When legendary climber John Bachar died in 2009, it seemed plausible that Acopa USA, the shoe company he formulated in the early 2000s with co-founders Dario Piana and Steve Karafa (as a spin-off of an Acopa brand that existed in Mexico), would close its doors.Even prior to Bachar’s passing, the company had endured a number of devastating circumstances—including a...
By Derek Larsen-Chaney and Jason Pill, Attorneys with Phelps Dunbar, LLPPart 1 of CBJ’s series on corporate expansion looked broadly at the reasons for internal or external expansion of a climbing gym, and Part 2 discussed the options for external expansion, including mergers and acquisitions. In Part 3, the final part of the series, attorneys Derek Larsen-Chaney and Jason...
Insight Climbing & Movement
Bremerton, WA
Specs: 7,500-square-foot facility will feature bouldering on a main floor and general fitness equipment (including cardio machines and CrossFit accoutrements) in a downstairs section. The downstairs area will also house a yoga studio. A number of educational and instructional classes will be offered at the gym, including competitive team programs for kids. The building, built in...
High-Steppe Climbing Center
Yakima, WA
Specs: 13,000-square-foot building, more than 7,000 square feet of which will be climbable surface. Lead climbing, auto-belay climbing, and bouldering will be offered, along with yoga. The gym will also include a MoonBoard, a campus board, a hangboard station, a space with general fitness equipment, a birthday party area, and locker rooms with showers.The gym will...
By Derek Larsen-Chaney and Jason Pill, Attorneys with Phelps Dunbar, LLPPart 1 of CBJ's series on corporate expansion surveyed some of the underlying reasons for expansion and identified external expansion as a costlier—but ultimately quicker—route for business growth than internal expansion. Part 2 takes a closer look at the main types of external expansion, exploring the pros and cons...
By John BurgmanThe main governing body of American competition climbing, USA Climbing, recently hired Rebecca Ingraham as the organization’s new Education Manager. A press release noted that Ingraham will work “to implement educational and certification programs,” and “increase women’s representation” at USA Climbing—including in matters of routesetting, coaching, judging, and belaying.Ingraham previously worked at the United States Center for...
The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) announced this month the hiring of Piero Rebaudengo as the organization’s first General Director. The announcement on the IFSC website acknowledged the creation of the new position comes “with the IFSC in the midst of a period of rapid growth” and less than one year from sport climbing’s debut at the 2020...
By Derek Larsen-Chaney and Jason Pill, Attorneys with Phelps Dunbar, LLPMost large corporations began as small businesses, typically with one location, before expanding into multi-billion-dollar companies and nationally recognized chains. Before becoming the world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s was simply a hamburger stand. In the fitness industry, LA Fitness is a +700-club chain that started off with one location....
By John BurgmanIt was recently announced that USA Climbing has joined in a multi-year partnership with Santa Monica, California-based Addaday, makers of athletic "recovery tools." The tools, such as handheld massage devices, will be available to athletes at USA Climbing’s National Team Training Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will also be brought on trips when the National...
Climb Nittany
Boalsburg, PA
Specs: 10,000-square-foot facility will feature both bouldering and roped climbing (lead and top-rope), along with a speed climbing wall. Additional amenities will include a gear shop, a fitness space with cardio and weightlifting equipment, a vending area, and a “community area” with tables, chairs, and accessible Wi-Fi. Youth and adult programming will also be offered. Climb Nittany...
