Sport Climbing Technique

Sport Climbing continues to be the segment of rock climbing that is growing the fastest. This is likely due to the numbers of climbers that learn to climb in gyms combined with an ever increasing number of bolted climbs that are being established worldwide. In the past 10 years the majority of development in the Leavenworth area has been in the area of sport climbing and we now have a nice variety of sport routes including multi-pitch routes.

During our sport climbing clinic we will demonstrate how to break into the sport or outdoor sport climbing. By default this is a bit of a face climbing course as sport climbs generally tend to emphasize face climbing technique. The course covers topics such as optimal body position, secure clipping technique, tricks for safely clipping high first bolts, threading anchors and deciding when to lower off, when to rappel, and how to safely re-thread top anchors.

Topics Covered in Sport Climbing Techniques

• Selection of appropriate gear for sport climbing
  
• Sport climbing hazards
  
• Tying in for sport climbs
  
• Using rope bags
  
• Belaying sport routes
  
• Lowering from the top of the climb
  
• Techniques for working routes
  
• Redpointing vs. onsighting
  
• Bailing from a sport climb
  
• Mental techniques for sport climbing
  
• Falling
  
• Energy conservation techniques
  

Courses before Sport Climbing Technique

Rock Climbing Anchors Clinic
Introduction to Outdoor Climbing

Courses after Sport Climbing Technique

Improvised Rock Rescue
Multi-pitch Climbing
Traditional Lead Climbing
Crack Climbing Technique

Programs after Sport Climbing Technique

Snow Creek Wall Climbs
Red Rocks Climbing Program
Red Rocks Women's Climbing Seminar

Itinerary

If run at a 1:1 ratio this program takes about 5 hours, and if run at a 2:1 or greater ratio the course takes 8 hours. Courses are scheduled on demand.

Qualifications

You do not need any specific previous climbing training, but you will get much more out of the course if you arrive already understanding basic belaying technique and have previous climbing experience.

Registration

To register for this course you should complete our domestic climbing application and return it to the Northwest Mountain School office. You can secure your course with a credit card by phone, but we must then obtain your completed application within 7 days. Feel free to call us at 509-548-5823 to discuss the trip. More registration details here.