What Is Lead Climbing?

Lead climbing is a more advanced technique than what you first learn when you step into a climbing gym using ropes. Unlike top-rope climbing, where the rope is secured from above, a lead-climber climbs a route while periodically attaching the rope to protection points “quickdraws” placed on the wall. Falls are caught by the last clipped quickdraw.
Although it definitely sounds scary, it is a valuable skill that tests your mental fortitude and will transform your climbing. We aim to teach it in a progressive way so that it is open to anyone of nearly any skill level.

Which Belay Device?

Unlike most other climbing courses that teach with the device specific to that gym only, we aim to teach in a way that means you can adapt your technique to ANY belay device, for any climbing gym, anywhere in the world. For that reason we start out teaching with a plain tube-style device (i.e. ATC) with additional safety measures in place. Once that skill is mastered we bring out our big pile of assisted-braking devices (we have lots, including of course the ubiquitous Grigri!) and learn how adapting your technique to each one is useful and possible with the techniques you have already mastered.

No Minimum Climbing Ability

Unlike most other climbing courses, I do not impose a minimum climbing grade for my learn to lead courses, because I consider this as primarily a safety skill rather than a strength based skill. For me, your ability to safely manage the rope, both as a climber and as a belayer, is independent from your ability to climb difficult grades.