Arc’teryx Climbing Academy is Built for Climbers, by Climbers
Beyond the clinics, the Arc'teryx Climbing Academy delivers one of the best community gatherings of the year. And climbers from around the world showed up for it
The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy took place in Squamish last weekend beneath sunny skies, it delivered unique rock climbing opportunities and entertained with film premieres. While some climbing events are focused on specific styles, like the Trad Pow Wow in Quebec, or Boulderfest in Nova Scotia, the Academy is designed for every type of climber, from bouldering to alpinism.
The past few years have been unpredictable and full of uncertainty, due in part to a global pandemic, so the relaxing energy in Squamish during the Academy was much welcomed by the thousands of climbers in attendance. It seemed that people from all over were keen for a community event that brought them together through climbing, and the Academy was just that. It acted as a catalyst for climbers to revisit old partnerships and to build new ones.
Present were hundreds of climbers who weren’t there to learn about climbing, as they’ve been climbing for years, sometimes decades. Instead, they were at the Academy for other reasons, such as looking for inspiration, or to partake in the evening events. Like all Arc’teryx Climbing Academies, this one delivered some outstanding off-the-rock entertainment. It’s clear that climbers are the architects of the Academy, from the most entertaining dyno competition of the decade to screening some of the best films in circulation this year.
Like all Arc’teryx Climbing Academy evenings, things started with a land acknowledgement by Alice Gus of Squamish Nation. On both Friday and Saturday night, it was followed by the Squamish Access Society talking about the current state of things. On Friday night, Mountain Muskox talked about the importance of healing and being available in the Sea to Sky Corridor. The three films that screened on Friday were Wet Lycra Nightmare, Body of a Line and Sea to Sky Trail Series: Creating Space. All three films sent the audience into cheers.
On Saturday night, Ben Webster informed climbers that there will be poop bag dispensers added to parking lots for climbers. This is to cut down on the amount of human waste at Squamish crags. It was followed by a conversation between Ivan Le Pays and Ashima Shiraishi about the film A Line Alone, which focuses on Le Pays’s travels and tattooing. Watch the film below, it’s beautifully made.
The headline film was Yamnuska: the Ragged Edge, directed by John Price and Sherpa Cinema. The film focuses on a few of the most important climbers of the Canadian Rockies from the 1950s to present day. It delivered 60 minutes of action-packed climbing, emotional interviews and IMAX-worthy cinematography. Thousands of people sat beneath the granite walls of Squamish with their eyes glued to a film about chossy limestone. It was a space filled with dedicated climbers who came to watch a film about climbing, real unfiltered climbing, and they got it.
To wrap things up on both nights, Arc’teryx booked two amazing bands. On Friday, Too Many Zooz got everyone onto the dance floor, and on Saturday, Dirtwire sent downtown Squamish into a body-shaking frenzy thanks to their easy-to-move-to sounds. Connor Runge, a Squamish route developer and 5.14 climber, commented, “Thanks Arc’teryx Climbing Academy for throwing down a good event for the people.” Runge has an article in the current issue of Gripped about climbing on Paradise Wall.
The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy is more than just an educational weekend of clinics, it’s one of the best parties of the year. For a few days this summer, Squamish hosted one of the biggest climbing events of the year. The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy now heads to China, where it will take place in Yangshuo in October. And next weekend, Project Pride takes place in Squamish, an event that is supported by Arc’teryx, read an interview with founder Michelle LeBlanc here.
A Line Alone
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