La Fabrique Verticale Involved in the 40th Anniversary of EP
It was a truly exciting editorial project that Laurence Guyon, on behalf of La Fabrique Verticale, had the chance to take part in. Indeed, the renowned climbing hold and wall manufacturer EP Climbing—long known among climbers as Entre-Prises—reached out to us earlier this year to collaborate on writing a book for its 40th anniversary. What an adventure!
To be honest, when Tiphaine Lazard, Marketing Director at EP Climbing, asked me at the start of the year—during the French Climbing Show “le Salon de l’Escalade—if I would be interested in contributing to this project for Entre-Prises’ 40th anniversary, I was both flattered and slightly dizzy at the thought 😉 As it happens, 2025 also marks a symbolic milestone for me: 30 years since my first international competition victories. Notably, my wins at the Rock Master in Arco and at Serre Chevalier in the summer of 1995. Tempus fugit!
Through this book, my mission was to retrace the history of the brand and interview the key figures—those who shaped the very first series, who built the very first walls. And, truth be told, this work also brought back a flood of personal memories. As Tiphaine and I dug through the archives, unearthing old brochures and stumbling upon World Cup VHS tapes, I was reminded of training sessions on my own home wall, of fellow climbers at competitions, of the walls in Birmingham and beyond…
Entre-Prises Turns 40… Already!?
Back in the early 1990s, we crimped our way through countless Edlinger or Nadin series. We hung from the first training beams devised by Jibé Tribout or the Petit brothers. And we climbed in makeshift barns or garages turned into climbing walls. Holds that seem almost prehistoric now—the hexagonal ones, the massive slopers. At the time, most of the major competitions were held on walls from this brand—or its rivals, like T-Wall, Pyramides, or Pierre Œuf. A whole era in itself!
What amused me most in this editorial project was how it made me reflect on the evolution of shapes over time—gradually becoming more ergonomic and moving further away from pure imitation of real rock. When you’ve been climbing for over 40 years, indoors or outdoors, you don’t think about these shifts on a daily basis. You climb. Full stop. It’s only with hindsight that you realize where the turning points were.
And Entre-Prises has had its share of pivotal moments. For instance, the arrival of macro volumes. Or, conversely, micros and screw-on footholds. The rise of PU holds. Futuristic walls like those seen at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Nothing is ever set in stone! Panta rhei, as the ancient Greeks said—everything flows, nothing stays the same. And that’s exactly how it should be. EP has supported the development of climbing gyms, designing walls for schools and public spaces. Today, the brand creates modular, sustainable, and imaginative structures for the climbers of tomorrow.
EP Evolves Its Model
In 2025, EP is embracing a new momentum, in step with the transformation of a market that is growing in maturity, structure, and diversity. With climbing practices becoming increasingly segmented—from elite competition to leisure gyms, health and wellness initiatives, and public facilities. The company is adapting its organization and strategy.
“Celebrating 40 years of EP is both a moment of pride and a new starting point. Climbing is undergoing a profound transformation. More accessible, more international, more structured. We have therefore adjusted our model to remain pioneers in a changing world. Our ambition is clear. To connect our expertise to every market, to respond faster, to innovate more, and to better serve audiences with diverse expectations.”
— Damien Tatangelo, CEO of EP Climbing
At the Cutting Edge of Competition
In the world of competition, EP continues its strategic partnership with the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), for which it is the official supplier. The company designs climbing walls for the biggest international events. Including the Olympic Games. After Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, EP is already working on the structures for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. A project at the intersection of innovation, performance, and safety.
At the same time, EP is innovating in new formats, launching the TITAN World League. A global circuit replicated in partner gyms around the world. Thanks to the standardized TITAN wall—the same model used at the Olympics—climbers can tackle identical boulders, set by international route setters, no matter where they are. With an online ranking system, this setup allows everyone to taste the thrill of high-level performance, right in their local gym.
A whole new way to make climbing accessible!
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