Ar’teryx launch online skills academy
IF COVID-19 HAS PUT A VIRUS SHAPED SPANNER IN YOUR ALPINE ADVENTURE PLANS THIS SUMMER THEN IT’S TIME TO GET SKILLED UP ONLINE INSTEAD AT ARC’TERYX’S BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW DIGITAL CLIMBING ACADEMY.
Arc’teryx’s in-person Academies have become extremely popular over the years with the Chamonix-based Alpine Academy attracting in the region of 500+ participants, alpine enthusiasts, mountain guides and professional athletes every year. Whether you’re a backcountry skier, alpinist, ice climber, boulderer, trail runner or adventure photographer, Arc’teryx’s global Academies bring vertical athletes together to celebrate mountain culture and learn new skills.
This year’s Digital Climbing Academy has been designed to provide a similar experience and will take place online from the 24th-28th of August 2020. The event is essentially ‘free to access’ but clinics will cost $45. Clinic registration opens on August 24.
Jurgen Watts, Director of Brand Experiences at Arc’teryx explains the decision to take this year’s Academy online:
“With the current public health environment, hosting an in-person Climbing Academy in Squamish like we’ve done in years past wasn’t an option for us, but we still wanted to engage the community we’ve worked so hard to build over the years. This new digital Academy and the clinic offerings were all thoughtfully designed to allow participants to develop mountain skills in a safe environment, while also fostering a sense of community during a time when connection has never been more important.”
The brand will offer a total of six online clinics at this year’s Academy, led by Arc’teryx athletes and ambassadors:
Sport Climbing Progression with Alannah Yip
Crack Climbing with Will Stanhope
Alpine Running with Eric Carter
Backcountry Camping with Christine Feleki
Moving Faster in Alpine Terrain with Julia Niles
Backcountry Cooking and Cocktails with Paul McSorley.
All six clinics are designed to be completed indoors so participants can still stay active if being outdoors isn’t an available option
“Participants can complete these clinics and practice the skills they’ve learned from the safety and comfort of their own homes, and when the situation allows, they can head outside and put their new skills to use,” said Watts.
In addition to clinics, there will be film premiers of As Free As Can Be and Makatea, seminars and workshops hosted by the Climbing Grief Fund, and a diverse entertainment lineup.
For more information and to register for clinics, CLICK HERE.
