I am training to climb an 18-foot rope for a competition of sorts...

What are some techniques for climbing (how to hold the rope, where to
put the feet, etc.)?

This rope WILL NOT have knots in it, nor will I be able to tie knots
in it.  The rope will be suspended 18 feet in the air, with the free
end dangling.

My goal is to make the rope climb as easy as possible?

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 02 Apr 2006 17:32 PDT

lowerjumper...

I'm not sure there are really many workable alternatives for this.
If speed is an issue in the competition, the ultimate speed involves
simply going hand over hand, if your arms are powerful to allow you
to use this method.

"The world record of 2.8 seconds for the 20' climb established by
 Don Perry of UCLA is faster than most people can pull a loose 20'
 rope on the floor between their legs!"
http://www128.pair.com/r3d4k7/Competitive_Rope_Climbing3.html

Short of that, about the best and only option I know of is to use
both hands to pull yourself up, then lift your knees and grab the
rope between your locked legs and pull yourself up to a higher
hand hold, repeating the process.


About the only variation of that I'm aware of is in where between
your legs you grab the rope. If you're wearing shoes with a good
grip, you may be able to emulate the coconut tree climbers in the
islands, and grab the rope between your feet, which would allow
for a higher raise when you push up, however, in practice, I 
think you'll find this impractical and too fatiguing to continue
for 18 feet. In that case you'll settle for the way most people
do it, which is to lock the rope between your legs somewhere in
the vicinity of your knees, or, if possible, somewhere between
your knees and ankles, but this can more awkward than using feet.
You'll see what I mean when you try it.

Let me know your thoughts...

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Question by lowerjumper-ga on 02 Apr 2006 18:50 PDT

Thank you for your insight into this...

I just didnt know if there was any strategy involved or if it was just
a hand over hand sort of thing.  Thanks for taking the time to check
it out...

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 02 Apr 2006 20:03 PDT

A lot will depend on the rules for the competition, but 
from the way you phrased the question, it sounds like 
you intend to (and will be allowed to) use your legs
during the climb, which is definitely in keeping with
your goal of making the climb as easy as possible.

Please let me know if my responses have satisfied your
interests in asking the question, in which case I'll
post a formal answer and collect the fee.

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Question by lowerjumper-ga on 03 Apr 2006 05:50 PDT

yes please post as an answer, thanks again

lowerjumper...

Thanks very much for confirming my input as your answer.
I'll repost it here for the sake of future readers.

--------------------------------------------------------

I'm not sure there are really many workable alternatives for this.
If speed is an issue in the competition, the ultimate speed involves
simply going hand over hand, if your arms are powerful to allow you
to use this method.

"The world record of 2.8 seconds for the 20' climb established by
 Don Perry of UCLA is faster than most people can pull a loose 20'
 rope on the floor between their legs!"
http://www128.pair.com/r3d4k7/Competitive_Rope_Climbing3.html

Short of that, about the best and only option I know of is to use
both hands to pull yourself up, then lift your knees and grab the
rope between your locked legs and pull yourself up to a higher
hand hold, repeating the process.


About the only variation of that I'm aware of is in where between
your legs you grab the rope. If you're wearing shoes with a good
grip, you may be able to emulate the coconut tree climbers in the
islands, and grab the rope between your feet, which would allow
for a higher raise when you push up, however, in practice, I 
think you'll find this impractical and too fatiguing to continue
for 18 feet. In that case you'll settle for the way most people
do it, which is to lock the rope between your legs somewhere in
the vicinity of your knees, or, if possible, somewhere between
your knees and ankles, but this can more awkward than using feet.
You'll see what I mean when you try it.

---

A lot will depend on the rules for the competition, but 
from the way you phrased the question, it sounds like 
you intend to (and will be allowed to) use your legs
during the climb, which is definitely in keeping with
your goal of making the climb as easy as possible.

sublime1-ga


Additional information may be found from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google searches outlined below.

Searches done, via Google:

"rope climbing"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22rope+climbing%22

"rope climbing techniques"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22rope+climbing+techniques%22

"rope climbing techniques" -top
://www.google.com/search?q=%22rope+climbing+techniques%22+-top

"rope climbing techniques" -top -mountain -wall
://www.google.com/search?q=%22rope+climbing+techniques%22+-top+-mountain+-wall

gymnastic "rope climbing techniques" -top -mountain -wall
://www.google.com/search?q=gymnastic+%22rope+climbing+techniques%22+-top+-mountain+-wall

IF it is a speed competition, anything you do with your legs or feet
will take too much time if there is one competitor who can climb just
using his/her hands.

If the rope is only 1"- 1 1/2" in diameter, it is difficult to grip
with your legs.  There is another technique:  draw one leg up, catch
the rope below that foot with the top of the instep of your other foot
and bring the rope and foot up on top of the first foot, clamping the
rope so that you can use your legs to help climb.

By the time you have done that once or twice, the fellow who has been
training with chin-ups will have won.

lowerjumper...

Thanks very much for the rating...

sublime1-ga