Vertical Life Indoor to Outdoor Conversion

Vertical Life Indoor to Outdoor Conversion
From AUD $500.00
  • Duration: 2 Days (approx.)
  • Location: Blackheath, New South Wales
  • Product code: VL I2O

Does climbing in the gym leave you wanting more?  Need to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your back?  If you’ve been dreaming of climbing outdoors or have made the transition and want to solidify your skills, read on.  

Over two jam-packed days you will learn the skills essential to climbing single pitch sport routes outdoors.  

This course equips you with the skills and knowledge that you need to:

  • Competently lead, belay and clean single pitch sport routes outdoors 
  • Assess the bolts and other fixed gear that protects you 
  • Recognise, prevent, respond to and solve the most common sport climbing challenges 
  • Make wise decisions in an outdoor cliff environment
Key facts:
  • 2 Days
  • Small group (max 6 participants)  
  • Minimum 2 participants
  • Climbing School provides all climbing equipment including ropes, helmet, harness, climbing shoes, belay devices, carabiners and other hardware. 
  • Meet at 8am in Blackheath, Blue Mountains


Day 1 

On day 1 we cover the fundamentals of lead climbing and spend as much time as possible climbing classic Blue Mountains rock:

  • Basic belaying/safety assessment 
  • A quick look at sport climbing protection: bolts, bolt plates and carrots 
  • Using quickdraws correctly   
  • Stances for clipping 
  • Managing rope drag 
  • Approaches to rethreading the anchor 
  • Techniques for cleaning sport routes  
  • Safely lowering off a route  
  • Practice

Day 2 

Day 2 goes into more detail looking at essential safety skills: lead belaying, falling, how to assess the systems that protect you and more.

  • Belaying on different devices  
  • Belaying a leader (advanced techniques) 
  • How to fall  
  • Protecting the first move of your climb 
  • Retreating from a climb due to weather or difficulty 
  • Know your pro: a closer look at fixed protection  
  • Basic Rescues 
  • Practice 

Before the course starts we’ll send you some pre-course notes.  Although reading these isn't compulsory, we recommend having a look through to make sure you're up to speed and get the most out of your days with us. 

Topics covered include: 

  • Planning for sport climbing  
  • Crag and route selection 
  • Essential knots  
  • Basics of lead belaying 
  • A review of the key safety checks 
  • Communication and climbing calls 

Throughout the course your instructor will give you personalised instruction on developng your climbing technique, covering areas such as: 

  • Moving efficiently over rock 
  • Optimal body position 
  • The art of footwork 
  • Getting the most out of different types of holds 
  • Finding creative stances to rest while climbing 
  • Recommended next steps and routes to tackle after the course


All of our courses cover: 
  • Key principles of cliff edge safety 
  • Development of climbing technique 
  • Climbing ethics  
  • Caring for the cliff environment  

Pre-requisites: 

1. Previous climbing and belaying experience indoors or outdoors 

2. While our course has no specific grade requirements, our instructors talk to all participants prior to the course to ensure that they are at an appropriate skill level.  We'll ask you about your experience, interests, abilities and aspirations to make sure that this course is right for you.