What I Learned at Arc’teryx Academy: 5 Reasons to Go

“You got this, bump up, right there!” Jonathan Siegrist hooted. It was our final climb of the day, and he managing the rope and supporting me from below. Despite the chalk sprinkled over my fingers, beads of sweat still slid over the granite beneath them. The other climbers were finishing their own routes during the Learn-to-Lead clinic Siegrist hosted that morning. I was just about tapped out after struggling up this particular 5.10c only minutes before.

Just three months earlier, I had restarted my indoor climbing gym membership after taking an extended break from the sport due to injuries. An intermediate climber, I arrived at the Arc’teryx Climb Academy expecting to brush off rusty skills and refresh safety techniques. I didn’t expect to have Siegrist, one of few elite climbers who have mastered 5.15 routes, belay me.

But that kind of opportunity is what the Arc’teryx Academy is all about.

For nearly two decades, Arc’teryx Academy has offered mountain enthusiasts a chance to learn from world-class athletes and top guides, while building the skills and confidence to take their outdoor pursuits to the next level.

The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy I attended in August was unlike any climbing event I had experienced. Over three days, Arc’teryx athletes, from Olympians to big-wall specialists, provided mentorship and technical coaching to over 300 clinic participants. With one instructor for every six students, each clinic felt intimate.

Off the mountain, we attended panel discussions and screened films. In the evenings, DJ sets and happy hours made it easy to connect with fellow attendees, athletes and industry pros.

I learned so much, had an absolute blast and left feeling inspired to see how far I could take climbing.

Here are five reasons why you’ll want to be at the next one:

Katie Botwin

1. Go Rad Places

Half of the magic of outdoor adventure sports is getting to experience the stunning places they take us. If you enjoy jaw-dropping landscapes like me, this is reason enough to consider an academy. They’re held in majestic mountain towns like Chamonix and Mammoth.

Driving to Squamish, British Columbia, along the Sea to Sky Highway, I rounded a bend to find jagged peaks rising dramatically from the water. The view reminded me of the fjords of Norway.

A 31-year-old climber I met in an advanced sport climbing clinic shared my awe. She had traveled from Shanghai, China, to Squamish in search of climbing partners and local expertise. “I love it,” she told me while eyeing a granite slab in front of us. “And if I come here alone, I don’t know where to go or climb. If there’s an Academy, I can go with new people and learn a lot of things.”

That sentiment hit me right in the feels, as I had never been to Squamish either. It was a place I always dreamed of going; as a climber, this Canadian section of the Coast Mountains was on my bucket list. The Academy gave me the perfect reason to visit this top climbing destination.

2. Learn From Your Heroes

After checking in and getting a hefty swag bag, I looked for the group I’d be spending the day with. Greeting us at a table was an unassuming Hamish McArthur, with a huge grin on his face. McArthur, who finished fifth in combined boulder and lead climbing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was teaching that day’s clinic, “The Art of Bouldering.”

He looked as stoked as I felt.

The Art of Bouldering, an advanced workshop, invites attendees to view bouldering in a new light. I’ve always been a sport climber, but bouldering is where I’m happy to climb a little, socialize a lot and just have fun. I was excited to discover a different way of thinking about bouldering. Rather than focusing solely on powerful, dynamic moves, this clinic helped me appreciate the flow, rhythm, and movement of climbing.

After a rundown of the day ahead, we drove to a forest that looked prehistoric, filled with granite boulders, towering trees, and moss that hung like spider webs. It was home to two bouldering areas we’d explore that day, The Dark Side and The Farm.

When I asked fellow participant Adam Pauw why he chose this clinic, he said, “I kind of pick [the clinic] based on who’s teaching it more than what the clinic is. I really think Hamish is amazing, and he boulders.”

I could relate, as I had seen Siegrist in climbing films and was familiar with and impressed by his accomplishments. So when I saw he was hosting a clinic, I knew I wanted to attend. An absolute legend teaching a Learn-to-Lead clinic? Sign me up!

Although I have experience leading outside, I had recently taken time off from climbing to let a few injuries heal. I was excited to get back outside, shake off the cobwebs and hopefully pick up new techniques along the way.

Then I found myself belaying Siegrist, gently terrified I’d short-rope him. The ludicrous nature of this situation hadn’t dawned on me, so focused was I on the task at hand. Later, having him belay and hype me up as my finger strength faded, it hit me:

Holy sh*t. I’m being belayed by one of the most technical climbers in the world right now.

Learning from the athletes you’ve seen in films—the ones pushing the limits in your favorite sport and competing on a world stage—is next level. Social media makes us feel closer to these athletes, but when do you get to talk with them, let alone learn from them in a small group?

