How to Belay Someone When Skiing // DAVE SEARLE

[@AlecSteele]

Super cool, cinematography is stellar also!!

[@DaveSearle]

Thank you and thank you!

[@Monty456]

Love these videos, thanks so much! Excited to try out some of these techniques on the slopes! Would be great to see some more videos on the common knots/rope ties used in different situations and also more on understanding the slope/checks you should make before hitting the backcountry! Would love to ski with you next time I’m in Cham 💪💪💪

[@_wesleyrich_]

Great video! Hadn’t seen the method of using a sling round the back. I’ve been clipping into belay loop then directing the rad line over my shoulder with a non-locker on the backpack strap. Think I prefer your method since I’ll often want a PAS and rappel extension anyway.

[@DaveSearle]

Yes it works well with a PAS like the connect adjust for example.

[@JasonAntin]

Great eye eye ;), The (looped) PAS has a little more friction when the carabiner slide around FYI.

[@_wesleyrich_]

@@JasonAntin fancy seeing you here! And good to know!

[@michaelford5069]

Awesome video man! Just getting into some steeper lines in the wasatch, this is exactly what I needed

[@DaveSearle]

Don’t forget to practice in a safe environment!

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Great Stuff Dave, keep up the good work. 😊

[@DaveSearle]

Thank you!

[@bartkayaking1]

great content! Getting properly stoked for the southern hemisphere winter now! Time for plenty of practice and learning!

[@DaveSearle]

Nice!

[@Julianhulls]

This is great thanks… would like to see a belay option for a more maritime snowpack. You did hint at an option used in Scotland w an ice axe.

[@thecma3]

This video is so insanely beautiful *and* so informative!

[@DaveSearle]

Glad you think so!

[@tonymankey520]

Another cracking video Dave. Thanks for the tips

[@DaveSearle]

Thanks 👍

[@carlos.ortola]

this is awesome mate!! very well done! bravo!

[@DaveSearle]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@pablos9113]

First of all congrats on your awesome content. I'm a newbie and wanted to ask you about the use of the petzl reverso with the rad rope, as my understanding was that the reverso only admitted ropes of 8.5mm diameter and larger. Thanks a lot!

[@VangelisStavroulakis]

Nice thanks 🙏🏻

[@DaveSearle]

Thank you!

[@TheSlipperySlope]

Will this work with my snow blades?

[@DaveSearle]

hahaha, You might need to get some ski extensions for them. Worth a try though. Perhaps not on anything consequential.

[@Ryan_hey]

hey I know you

[@fredm8621]

Super useful thank you. For the sling around the waist trick, could you use that in a situation where you are skiing down a glacier whilst being roped up for the front skier? Not many videos about skiing down simultaneously whilst roped up.

[@SimonBowers-p7x]

Top tip s

[@navybuff2010]

Thanks so much for this! Going to try this out this weekend. In the third method, would it also be possible to use the carabiner on the end of the sling as a redirect and belay using the Reverso on your harness? Thanks again!

[@wyattgrose6439]

Hey Dave, thoughts on girth hitching the sling directly to the belay loops instead of bowline for option 3? We do this normally and have not had issues, but curious if you had ever had any concern

[@DaveSearle]

Nope that’s a fine way to do it but then to make a rappel extension you would need to knot the sling with an overhand and I find that is very difficult to undo after it’s loaded.

[@julianmamaj]

Thank you for the Video, Dave! One Question I always have with these Techniques, is what do you do with the second Person standing on top belaying? Especially if you have a Ski anker for Instance, I don't see you leaving behind your precious gear

[@DaveSearle]

This technique is for assessing the slope conditions before you ski or for giving a novice a chance to ski with security. If you both need the rope to get down then you would abseil and in that case you would leave something behind. In the past I’ve left behind a block of wood as an anchor for example.

[@РоманРоманов-я3о6к]

Hello, Dave! Thanks for the video! What do you think about some protection between sling around the edges ( over mittens, extra gloves). Can the sling be injured by sharp skiedges, if a client ski down with a traverse and direction has been changed?

[@DaveSearle]

No harm in doing that but I think as long as you manage the situation there is rarely much chance to damage a sling. I’ve certainly never managed to create any visible damage to a sling doing either of these methods.

[@hakanmaclean9203]

great video! two questions: 1. drawback you forgot to mention on anchor 1 is the taught rope running close to your ski edges, no? I have cut a RAD line by mistake when belaying a friend backward with skis on. 2. re. attaching the rope to the back of the skier. how about tying in the rope to the shoulder straps of an avalanche backpack? they have a leg loop that should hold the pack down. feels like a very quick way to do it? or are there draw backs to this I'm not aware Of?

[@DaveSearle]

Was the rope under tension? Not sure I would be suggesting the abs bag method to be honest..

[@hakanmaclean9203]

@@DaveSearle 1. Yes. My friend was being lowered backwards and as he came over a windlip he slipped and cut the rope with his skis. 2. Why not? Im thinking the bags are designed to be sturdy enough to “pull you up” in an avalanche? And as you said. we are not talking about a vertical wall here.

[@DaveSearle]

@hakanmaclean9203 in lowering the rope is under tension. The first method is a give a quick bit of security and hopefully the rope will never be under tension but as you’ve found out it has its limitations. You can do what you like of course but I’m not going to recommend people use a piece of gear in a way it’s not been designed and tested for.

[@supertrampian]

Is there a chance to get the rope cut by the skis edge while skier move from side to side in first method?

[@DaveSearle]

As the rope is moving away from the edges not towards I feel it is extremely unlikely. Also you can manage where the rope is with your hand. Remember this is just protecting the small chance of a fall or a slide. The first technique is fast and easy but as I mentioned in the video the final one is the best option in my experience.