How do you attract new climbers, get them dedicated to the sport and motivate regular clients to keep coming again and again? Route setters need to be well qualified in order to create a safe and fun “product”. In addition, offering versatile and innovative working material is contributing to the setters motivation and efficient creation.
That has always been one of the main objective of POLYTALON, based in the south of Germany. Setters around the world surely will know them for the “original” BATS, their most famous PU hold series, which was launched in spring 2019.
“The idea behind this shape was to create new possibilities in setting and movement by changing the common shape of a hold to a more striking outline by adding three inward curvatures at the back of the holds. This leads to a very directional shape, but controversially having multiple grip and step options at the same time by changing orientation. In combination with perfectly matching holds, a completely new climbing experience was the result, with huge variation in difficulty.”
Further iconic lead and boulder series have been released in the following years – Sahara, Ying and Fatbat – all with the same approach and outcome. “They all contribute to more variation on the wall, keeping climbers of all grades motivated and coming back for more,” says Adrian Flaig, head of development and one of the main shapers of POLYTALON.
The newest ground breaking invention is called MELON, a set of small to medium sized round plywood volumes with complementary PU holds – Literally adding another new dimension to route setting. Besides offering different adjustment options by coming in angles of 10 to 40°, the convex mantle is made out of wood and can also be screwed on – but how, if it is convex – you might ask – with specially designed PU holds having a rounded support face. Shape shifting round two or is it better to say: Shape shifting squared? Well anyway you will find variable geometries – soon in the States as well. Stay tuned.
CBJ press releases are written by the sponsor and do not represent the views of the Climbing Business Journal editorial team.
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CBJ press releases are written by the sponsor and do not represent the views of the Climbing Business Journal editorial team.
