Keeping it natural? challenging indoorization in Italian rock climbing

This article explores the transformation of rock climbing in a North-Western Italian region, paying attention to the need for 'keeping it natural' in the process of authentication of the practice among a sample of climbers. Like other nature sports such as rafting, skydiving and surfing, rock climbing has been affected by processes of indoorization and sportivization, moving practice sites from mountain rocks to artificial walls. Mixing a post-subcultural perspective with the tourism and leisure studies debate on authentication, and drawing upon in-depth interviews with novices, experts and professional climbers and upon participant observation in climbing sites (both natural and artificial walls, contests, gatherings, etc.), this article focusses on how practitioners construct their authenticity as climbers and establish intra-group hierarchies by using, and giving meaning to, the naturalness of their practice.