Rock climbing is a thrilling sport. The proximity to danger makes it an adrenaline-pumped sport that is loved by millions. As much as it is loved, any pro climber would tell you that falling is an essential part of climbing. It is vital to master the art of falling to become an advanced rock climber. Every aspiring climber has to learn new techniques and movements to progress from learning the basics to perform a lead climb.
While learning new techniques, you push your limits, and when you do that, you are bound to fall. Though falls during a top rope and lead climb are safe, it’s essential to take necessary precautions to avoid injuries. To help you keep safe, here are five life-saving tips for safe falls while climbing.
Do not fall with the rope behind your leg.
Falling with a rope behind your leg can cause severe rope burn if you fall. It can also flip you upside down. It’s always good to know your rope location while climbing. Make sure your leg is entangled with the rope. Your belayer needs to warn you if the rope gets behind your legs.
It’s always safe to keep the rope in front of your legs and feet. When you are traversing, try not to keep your body between the rope and the wall. Try to thread your feet behind the rope so it won’t go behind your legs.
Don’t push yourself off the rock.
Many beginner climbers naturally try to push themselves away from the rock while falling. It can be lethal for beginner climbers who do not know what they are doing. You should not push off the rock when you fall unless you are an expert who can utilize that push to dodge any obstacle or a ledge.
Doing that will not only affect your balance, but you will slam back into the rock when the rope becomes tight. If you are a beginner, avoid pushing yourself away from the wall if you fall.
Warn your belayer if you sense you might fall
The belayer is to protect you if you fall. The belayer exerts the tension on the climbing rope when you are falling and tries to provide balance to the climber. There should be good communication between the climber and belayer to improve the response to falls. You can use code words and phrases to alert the belayer if you think you are about to fall. You can shout “falling” so that the belayer can quickly pull the rope.
Practice your fall
Safe falling is a skill that every climber has to acquire. It would help if you practiced your fall to be better at it. It will help you reduce the fear of falling and improve your response. Always practice with an expert climber who can teach the technique of safe falling. It is very important to practice the fall especially if you plan to do a lead climb.
Do not grab anything while falling.
It’s your instinct to grab something for support when you’re falling. But when it comes to climbing, it’s best to avoid grabbing the quickdraw, the rope, or the protection. It might give you severe rope burns, and you may end up losing a finger or two. Let the belayer and rope do the work.
Safe falling needs to be practiced more so that you can reduce the risk of getting injuries and making decisions out of fear of falling.
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