sets, ultimately embarrassed and disappointed. That day they decided this type of space wasn't designed for them, and four years passed before they attempted another citizen's comp. The author stresses this experience, while not universal, is also not unique, noting that once they started working in the industry, they'd essentially have to beg women to participate in competitions. The throughline is that competitive climbing environments often unintentionally alienate women, not through overt discrimination but through an unfamiliar, intimidating atmosphere, and that the industry must deliberately create environments that foster women's growth.

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Through the author's disheartening first competition, quitting in under an hour with no one being hostile, this piece argues competitive climbing often alienates women through an intimidating, unfamiliar atmosphere, not overt discrimination. Since industry professionals must "beg" women to compete, it calls for intentionally designing welcoming, growth-oriented competitive environments where women feel they belong.