Switzerland Inaugurates New National Training Facility
Last week, just ahead of the IFSC Climbing World Cup bouldering round in Bern, the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) quietly opened the doors to a new national training facility—a purpose-built, athlete-only centre poised to shape the future of Swiss climbing.
Tucked inside a multi-sport complex that also houses gymnastics, hockey, and school athletics, the facility reflects a growing maturity in how nations prepare for climbing on the world stage. It is not open to the public, nor designed to generate revenue. Instead, its sole client is performance.
The lead wall dominates: 16.36 metres high with 16 roped lines—nine on an aggressively steep, 12-metre-wide overhang, the rest spread across a more moderate 8-metre face. A separate 15.7-metre-high speed wall offers full-spec conditions for athletes training under Olympic-format rules.
Bouldering is split across two floors. On the ground level, the former Meiringen World Cup wall (140m²) has been reinstalled alongside a brand-new 142m² Walltopia surface. Upstairs lies another 156m² of terrain, anchored by the new 4.5-by-4.5-metre Quantum adjustable board—the space is part spraywall, part research lab. Together, these spaces allow for continuity in training, from strength to strategy.
Routes are not labelled with grades. Instead, they are set as "projects"—deliberately ungraded to encourage adaptability and curiosity. A rotating cast of national and international routesetters ensures both diversity and freshness. The centre has no contracted head setter; instead, Loïc Gaidioz, who serves as both head coach and facility manager, curates the setting in line with team objectives.
The wall was designed collaboratively by renowned gym designer Christoph Bucher, industrial designer Martin Siegrist, SAC head coach Kevin Hemund, and a cohort of athletes who provided iterative feedback throughout the planning process. “We wanted a facility built with athletes, not just for them,” says Urs Stoecker of the SAC.
The wider building cost CHF 30 million, funded by the city and federal government. Of that, climbing’s share—excluding shared infrastructure—amounts to an estimated CHF 5–7 million. The SAC has covered roughly CHF 550,000 for climbing-specific interior work: walls, holds, lighting, and infrastructure.
With this new facility, Switzerland joins a growing number of countries investing in elite climbing centres not as commercial venues but as strategic assets. Whether it yields medals is yet to be seen, but the intention is unmistakable: to have Swiss climbers regularly ranking amongst the best of the sport.
