Among other remarkable survey findings: a 61% majority of respondents indicated that 50% or more of all climbing in their facilities is done on an auto belay, and a 62% majority of camps reported a decrease in climbing facility operating costs.

Auto Belay Impact on Participation, Expansion

No longer limited to climbing gyms, auto belays are seeing both increased use and unit expansion in non-climbing focused facilities, including family entertainment centers, fitness centers, recreation centers, and community centers such as YMCAs.  In fact, participation and membership increases were greater in facilities that were not climbing focused – with 100% of Family Entertainment Centers, 75% of fitness centers, 71% of recreation centers, and 67% of YMCA facilities seeing an increase.
The increase in participation and membership is directly correlated to the number of units per facility, with 58% of facilities that saw an increase offering five or more auto belay stations.  However, it only takes one auto belay to make the difference; 56% of facilities with just one unit also reported an increase.

“We had hoped and expected to see an increase in participation and membership with the use of auto belays,” said Candie Fisher, Marketing Director for TRUBLUE Auto Belays.
“What was most impressive from our survey response was seeing that auto belays are not only a good partner for climbers, but are proving to be a great business partner for all kinds of facilities that offer TRUBLUE – not just rock climbing focused gyms.  Climbing gyms and a wide array of adventure and fitness facilities are seeing an opportunity to increase participation and safety while decreasing operating costs.”

Safety 

Survey respondents indicated that safety was the primary reason for purchasing a TRUBLUE auto belay, with ease of installation and low maintenance being the other most important factors. While auto belays can raise questions about safety among users, auto belays are not governed by the same safety standards as other climbing equipment or fall arrest devices used in other industries.  To alleviate and overcome safety concerns, TRUBLUE auto belays are designed, built, and tested to meet the same stringent safety standards required for fall arrest devices in other industries, while also meeting the following international criteria:

• American National Standard ANSI/ASSE Z359.4-2007 “Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components”

• Canadian Standard, CSA Z259.2.3-99 “Descent Control Devices”

• Australian and New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 1891.3 1997 “Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – part 3: Fall arrest devices”

• European Union Directive BS EN 341 “Personal protection equipment against falls from a height – Descender devices”

GET A QUOTE

Leasing is FAST, EASY and AFFORDABLE! You can include accessories and annual recertification in your lease contract.

Here are some examples of how affordable it can be to lease your TRUBLUE auto belays*

$112.38 a month for 2 TRUBLUE auto belays, 2 annual recertifications and two replacement webbings

$518.06 a month for 8 TRUBLUE auto belays plus five years of annual recertifications (one per year per unit)

Leasing is available through our partner, Falcon Leasing.**

Here’s how it works:

• Place a TRUBLUE order at store.eldowalls.com or call us at 877-565-6885. Select “Check by Mail” as your form of payment.
• NOTE: Minimum order of $5,000 is required to qualify for leasing. Order can include annual recertification and/or accessories.
• Click here to complete an application online or call Thomas Wright of Falcon Leasing at 320.968.2003
• You will be notified of approval by Falcon Leasing, generally within 24-48 hours

*For illustrative purposes only. Your actual rate will be determined by Falcon Leasing and is based on your application data

**Rates, terms and lease length are all determined by Falcon Leasing. Your lease agreement is with Falcon Leasing, and no credit information is shared with TRUBLUE Auto Belays.

In this video our friends at Bonsai Designs make use of the TRUBLUE auto belay for an innovative “leap of faith” element.

Click here for another cool application of the TRUBLUE.

How do you TRUBLUE? Let us know if you have a creative use of the TRUBLUE Auto Belay!

Navitat, together with sister company and course designer/builder, Bonsai Design Inc, always looks for new and exciting ways to add on to their canopy tour experience. They look to add elements that will enhance the entire tour while of course staying true to their company mission with safety being a priority.

Not just for climbing walls, The TRUBLUE Auto Belay is the newest course element at Navitat Canopy Adventures in Wrightwood, CA. There are 3 rappelling experiences on their course, (where one must lower themselves from the trees by descending on ropes) the last of which is the final course element aside from the hike out.

On the third rappel, instead of rappelling via their Deus Device that is used for the first 2 rappels, guests can choose to leap off the last platform while attached to the TRUBLUE Auto Belay. It’s a perfect way to end the tour as by this time, guests have learned to trust the equipment and can truly enjoy this awesome new element.

Guest love the TRUBLUE leap, as you can see in the video below (featured at toward the end of the video at 1:13).

• Summit Climbing Gym
• University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• Woodloch Pines Resort

THIS CONTEST HAS CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION!

We received so many great entries in our TRUBLUE 5.10 contest, that we couldn’t pick a winner. So, we have chosen three finalists in each of the following categories:

• Climbing Gym
• University
• Other

Through February 21, 2012, you may vote for your favorite facilities. The facility in each category with the most votes will be the TRUBLUE 5.10 winner for that category and will receive TRUBLUE auto belays to use in their facility for up to five months.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE (scroll down to the 7th product)

Ziplines are making a big buzz at the show, and people are extremely interested in the innovative zipSTOP Zipline Braking System.

As quoted in the article:

“The company’s president, John McGowan, says zipSTOP is a revolutionary improvement over the current “analog” systems using compression springs, brake trolleys on a bungee cord, or even manual human braking to decelerate the zipline riders. ‘This is the first legitimate zipline braking system,” he said. “It uses eddy-current braking to gradually and smoothly brake the zipline. Also, tests have shown that zipSTOP can experience tens of thousands of zipline [runs] without wear to components.’ He says the system is also not affected by wind conditions, which can greatly increase the operating time of ziplines.

McGowan notes that the industry is moving toward high-speed ziplines—up to 60 miles per hour or even faster. For the sake of rider safety and comfort, he said operators should seriously consider the zipSTOP.”

Learn more about the zipSTOP Zipline Braking system.

As a result of the award, TRUBLUE was also featured on the TV NZ, the national station of New Zealand.  Click here to view the segment.