The Outdoors Show 2012

© Alan James
The vastness of the ExCel centre in London was host to this year's Outdoor Show. The venue so huge that the organisers were able to pack in The London Bike Show, the Active Travel Show and The London Boat Show all in for the same entry fee. It remains to be seen whether this juxtaposition of unfamiliar bed-fellows was a stroke of genius or a desperate attempt to save a failing Boat Show suffering under the burden of the current economic climate.

The Crazy Climb area at the Outdoors show was very popular  © Alan James
The Crazy Climb area at the Outdoors show was very popular

The result was a very busy show but a mish-mash of interest-types with climbers looking for good quality bargain gear diluted by families there for a fun day out letting their kids have a go on one of the climbing walls. One woman I talked to from Killamarsh said she had come down for the boat show but her kids had enjoyed the climbing walls so much that they had come in for a second day just so that they could have another go. Unwittingly this woman had found a passion hobby for her children and she was absolutely delighted. For others though I think the sight of a £10 million pound boat that could barely fit inside the hall didn't sit so well next to their aim of finding a bargain rope or quickdraw.

The Climbing Village  © Alan James
The Climbing Village

The main focus of the outdoor event was the Climbing Village ably masterminded by Steve Mayers of Beacon CC and Chris Rowlands of DMM. Steve's Crazy Climb initiative had some super little climbing challenges with aliens, spinning holds, weird shapes, glass walls and slippery chimneys providing endless entertainment for youngsters and not-so-youngsters alike.

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The BMG were there to run some workshops - this one is crevasse rescue

Around this was a collection of the various climbing tuition and guiding organisations NICAS, AMI and the BMG, who were on hand to explain the finer points of the pursuit to the largely uneducated audience.

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Sophie Mitchell with her new Rockfax book on the NICAS stand

Rockfax also had a small presence with the launch of the new Beginners' Guide for Climbers - a picture instruction book aimed at NICAS Level 1, 2 and a bit of 3. Sophie Mitchell, the talented author and illustrator, was on hand to sign copies.

Bargain hunters at the DMM stand  © Alan James
Bargain hunters at the DMM stand
The alien wall on Crazy Climb  © Alan James
The alien wall on Crazy Climb

For the bargain hunter there were plenty of good deals to be had especially on the DMM stand and Wild Country. DMM also got into the spirit of the event more than most with a hands-on krab assembly section on one side of their stand, and then a krab destruction unit on the other. There were also coaching sessions available from DMM athletes Libby Peter and Lucy Creamer which were a great success.

Other companies and organisations with a representation were Wild Country, the BMC, Montane and TGO, plus many other colleges and travel companies like Rock and Sun.

With a lot of climbers having an interest in the various types of biking - myself especially - The Bike Show should have been a welcome additional attraction, however they didn't seem to have got the idea. There with few have-a-go activities available, and most of the products were expensive bike-porn rather than decent bargains.

For next year the organisers need to decide what they want to do with the show. The Outdoor Show itself definitely has legs and with the enthusiastic support of DMM and the Beacon CC especially, and the various guiding and instruction organisations, it should be a something worth putting into your diary, but a different venue and focus from the main organisers may be needed in order to get the thing back to the core value of the 'outdoors'.


Photo gallery of some of the things on offer this year

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DMM assemble a krab workshop
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Lucy Creamer coaching session
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NICAS climbing tower
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DMM krab-testing rig
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The Bike Show - not so much 'have a go' , more 'don't try this at home'
The big boats - wide photo  © Alan James
The big boats - wide photo

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16 Jan, 2012
I went of Sunday and was quite surprised by how few outdoor manufacturers where there. I expected an appearance from at least Rab, Mountain Equipment and Black Diamond. It was a bike and boat show, with some outdoors stuff added in.
16 Jan, 2012
I work in the Event Management industry and am involved in a large number of events like this, I've been for the last 3 years but just couldn't bring myself somehow to go again this year. The first time I went I managed to watch the Skymaster competition and had a really good time and got some great bargains from the Plant Fear stall. I came back telling all my friends that we had to go next year. However the last two years don't seem to have had the buzz for me as that first time partly due to the events own success. Yes it was great getting to see Ray Mears in one of the closed sessions but the rest of the hall was just so busy mostly with families (and im not saying this is a bad thing as its good to build awareness)but for me it just turned the day into a constant of squeezing, bumping and shuffling past people. Stuff I was generally interested in and wanted to talk to people about I couldn't as there where a lot of tourists so to speak, there for the day as something to do with the kids but not what i'd call a real interest or passion, which for me was a shame. I remember at one point watching a Master Class with Libby Peter (as i was not able to join due to all session being filled up by about 10am)when she asked one gentleman what grade he climbed at and what he thought his weakness where he replied he didn't know as he had never climbed before. It would only take the loss of DMM or Brecon at this event to drastically change the feel and focus The show is a great success and I don't want to put it down as I feel it has a lot to offer but im not sure if its growing away form what it was into something more of an expo for those that are looking for a day out. Id love to see a similar event aimed at those who regularly take part in climbing & mountaineering and could see it being a fantastic operability for everyone involved. Suppliers would be able to talk directly on a mass basses to find out what works and what doesn't. What recommendations people may have or products they like to see. The ability to showcase new products as well as new R&D and hopefully offer some good bargains too. I do hope it continues as I have said the benefits far out-way any negatives but for me i'm not sure ill be going again.
16 Jan, 2012
Thanks for that account. I think I am in general agreement with you. Just one point - it is theBeacon Climbing Centre (Steve Mayers) that are the main-stay (with DMM) of the climbing village. As you point out, without them then the event could well fall very flat. Alan
16 Jan, 2012
Thanks Alan, yes my apologise for the error it should have read Beacon
16 Jan, 2012
Completely agree. I went on Sunday, and found the event worthwhile because I managed to get a place on one of the DMM/Beacon classes, and because there were a good few bargains to be had, again on the DMM stand. Without them, it would have been a terrible event, so many thanks to both DMM and Beacon for putting in the effort. I couldn't believe that there were only two stalls selling specialist climbing and outdoors gear, DMM and Wild Country. And they were pretty small.
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