From clinics with Will Gadd, Kai Lightner and Amity Warme to talks with Jim Sandford and Alannah Yip, the Academy brought climbing’s inspiring names within reach. After finishing a clinic, I was able to catch The Struggle Climbing Show interviewing Yip, Mike Foley, Thompson and Siegrist. They shared personal stories of climbing in Squamish, their experiences collaborating on gear designs, and the future of hard sport climbing. 

3. Build Community

Finding a community isn’t always easy, but we are fortunate to love a sport that can bring people together in a fun, encouraging space. Throughout my three days at the Academy, I heard nothing but hoots, affirmations and unwavering support for fellow participants. Those were followed by “Let’s climb soon—can I have your number?” or ”Let’s follow each other on social!”

“It’s people gathering together and sharing their experiences and making friends, and maybe next time we can go to Squamish and climb together,” explained Peter Lin, a 24-year-old first-time participant.

And it’s not just the guests who feel that community love—instructors are in on it, too. “There’s so much time and space to make really meaningful connections with people, even if it’s just in passing,” McArthur said.

He added: “Today I started the day with six less friends than I now have.”

4. Hone Your Skills

“If everyone can learn one thing, that’s what’s most important,” said athlete Tyler Thompson, who has climbed 5.15a routes and dozens of 5.14s, often fueled by his favorite crag snack, the PB&J. 

That’s what’s so unique about Arc’teryx Academy: It isn’t crafted for just one level. Beginner, intermediate and advanced climbers can all hone their skills in clinics from Learn-to-Lead to intro to bouldering.

As an intermediate climber with eight years of on-and-off experience on rock and plastic, I wanted to here what return participant Steve You had to say about the intro level courses. You was in an advanced sport climbing clinic when I chatted with him. He first attended Arc’teryx Academy as a new climber in 2022 and has worked his way up in clinic difficulty. 

“For intermediate and beginner climbers, it’s so worth it. You learn so much,” he said, recalling those initial experiences. “The first year I did a clinic, I did a more beginner one with Alannah Yip, and in those ones they teach you the techniques and how to move well on the wall and that definitely helps. There is something for everybody.” 

If you’re a beginner or intermediate climber getting outside for the first time and are nervous about safety, it’s hard to imagine a better scenario than having a pro climber and guide to ensure the day goes smoothly and remains fun. “In this clinic, we are crystal clear about creating a safe environment where people can learn the skills to lead,” said Siegrist of his Learn-to-Lead clinic.

There’s plenty for advanced climbers too. You told me how his friend, a strong climber working on the exceptionally hard 5.14b route in Squamish named Cobra Crack, has benefited from the Academy.

“He knows how to climb to the limit, right? But when he came, he learned so much. You learn [that] the pros struggle, and learn how they train, and how they deal with those struggles,” he added.

Thompson agreed: “You don’t necessarily need to learn to lead from a pro climber, but you’re definitely going to learn something that you wouldn’t otherwise learn. It’s going to accelerate your learning.”

5. It’s Not Just Climbing

So, yes, there is climbing at the academy. But it’s not just climbing. The events draw over 20,000 attendees, with more than 300 attending clinics. Panel discussions, food trucks, athlete presentations and film premieres fill the evenings after clinics end. Then the party starts—literally. Music fills the tent. Suddenly climbing moves morph into dance moves, and the energy of the day flows late into the night.

“I like that there’s a big climbing community, and you have music and talks and films and kind of this climbing almost-festival scene. You get a chance to see the athletes around and, at the same time, interacting with recreational climbers,” said Brian McCully, 44, a climber from Portland, Oregon, who previously attended two Arc’teryx Academies in Squamish. “It’s just a fun vibe.”

And regardless of how tired people are, the tent fills, the bass drops and people are there to boogie well after hours.

Climb On

McArthur still had the same smile on his face at the end of the day as we wandered the dense forest. The next morning, he taught an intro-level bouldering clinic called Climbing Treasure Hunt. McArthur had drawn a treasure map that would lead participants to their next boulder problem and hidden clues for them to find. He encouraged attendees to rediscover the fun of climbing—the same feeling we had as kids climbing trees.

“Everyone loved climbing trees,” he said. “It […] wasn’t overthought at all. It was just done because it was enjoyable movement.”

He added with a smile, “the most important thing and the biggest takeaway from the day is that it was really fun, that it was just really good fun, because I think climbing should be.” 

He’s right.

That’s what I started to rediscover at the Arc’teryx Academy. Yes, it’s about climbing. But it’s also about the places climbing can take us: spending time with your heroes, making new friends and pushing your physical and mental limits. It’s also the culture of climbing that makes the academy special, from the talks to the music and the community. And, maybe most importantly, it’s about climbing for the fun of it.

Editor’s note: We published this article in partnership with Arc’teryx.