footlocking

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dhuffnmu

Well I am trying to learn how to footlock......and lets just say it isn't going so well. I can't seem to get but about 4 ft off of the ground. The rope keeps slipping in my feet each time I try to stand up. Is there a certain kind of boot I should have. I am currently trying to use Danners that I had laying around they have a small dip in the arch. I know a flat sole is what I probably should have. Any help or suggestions is very much appreaciated.

Thanks,
 
Practice...practice...practice...

To get a good grab w/FL it means trying a lot of tiny changes. The timing of the actual lock is critical too. A good FL is made from many motions that have to flow in a very smooth rhythm in order to work.

Bootheels that have an angled front instead of being sqaure seem to work a bit better for me. A tall heel is hard to use too. You should be able to lay the rope down, step on the rope under your arch and have just a bit of friction. If it slips out you probably have too tall a heel.

Try moving the rope wrap up and down the inside of your arch before you lock. It's going to take time, have patience.

It would be out of character for me not to comment on using doubled rope for access instead of a single rope :) If you learn on a single rope I think that you would find it easier. To practice all you have to do is set your climbing system up in a traditional DdRT fashion. Then FL the tail. You're self-belayed and you can move up or down at will.

In ON ROPE they show a way of setting up a rope treadmill. A simple practice system would involve a belaying device to let out slack as the climber moved "up" the rope. The climber actually stays close to the ground. This is a good way to learn because you have a coach right next to you to give you small corrections. If you get winded you can be lowered to the ground.
 
Thanks Tom,

I know it is going to take a lot of practice. But it gets a little frustrating practicing and not seeming to make any improvements on it. I guess I will just have to keep trying and failing to I get the hang of it.
 
My logger boots with a fairly high, straight-front-cut heel work remarkably well for me. I especially like them since the rope wraps around the outer front of my shin, on the "bottom" foot, at a location which is protected by the tall boot upper. This saves on the outer-shin tenderness factor quite a bit.

The only boots from my arsenal which are worthless to me are those with a flat (and cushy!) sole, quite contrary to my preliminary expectations regarding the matter.

The process is akin to cross-country skiing in that without the proper rhythm, it's fairly difficult to make good time, but with it, it's easy as pie.
 
Ditto to all of the above! just don't give up......
I remember when i first started.... i blamed my lack of skill on the boots, rope, ascenders, trees, and anything else that would make me feel better about myself..... But it all boils down to PRACTICE!!! You will be able to use any number of combinations from the list above without any trouble..... after you have some time to practice.

I was training an intern right out of UGA, he was giving me all of "my" excuses when he first started FL.... After a few months he looked back an we both had a laugh... now he is up there without any problems

hang in there!!


p.s. if you have been trying to FL single line, try using the double line method (While you are learning this method, please have someone belay you)
 
I would say that the easiest way to practice it (at first) is while being tied in traditionally (Ddrt). This way you can sit in your hitch while raising your legs. That is far easier than hanging by your arms from an ascender and straining the abs as well. Once you get the movement and the coordination down, start doing the full fledged FL.
 
1) Practice
2) Practice
3) Practice....and don't forget T.H.A.D.S.!!! Always remember T.H.A.D.S.

I've always wondered if its more strength, or more technique. I think that's like which come first the chicken or the egg.
Exercise, pull-ups and hanging leg raises, helps me (w. lots of resistence is my real secret). Don't give up.
 
For motivation, try working an underbid job without a lot of time left in the day.
When you have to get up that tree and get the work done before the sun sets, it makes for some good motivation!

Frans
 
I'd suggest (if you haven't already) to watch what's going on down there. You should be able to work out why it's slipping. Sometimes the angle of my boots with respect to each other and the rope matters...kinda like using your edges when skiing.
 
I didn't try climbing up a rope until I had my locks down. Once I could sit for a couple of minutes without the rope slipping, then it was time to work on going up. There is a resting position where you can just lock your feet and have your hands free to take a break/practice holding your locks. A picture would be wrth at least a dozen words here, I wish I had a digital camera. The resting position is hard to describe but really helped me learn. Does anybody else know what I am blathering about?

Be safe & Have fun

Zac
 
If you get a good bite with your feet and hitch them up under your butt you can split the two ropes and poke your shoulders through. That's what I've heard called the resting position. You'd have to have a long ascending loop inorder to get the rope pulled very far apart though.
 
When you are moving from one lock to another, do you lean back or keep your body in line with the rope? I guess what I mean is when moving your feet up are your arms bent or straight with whole body leaned back? Was just curios what technique everybody uses- I've seen both.
 
When I still had a loft here at school i would set up two ropes and practice my locking while studying. Now when im footlocking i dont have to think that much about it.
 
Here is a scan from ON ROPE showing a treadmil setup that works really well for teaching FL. There's no need to do a gear changeover. Another bonus is that it can be setup with a low ceiling, probably only about 10' is really needed. It would be easy to have a doubled rope setup too.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
When you are moving from one lock to another, do you lean back or keep your body in line with the rope? I guess what I mean is when moving your feet up are your arms bent or straight with whole body leaned back? Was just curios what technique everybody uses- I've seen both.

[/ QUOTE ]
When you say "lean back" I take it to mean you're contemplating "sitting on" your hitch/device while purchasing more rope with your feet. Whether that or by hanging on outstretched arms, you'll make much better time/distance (by a factor of 2 or so on the distance; likely more on the time) if you pull yourself up as high as you can with your arms (whenever you can) while you grab another foot-full of rope.
 
I've never tried it but...What about using a port-o-wrap or another lowering device(in place of the belay person) with several wraps almost filling the cylinder. Maybe it could take all of your weight to pull through. One, and only one, Foot lock bite at a time. NOt speed, but technique. Would there be a way for a stopper at the end of the line? Would the wraps eventually loosen to be too little friction? I'll find out Monday on my first break(lol).
 
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