Senior Rock Climbing Instructor Training March 13, 2023

Senior Rock Climbing Instructor Training Overview

Our Senior Rock Climbing Instructor Training has been specifically designed for people who wish to lead others in the multi-pitch rock climbing environment. If you are working towards NZOIA Rock 2 or looking to become trip leaders for clubs and social groups, this will be the course for you.

This is a nine-day “train the trainer” style course designed to look at important aspects when leading others in this dynamic environment. There is a level of technical competency you will need to meet in regards to your skills to be able to attend this course. This is outlined in our prerequisites below.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, you must be competent

• Lead climbing on bolts and natural protection
• Be proficient in the skills delivered on our 5-day trad course 

If you do not meet the requirements in your personal skills, we have aligned this course to our Rock Training Courses, where you can combine the 7-day Trad Climbing Course and this 9-day instructor training.

We strongly recommend you combine our personal skills course with Instructor Training to observe how our climbing instructors deliver and scaffold learning to a group as well as ensure your personal skills are at industry standard. 

Level 2 Rock Instructor Recommended Training Pathway

The OENZ 7-day Trad Climbing course + 9-day Rock instructor training for leading groups in trad & multi-pitch climbing, where rings/natural protection may be used for setting up safety and/or climbing anchors.

We also encourage keeping a personal logbook starting with 50 days of personal experience climbing at different crags around NZ, including leading grade 16+ on Trad and at least 10 of these days multi-pitch climbing. We recommend additional days observing and assisting a qualified instructor in the delivery of lead climbing and placing protection for climbing and/or anchors.

Recommended additional training for leading and teaching others rock climbing

• OENZ Facilitation and Leadership Course (this is an optional separate 5-day course)
• OENZ Weather course

Instructor Training Location

This course will be held in the Christchurch Port Hills utilizing the many rock climbing areas we have available, and Sebastopol Bluffs in Mt Cook National Park for your model client days.

Instructor Training Accommodation

**All your accommodation is included in this rock instructor training**

Living Springs Cabins

Living Springs is a 25-minute drive from Christchurch that sits above Lyttelton Harbour. Central to a range of port hills climbing areas, we can quickly access our local crags to make the most of our days.

Unwin Lodge

The final four days of the course will be based out of Unwin Lodge (or similar) at Mt Cook National Park.

Gear & Equipment

Just bring along your normal rock climbing kit.  A detailed gear list will be sent, once your booking has been processed.

If you’re not sure you have everything you need for the course, no need to stress, we have all the gear and equipment available for you to hire. Just add a note to your booking or give us a call to organize your gear rental in advance.

We will also supply all of the group and client equipment needed for the model client days.

Food

Food is not provided on this course. We recommend packing plenty of snacks and lunch that do not require cooking. The accommodation has a full kitchen & fridge that you are welcome to use. Alternatively, the local pub & cafe in Governors Bay serves meals and refreshments.

Free Transport

We collect you from your accommodation on day one and then provide daily transport to and from the crags and accommodation for the rest of the week.

Are you traveling from out of town?

We recommend that you arrive in Christchurch the day before your course. We have a few hotel & hostel suggestions on our FAQ page. Please avoid booking accommodation north or east of the city center.  We are more than happy to drop you back at your accommodation or directly at the airport at the end of the course.  The earliest time we can have you back at the airport is 6 pm.

Included in this

Rock Instructor Training ?

Teaching skills

• NZ rock climbing grading system
• Interpreting NZ climbing guide books
• Knots for trad climbing
• Racking and selecting gear
• Efficient movement techniques
• Footwork

Safety

• Climbing calls
• Buddy checks
• checking gear & equipment for damage
• Assessing the safety of climbing routes
• Vector pulls
• Fall factors

Teaching Belaying

• Trad belaying
  • Stance
  • positioning
• Multi-pitch belaying
  • • Redirecting an ATC
    • Belay plate in guide mode
• Belaying with two ropes (half or twin ropes)

Teaching Trad gear placement

• Using natural protection
  • Trees
  • Boulders
  • Threads
  • Horns
• Placed protection
  • Nuts
  • Cams /SLCD’S
  • Hexes
• Placing the first piece/directional piece

Teaching Anchor systems

• Natural and placed protection anchors
• Linking systems
  • Slings
  • Cordlette
• Y-shape anchors
• W-shape anchors
• Single point anchors
• Multi-directional anchors

Advanced rope and rescue skills

• Tying off a belay device
• Prussic up a rope (self-rescue)
• Escaping the system
• Lowering an injured climber
• Haul  Systems
  • Drop loop/2:1 assisted rescue
  • Z-drag/ 5:1 unassisted rescue
• Multi-pitch abseil descent with an injured climber

Leadership/instructional skills:

• Plan and prepare 2 x multi-day educational and safe alpine experiences for model clients
• Lead and manage a small group for 2 x 2 consecutive days in rock environment which may include a campout.
• Apply effective safety management applicable to group, terrain and environmental conditions.

How many people will be on my instructor training?

We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum client to instructor ratio of just four clients to one instructor. If there are six clients, you will have one guide and one assistant guide. With eight clients, there will be two guides, and you’ll operate in two smaller groups.

Does this Senior Rock Instructor Training have minimum numbers?

Yes, the minimum number for the course to proceed at the advertised price is three clients. We won’t cancel your course if we don’t meet the minimum numbers. Instead, we will offer you the following options:

a.) A shorter private course with 1-1 tuition – e.g. with one person we can cover the course content much faster, so far fewer days are needed.

b.) You will be offered to continue with the course as planned and cover the extra cost.

c.) We can transfer you to another date when the course is running again.

Note: In the unlikely event that the course length is shortened due to insufficient numbers. You will be provided accommodation for the full duration of your original booking. Ie. Any extra time following the course being shortened.

We will provide a course outline and gear list on booking or on request.

Contact our office for more information or to register your interest in our training module.