The first edition of a new Salon de l'Escalade (Climbing Trade Show) will be held on Nov. 15-17 at Le Double-Mixte in the French city of Villeurbanne, just outside Lyon. Its organizers claim that it will be the first fair completely focusing on climbing in Europe. The show's first day, Nov. 15, will be reserved for industry professionals. The show aims to attract French and foreign players in all categories of climbing: brands, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of gear, textiles or artificial walls; climbing clubs, coaches, guides and schools; publishers; government officials overseeing climbing sites; and so forth. The public will be able to climb beginner walls, try out products, learn about natural sites, attend conferences and workshops, shop at pop-up stores and take part in games and contests. They might also meet the show's ambassadors, Catherine Destivelle and Romain Desgranges. Destivelle was the first woman to complete a solo climb in winter of three great north faces of the Alps. She is also the head of the publisher Editions du Mont-Blanc. Desgranges has won the European Championships twice and the French Championships four years in a row. Tickets are available online.

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