Becoming a member
For becoming a member, you need to read through the statutes (in French), write an email to info@genevarocks.ch, pay the membership fee (see information in “general conditions” and “bank account”) and attend the general assembly if possible. As a member, you benefit from
  • reduced prices for courses 
  • free access to climbing ropes and a collection of regional guidebooks
  • activities which are reserved to members (meet-ups, outing on the protection of nature, etc.)
  • the possibility to influence GenevaRocks’ activities
GenevaRocks' General Conditions

1. Price and Registration

1.1. The price includes: all climbing materials, the return travel by car from Geneva or Nyon (except for Family Climbing Days and private courses), accommodation in double room with breakfast if the climbing weekend is situated at more than 2h from Geneva (except private courses), and the professional fees. On a case-by-case basis, if the number of participants is sufficiently high, dinner can also be included in the price of the week-end. 

1.2. The price does not include: The entry to public climbing gyms (16 Euros for Vitam’Parc, 20 CHF for Queue d’Arve).   

1.3. A 10% reduction is granted to children and students if they present a copy of their student card at the moment of registration. This reduction is not valid for private courses.  

1.4. The membership fee is 50 CHF (25 CHF for students) per year and it is valid from August to August each year.    

2. Compulsory Insurances and Medical Issues   

2.1. Each participant needs to be covered by a personal liability insurance. They also need to have a personal health and accident insurance. In addition, they need to have their medical doctor’s agreement with regards to practicing rock climbing.   

2.2. Participants with a medical condition and/or who are taking medication which should be known by the climbing instructor need to inform GenevaRocks. A weight superior to 90 kg or inferior to 55kg also needs to be signalled in advance.  

2.3. You can have drinks… but only after the course. 

3. Cancellation Conditions for Participants

3.1. Following the confirmation of the course by email, 25% of the price is due in case of a cancellation up to 11 days before the start of the course, 50% of the price is due in case of a cancellation between 10 and 5 days before the start of the course and 100% of the price is due in case of a cancellation 4 days or less before the start of the course. 

3.2. In case a participant is late by more than 15 minutes, the group will depart and the person who is late cannot claim a reimbursement.

3.3. In case of vis major or a medical certificate which prohibits climbing explicitly or implicitly, a vaucher will be issued for the courses which were missed after GenevaRocks’ reception of the certificate or document of proof, unless the place is being kept free until the participants’ return. 

3.4. It is recommended to take a cancellation insurance, for example with Alllianz. 

4. Changes and Cancellation Conditions for GenevaRocks

4.1. The climbing instructor can be replaced by another qualified person. 

4.2. For reasons of weather conditions and of changes in the composition of the group, a course can take place at a different location.  

4.3. In case of cancellation by GenevaRocks (because of weather conditions, an insufficient number of registration, unavailability of climbing instructor, etc.) the amount paid will be credited for a next course (no cash will be reimbursed).  

4.4. In the case of a pandemic, the participants will receive a full reimbursement for the courses which could not take place due to the pandemic. 

4.5. Such changes are announced by email or by phone at least 24 hours before the course.    

4. Miscellaneous: Image Rights, Theft and Losses, Complaints

4.1. Photos taken by GenevaRocks are shared with the participants and can be used for GenevaRocks’ communication, unless the participant(s) explicitly state their wish not to be taken on photo and do so before the course. 

4.2. Responsibility is declined in case of theft or losse of personal items. 

4.3. Complaints related to the present contract need to reach GenevaRocks within a month. A professional liability insurance has been concluded with Allianz Suisse Assurances, Bleicherweg 19, CH- 8002 Zürich, +41 58 358 71 11, contact@allianz.ch.

Bank account information

Account number: 15-87314-4

IBAN: CH23 0900 0000 1508 7314 4

BIC/SWIFT: POFICHBEXXX

Account holder and address: GenevaRocks, Nyon

Bank name and address: Postfinance, 3030 Bern, Switzerland

Public Climbing Gyms
Public Bouldering Gyms
Climbing Stores & Buying Material

In all of GenevaRocks’ climbing courses, you can borrow the necessary climbing equipment for free. If you wish to get your own, here are some tips:

  • Shoes: As beginner, go for comfort! Make sure your toes touch the end of the shoe, but take shoes which fit your feet well and which you can wear for about 5 minutes without being sore. Once you learnt proper foot technique, you will get new shoes anyway.
  • Harness and Helmet: Try them (harness: while hanging in it)! You will quickly feel which one is most comfortable for you. 
  • Belay device: Take the one from this list which you have properly been trained in and feel comfortable with, and take the locking carabiner which goes with it (NOT twist-lock!). If you intend to multi-pitch climb, take the Reverso from Petzl. 
  • Sling: We highly recommend the Dual Connect Adjust from Petzl. 
  • Quickdraws: Take 12-15 of them, ideally light, with wires gates and clean nose.
  • Rope: If you only climb indoors, take a 40m long climbing rope. If you also climb outdoors, take a 70m long single climbing rope (even 80m if you intend to climb in the South of France). A standard diameter is 9.8mm. Add a simple rope bag to keep your rope clean. 

Note: Only use normed climbing materials. All textile materials need to be changed after 10 years at the latest (!), whether they have been used or not. NEVER use second-hand material, you do not know how it has been treated. Do NOT mark your gear with pens or chemical products but buy a special marker in a climbing store or put colour tape on your carabiners. 

