This article is about a technique in rock climbing. For the Olympic and IFSC sport of lead climbing, see Competition lead climbing.
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Lead climber on the bolted sport climbing route Gezurren Erresuma 8c (5.14b), in Spain.
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Lead climbing (or leading) is a technique in rock climbing where the lead climber clips their rope to the climbing protection as they ascend a pitch of the climbing route, while their second (or belayer) remains at the base of the route belaying the rope to protect the lead climber in the event that they fall. The term is used to distinguish between the two roles, and the greater effort and increased risk, of the role of the lead climber.
Leading a climb is in contrast with top roping a climb, where even though there is still a second belaying the rope, the lead climber faces little or no risk in the event of a fall and does not need to clip into any protection as the rope is already anchored to the top of the route (i.e. if they fall off, they just hang from the rope).
Lead climbing can be performed as free climbing in a traditional climbing or a sport climbing format — leading a traditional climb is a much riskier and physically demanding exercise for the climber. Competition lead climbing is a sport climbing format that is part of the Olympic sport of competition climbing. Lead climbing can also be performed as aid climbing. The term is not generally applied to free solo climbing, as the free solo climber is already alone and thus there is no need to distinguish the role of leader from the second.
Leadclimbing (or leading) is a technique in rock climbing where the lead climber clips their rope to the climbing protection as they ascend a pitch of...
Glossary of climbing terms relates to rock climbing (including aid climbing, leadclimbing, bouldering, and competition climbing), mountaineering, and...
natural rock surfaces). The three competition climbing disciplines are leadclimbing, bouldering, and speed climbing. The result of multiple disciplines can...
Competition climbing at the 2024 Summer Olympics is scheduled to run from 5 to 10 August at Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue in Saint-Denis, returning...
The IFSC Climbing World Cup is a series of competition climbing events held during the year at various locations around the world, organized by the International...
Sport Climbing (IFSC). This event determines the male and female world champions in the three disciplines of competition climbing: competition lead climbing...
competition ice climbing worldwide. Competition climbing has three major disciplines: Competition leadclimbing is a form of competitive leadclimbing performed...
controversially consisted of one combined event with three disciplines: leadclimbing, speed climbing and bouldering. The medals were determined based on best performance...
competition climbing: speed climbing, bouldering, and leadclimbing. This decision caused widespread criticism in the climbing community. Members of the...
while rock climbing occurs when a lead climber falls. Several published studies have researched climbing injuries, especially leadclimbing injuries, and...
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations or indoor climbing walls. The goal is to reach the summit...
Sport climbing (or bolted climbing) is a type of free climbing in rock climbing where the lead climber clips into pre-drilled permanent bolts for their...
Speed climbing is a climbing discipline in which speed is the ultimate goal. Speed climbing is done on rocks, walls and poles and is only recommended...
climber who specializes in sport climbing and competition climbing, and who has won multiple competition leadclimbing and competition bouldering events...
Czech professional rock climber, specializing in leadclimbing, bouldering, and competition climbing. In 2013, Rock & Ice described Ondra as a prodigy...
competition leadclimbing events at the IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships in Guangzhou (China). In 2017, she became the first woman in history to climb a...
specializes in competition climbing and the disciplines of competition leadclimbing and competition bouldering. At the 2019 IFSC Climbing World Championships...
Ice climbing is a climbing discipline that involves ascending routes consisting of frozen water. To ascend the route, the ice climber uses specialist equipment...
competition climbing. She represents the United States at IFSC Climbing World Cup in competition bouldering and competition leadclimbing. She won gold...
competition climbing, and competition leadclimbing and competition bouldering in particular. In 2023, Anraku became the first climber to win both the Lead Overall...
Top rope climbing (or top roping) is a form of rock climbing where the climber is securely attached to a climbing rope that runs through a fixed anchor...
Scottish professional rock climber specializing in sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing. Bosi is only the second British sport climber in history...
Belgian professional rock climber specializing in sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing. Lorenzi is one of the very few climbers to have repeated...
competition climbing, Schubert is the only climber in the world to have redpointed a 9c (5.15d) graded sport climbing route and climbed a 9A (V17) graded...
Traditional climbing (or trad climbing) is a type of free climbing in rock climbing where the lead climber places the protection equipment while ascending...
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