belaying at Volta

Top Rope Belay Test

All the skills listed below are taught in our Learn the Ropes Class. This class is offered multiple times a week.

All top ropes at Volta have a gri-gri attached. Climbers must come prepared with prior experience/knowledge to take Volta’s belay test. No refreshers or practicing on the day of your test. Climbing is dangerous and belaying comes with a great responsibility.

Practice is always encouraged in the weeks and days leading up to your test! Our Homeroom is open for knot-tying and belay practice. If you don't pass the test the first time, it's ok! Practice some more and the next time you return to Volta you will be able to take the test. Please contact a Volta staff member if you have any questions.

Belay test parameters:

  • You must be 14 years of age.

  • Properly put on a harness with buckles doubled back.

  • Correctly tie into the harness using a figure eight follow-through knot with a follow-up double-overhand knot. Correctly tie someone else’s figure-eight follow-through knot with a follow-up knot. (Yosemite/sport is also acceptable as a follow-up).

  • Correctly attach Gri-Gri and carabiner to harness, per manufacturer recommendations.

  • Perform pre-climbing safety checks and commands.

  • Demonstrate effective belaying technique (PBUS is preferred) while the brake hand remains on the rope at all times.

  • Demonstrate the proper lowering technique on a Gri-Gri.

  • It is up to the staff’s discretion whether you pass or fail. (Would our staff feel comfortable being belayed by you?)


Volta has anchor bags for your convenience. Please ask a staff member if you have any questions about how to properly use them.

Lead Test

It is up to the staff’s discretion whether you pass or fail.  Climbers must come prepared with prior experience/knowledge to take Volta’s Lead test. To ensure the skills are embodied and not being performed, no refreshers or practicing on the day of your test. 

Requirements to take Lead Test: 

  • Must be Volta Top Rope Belay Certified

  • Must be a confident 5.9+ climber

You must be competent in the following skills:

  • Properly put on a harness with buckles doubled back and be able to check someone else’s harness. 

  • Correctly tie into the harness using a figure eight follow-through knot with a follow-up double-overhand knot. Correctly tie someone else’s figure-eight follow-through knot with a follow-up knot. 

  • Correctly load the gri-gri and attach to harness, per manufacturer recommendations

  • Good rope management.  Demonstrate flaking the rope and show knowledge of what z-clipping and back-clipping are.

  • Proper commands and spotting the climber up to the first clip.

  • Demonstrate proper lead belay technique (feeding and taking in slack, etc).

  • Active vs Stationary belayer (belayer is close to the wall the first 3 clips, etc).

  • Show excellent communication with your climbing partner.

  • Demonstrate proper clipping techniques (3-point clipping, the rope should remain between the climber and the wall at all times, no skipping quickdraws, etc).

For the best learning experience learning to top rope belay at Volta, we recommend picking a session that already has one or more folks signed up