Lead climbing

Lead climbing at our wall is a great way to maximize your climbing sessions. If you are interested, you must become certified before lead climbing or lead belaying at our wall. Certification is achieved by successfully passing our lead climbing skill test after going through our introductory class. Because there are important considerations that are specific to our wall, participating in the lead climbing class is required, even if you have prior lead climbing experience.

Introduction to lead climbing

Our introduction to lead climbing class is an important first step for anyone who wants to lead climb at our wall. This four-hour instructional clinic covers all aspects of indoor lead climbing that are pertinent to the SRWC rock wall. Topics include lead climbing equipment, clipping techniques, lead belay fundamentals, climbing mechanics and specific risk management considerations.

The cost for the class is $40 for students and members ($50 otherwise) and pre-registration is required. Upcoming classes are advertised at the rock wall, but you can also find and register for them online.

Eligibility criteria

There are three main eligibility requirements for participating in the lead class:

• Having a current waiver on file at the rock wall
• Having a current top rope belay certification at our wall
• Having the ability to consistently top rope climb at least 5.10 on the 53 foot wall while demonstrating controlled climbing with no falls or breaks

Becoming certified

Upon completion of the class, participants will need to take and pass our lead climbing test in order to become certified. To pass, proficiency must be shown in the following areas:

• Ability to lead climb while demonstrating proper clipping technique and positioning.
• Ability to belay a lead climber while demonstrating proper attention to rope management (slack), positioning, and effective fall arrest mechanics.

Participants must wait at least 24 hours after the class before attempting to become certified. Lead climbing certifications last one semester, and each semester your skills will be re-tested. It should be noted that our lead climbing certification is only designed for our facility; it does not transfer to any other facility and is not intended to introduce skills and topics relevant to outdoor climbing.