Top rope climbing is one of the safest and most accessible forms of climbing. The rope runs from your harness, up to an anchor at the top of the route, and back down to a belayer on the ground. This setup minimizes fall distance and is ideal for learning technique, building strength, and gaining confidence.
Prerequisites
- You have completed the FCOA improvised climbing quiz
- You have further trained yourself to do the following knots with your eyes closed: Clove hitch, Bowline, Double eight, Italian Hitch, Cow Hitch, Over hand hitch, Granny knot, Reef knot, Prusik knot.You can transition from Prusik to Self-belay slipping.
During the FCOA Improvised Climb Training you learned how to rappel, prusik and give belay during emergencies. Outside of emergencies there are many detailed safety habits climbers have developed to minimize risk.
The biggest difference between what you learned during improvised climbing and sport climbing is the following. Most sport climbers only use certified climbing equipment and only use it in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Ropes and harnesses often get retired after 10 years or after a certain number of uses. Climbers care for their expensive ropes. They prefer devices that are the gentlest on their ropes. They would avoid rappelling with an Italian hitch because it twists and turns the rope. Even a figure of eight still twists the rope. ATC's are preferred. Climbers don't like people to stand on their ropes. It can push sand and dirt trough the outer core, and also: lead climbers sometimes put the rope in their mouth before clipping into the next quick draw, so that is an extra reason to keep the rope clean.
They would use double anchor points just in case one breaks out. They tie double eight knots on their belay loops. They are particular about the knots they use. They would never say: If you don't know how to tie knots, tie lots. They stick to well thought trough proven effective and safe habits.
COURSE TOPICS
- Equipment & Further knots
- Different anchors
- Giving and taking belay
- Climbing Technique
- Falling practice
Equipment & Further knots
Knots
- Double-eight knot (and how to set an anchor)
- Bowline
- Spanish bowline
Requirements to meet to become a certified FCOA TOP ROPE climber:
- You must have completed the FCOA TOP ROPE CLIMBER quiz
- You must be able to make the additional knots with your eyes closed
- You must be able to create safe anchor points
- You must be able to give safe belay also when you have no vision of the climber
- As a climber you must have shown 3 intentional falls
- As a belayer you must have responded appropriately to 3 unannounced falls
- You must have participated in training 2 members for Improvised Climbing. If you're an FCOA coach, you must have certified them for it.
- Top rope climbing: This is the safest way of climbing with a rope from the top, if you slip or fall, right away you're hanging in the rope.
- Free style climber. Any climber that climbs without specifically agreeing with a competent belayer to be belayed.
- Lead climbing: the first person to go up to deploy a rope. This is at a higher risk, when falling the climber will fall twice the height that he is above his last anchor.
- A competent belayer (FCOA definition): A belayer that has at least 3 times responded appropriately to your unannounced fall in the last year with the equipment types and environment he/she is familiar with.
- Backup Belayer: An experienced belayer that assist when the primary belayer is still developing his skills. The back up belayer will hold the rope that comes from the belayer so in case the belayer lets go, the backup belayer will prevent the climber from falling.