Re-soling of Climbing Shoes
Competitions
Collective Climbing Courses and Camps for Children
Vertical Dance
Inspiring Female Climbers
Climber photographers
Regional Guidebooks
Outdoor Climbing Sites
Security
Weather Forecast
Environment
Online Forums
Magazines, Blogs and TV
Classic Films
  • La vie au bout des doits, with Patrick Edlinger, in the 1980s (beware, free solo climbing is dangerous!)
  • Action Directe (Frankenjura, Germany), the world’s first 9a, climbed by Wolfgang Güllich in 1991 (in vidéo: Iker Pou)
  • The Nose (Yosemite, USA), climbed by Lynn Hill, first female climbing star, in 1993
  • Bain de sang (Saint Loup, Switzerland), the world’s first female 9a, climbed by Josune Bereziartu (let us know if you find the video!)
  • Petzl Roc Trip in China (2011) and in Argentina (2012)
  • Biography (Céuse, France), the world’s first 9a+, climbed by Chris Sharma in 2011
  • Change (Hanshelleren Cave, Flatanger, Norway), the world’s first 9b+, climbed by Adam Ondra in 2012
  • Silence (Hanshelleren Cave, Flatanger, Norway), the world’s first 9c, climbed by Adam Ondra in 2017
  • La Rambla (Siruana, Spain), the world’s first female 9a+, climbed by Margo Hayes in 2017
  • Silbergeier (Grisons, Switzerland), with Nina Caprez from Switzerland
  • Nouvelle Vague, Urban Climbing in Geneva
  • Climbing films by BigUpProductions, including the Reel Rock series, Dosage Volumes and Valley Uprising (rent or buy)

A selection of freely accessible climbing films and other films

Film Festivals
Finding a climbing partner
Public Climbing Gyms
Public Bouldering Gyms
Climbing Stores & Buying Material

In all of GenevaRocks’ climbing courses, you can borrow the necessary climbing equipment for free. If you wish to get your own, here are some tips:

  • Shoes: As beginner, go for comfort! Make sure your toes touch the end of the shoe, but take shoes which fit your feet well and which you can wear for about 5 minutes without being sore. Once you learnt proper foot technique, you will get new shoes anyway.
  • Harness and Helmet: Try them (harness: while hanging in it)! You will quickly feel which one is most comfortable for you. 
  • Belay device: Take the one from this list which you have properly been trained in and feel comfortable with, and take the locking carabiner which goes with it (NOT twist-lock!). If you intend to multi-pitch climb, take the Reverso from Petzl. 
  • Sling: We highly recommend the Dual Connect Adjust from Petzl. 
  • Quickdraws: Take 12-15 of them, ideally light, with wires gates and clean nose.
  • Rope: If you only climb indoors, take a 40m long climbing rope. If you also climb outdoors, take a 70m long single climbing rope (even 80m if you intend to climb in the South of France). A standard diameter is 9.8mm. Add a simple rope bag to keep your rope clean. 

Note: Only use normed climbing materials. All textile materials need to be changed after 10 years at the latest (!), whether they have been used or not. NEVER use second-hand material, you do not know how it has been treated. Do NOT mark your gear with pens or chemical products but buy a special marker in a climbing store or put colour tape on your carabiners. 

Re-soling of Climbing Shoes
Regional Guidebooks
Outdoor Climbing Sites
Security
  • Reference Manuals
  • Legal responsibility
  • (Re-)equipment (thank you for supporting (re-)equippers!)
  • Belay devices
  • Knots
  • Materials
  • Fall Factor
Weather Forecast
Environment
Collective Climbing Courses and Camps for Children
Vertical Dance
Inspiring Female Climbers
Competitions
Online Forums
Magazines, Blogs and TV
Classic Films
  • La vie au bout des doits, with Patrick Edlinger, in the 1980s (beware, free solo climbing is dangerous!)
  • Action Directe (Frankenjura, Germany), the world’s first 9a, climbed by Wolfgang Güllich in 1991 (in vidéo: Iker Pou)
  • The Nose (Yosemite, USA), climbed by Lynn Hill, first female climbing star, in 1993
  • Bain de sang (Saint Loup, Switzerland), the world’s first female 9a, climbed by Josune Bereziartu (let us know if you find the video!)
  • Petzl Roc Trip in China (2011) and in Argentina (2012)
  • Biography (Céuse, France), the world’s first 9a+, climbed by Chris Sharma in 2011
  • Change (Hanshelleren Cave, Flatanger, Norway), the world’s first 9b+, climbed by Adam Ondra in 2012
  • Silence (Hanshelleren Cave, Flatanger, Norway), the world’s first 9c, climbed by Adam Ondra in 2017
  • La Rambla (Siruana, Spain), the world’s first female 9a+, climbed by Margo Hayes in 2017
  • Silbergeier (Grisons, Switzerland), with Nina Caprez from Switzerland
  • Nouvelle Vague, Urban Climbing in Geneva
  • Climbing films by BigUpProductions, including the Reel Rock series, Dosage Volumes and Valley Uprising (rent or buy)

A selection of freely accessible climbing films and other films

Film Festivals
Finding a climbing partner
Climber photographers