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Starting Lead with Rope over shoulder

Original Post
amarius · · Nowhere, OK · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 20

I see some climbers start lead climbs with rope over their shoulder.
Anyone knows why they do it? - I asked a couple, but they said it was the way they were taught.

Matt Wilson · · Vermont, USA · Joined May 2010 · Points: 316

The only benefit is that you don't need to pull up the slack when you are ready to make your first clip, although when I have the rope over my shoulder I have to stop and keep myself from back clipping on the first draw.

Jim Titt · · Germany · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 490

It stops half-wit belayers taking the rope in tight when you bend over to tighten your shoes before you´ve even left the ground.

Mike Knight · · Detroit, MI · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 55
Matt Wilson wrote:The only benefit is that you don't need to pull up the slack when you are ready to make your first clip, although when I have the rope over my shoulder I have to stop and keep myself from back clipping on the first draw.
See it happen all the time I do not see a benifit to it.
Brian Lee Victory · · Austin, TX · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 165

Yes, I've started sport climbs with the rope draped over my shoulder(the shoulder closest to the bolt I will clip) which just simply keeps the rope on the side I want rather than me having to step over the rope when I clip.

Hiro Protagonist · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 290

I do it sometimes simply to keep the rope out of the way of my footwork. And clearly it isn't important at the moment, since you're unprotected (does not apply to multipitch of course, where I definitely would not do it).

EthanC · · Bay Area, CA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 253
Hiro wrote:I do it sometimes simply to keep the rope out of the way of my footwork.
When I was taught, this is why I was told to do it, but pretty quickly I realized it is kind of dumb since for the rest of the route the rope will be between your legs anyway so I stopped.
curt86iroc · · Lakewood, CO · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 274

there is no benefit, its just to look cool...

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

sometimes i take a pinch of rope and stick it into the first gear loop on my right hip, makes it so the rope runs over my hip for the start and is right there to grab for first clip

Andy Nelson · · Fort Collins, Colorado · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 336

Kinda like blowing chalk off your hands - useless but fashionable

Parker Wrozek · · Denver, CO · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 86

I usually see people who do this back clip. It makes no sense to me.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

I thought it was so I could identify the noobs.

Jon Zucco · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 245

yes, that is the correct answer.

Lee Green · · Edmonton, Alberta · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 51

As with a number of things in climbing: a) it doesn't really matter much one way or the other, b) people have different personal preferences, and c) some people on MP will claim those with a preference different from their own are posers/noobs/suicidal idiots.

The important thing is to recognize if it's a, if it is then accept b, and for the love of humanity please ignore c.

If someone posts an actual valid reason it's not a, don't do it - or "yer gunna die" may not be just a cliche, it may be your epitaph.

Eric Engberg · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 0

If the rope is often getting in the way of your feet below the first piece - you've got a lousy belayer.

Robert Daniel · · Golden, CO · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 225
Dylan B. wrote:It's a really important safety precaution to prevent you from tangling the rope up in your feet. If you don't to it YER GUNNA DIE.
$$$
MIZ · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 75

Habit. i was never taught that way, just found it useful a couple times and continued to do it. do be careful of back clipping if you try it.

Alvaro Arnal · · Aspen, CO · Joined May 2010 · Points: 1,535
nicelegs wrote:I thought it was so I could identify the noobs.
Heh, same here. It always seems to me that the folks slinging the rope over their shoulders are the same ones wearing a PAS thong and carrying their belay device up a single-pitch sport climb!
K R · · CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 50

Easier to high clip the first bolt. Normally pulling out slack to high clip causes a greater fall distance. The exception of course is the first bolt where high clipping reduces the potential fall.

Mike P. · · Dillon, Colorado · Joined May 2015 · Points: 5

Something about putting the rope near my neck, dosnt seem right.

aikibujin · · Castle Rock, CO · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 300
Alvaro Arnal wrote: Heh, same here. It always seems to me that the folks slinging the rope over their shoulders are the same ones wearing a PAS thong and carrying their belay device up a single-pitch sport climb!
This is pure gold, PURE GOLD!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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