Sterling Adventures

I had to visit Petzl in France for a training session.

This involved meeting up with a number of Petzl staff and other distributors from around the globe. This was one of many courses they are running and it was a good opportunity to see their new training facility V.Axess.

Petzl's new training centre V.Axess

It’s an impressive building, approximately 30 m high with a number of external surfaces to ‘play’ on (sloping concrete walls, overhanging stone slabs, via ferrata, steel lattice tower and roof area), and inside it’s amazing with tons of walkways, traverses, ladders, climbing walls etc.

Via Ferrata on the outside of the building

The plan is to learn about products, thoughts and developments but to also put our skills in to erect a wooden beam, stabilise it and walk on it – all at 12 m high.

The challenge

We discovered energy absorbing systems (rope, movement of belayer and tear out absorbers). For this, we all took to testing a system. It turned out mine was the longest!

We had a tour of the production facility and test tower (of course no photos allowed there!). But just a few pics of their HQ.

Petzl factory

Unusual art in Petzl's staff entrance

We all had a great time. I look forward to my next visit…..