About the Course

A Guide to Artificial High Directionals & Two Tension Rope Systems delves into information beyond what the standard rope technician has been taught in initial training. Inside, we encourage students to think critically about a wide variety of applications with an emphasis on high directional usage.

5 Day Advance Master Class - Rigging Lab Academy


What People Are Saying About the Course

  • Best course yet

    Andrew Humphreys

    Easy to understand with some nice technical tips.

    Easy to understand with some nice technical tips.

    Read Less
  • Great info

    Sean Smith

    Great info, nice to see the focus on the specifics

    Great info, nice to see the focus on the specifics

    Read Less

What You'll Learn

Inside this course, we’ll cover topics like...

  • Two Tension Systems

  • High Directional Configurations (Vortex, Terradaptor, and Vector)

  • High Angle Offsets

  • And more!

Learn from Some of the Best in the Industry

Learn more about the expert instructors

  • Jason Ilowite

    Rigging Lab Academy Instructor | Firefighter

    Jason Ilowite

    Jason is an avid rope rescue enthusiast. He took a specific interest in the technical rescue aspect of the fire department, got assigned to the county’s heavy rescue squad, and developed a passion for rope rescue. He's been lucky enough to participate in classes with people from all across the rope spectrum. As such, he sort of adopted the rope rescue program in his department as his own, and he’s in the process of writing manuals and developing training.He has big visions of changing the “old school fire department rigging culture” from antiquated tactics that are no longer accepted in the rescue world, to more modern and efficient rigging. To Jason, it's important that people who practice rope rescue craft an understanding of the “why” behind the “how”, something that is not often something explored in the fire department rescue world. As an instructor at Rigging Lab Academy, Jason offers a great perspective from both inside and outside the fire rescue world which allows him to convey important messages to his audience in a very relatable way.When he's not busy at the firehouse he works at in Loudoun County, VA, Jason loves to spend time with his two daughters.
  • Craig McClure

    Rigging Lab Academy Instructor | Founder of The Crackerjack Group

    Craig McClure

    Craig is a 14+ year Search and Rescue veteran in the Pacific Northwest and is the founder of The Crackerjack Group. Craig is a founding member and instructor with the International Technical Rescue Association. He’s currently a SAR volunteer for Deschutes County Oregon, rescue member of the MRA accredited mountain rescue team, an EMT, and specializes in technical and backcountry winter disciplines. He holds an AIARE Avalanche level 2 certification and is an expert backcountry skier. Equally comfortable in the field or command, he’s served as the coordinator for the Incident Management team and has participated in approximately 400 missions in his career reaching back to 2004 as a wilderness K9 handler. Craig is a frequent instructor for technical disciplines at SAR conferences, has served as an evaluator for MRA team accreditation, and was the a safety officer and rigger for the first descents into the glacial caves of Mt St Helens. He has led and participated in high alpine glacial rescues, big wall vertical rescues, and complex extraction missions. He enjoys teaching and believes his greatest offering is the ability to guide teams as a whole to improve communication, efficiency, and understanding of well-reasoned default operating guidelines. . Craig serves on the Curriculum Committee of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Search and Rescue Advisory Council and is a co-author and instructor of the state SAR Incident Management program. In 2013 he was recognized as the state SAR Volunteer of the Year. He has also served as a sworn Reserve Deputy and in addition to uniformed patrol, worked seasonally as a snowmobile patrol deputy and as a sworn municipal Police Officer and is a graduate of the Oregon Department of Public Safety and Standards Police Academy. He is a certified NRA Range Safety Officer. Craig brings a solid perspective on leadership, objective-based management, and great personal experience as a field operator.

Course Curriculum

  • 1
    Unit 1: Welcome
    • 1.1 Welcome
    • 1.2 Video: Interview with Jason Ilowite
    • 1.3 Video: Interview with Craig McClure
    • 1.4 Course Materials
    • 1.5 Course Equipment Overview: CMC MPD
    • 1.6 Video Tutorial: Course Equipment CMC MPD Overview
    • 1.7 Course Equipment Overview: Petzl I'D
    • 1.8 Video Tutorial: Course Equipment Petzl I'D Overview
  • 2
    Unit 2: Two Rope Offset System Overview - Strong Side Emphasis (SA Frame)
    • 2.1 Two Rope Tension System A-Frame Resultant Insight, Part 1
    • 2.2 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Tension System A-Frame Resultant Insight, Part 1
    • 2.3 Two Rope Tension System A-Frame Resultant Insight, Part 2
    • 2.4 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Tension System A-Frame Resultant Insight, Part 2
    • 2.5 Two Rope Tension System Overview - Strong Side
    • 2.6 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Tension System Overview - Strong Side
    • 2.7 Two Rope Tension System Portuguese Bowline Guying System Insight
    • 2.8 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Tension System Portuguese Bowline Guying System Insight
    • 2.9 Quiz
  • 3
    Unit 3: Two Rope Offset: Weak Side Emphasis (Gin Pole)
    • 3.1 Two Rope Tension System Gin Pole Side Overview
    • 3.2 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Tension System Gin Pole Side Overview
    • 3.3 Two Rope Offset Gin Pole Sided Insight
    • 3.4 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Offset Gin Pole Side Insight
    • 3.5 Quiz
  • 4
    Unit 4: Sideways A-Frame
    • 4.1 Sideways Easel A-Frame, Version 1
    • 4.2 Video Tutorial: Sideways Easel A-Frame, Version 1
    • 4.3 Sideways Easel A-Frame Anchor Overview
    • 4.4 Video Tutorial: Sideways Easel A-Frame Anchor Overview
    • 4.5 Sideways Easel A-Frame, Version 2
    • 4.6 Video Tutorial: Sideways Easel A-Frame, Version 2
    • 4.7 Sideways Easel A-Frame Resultant Insight
    • 4.8 Video Tutorial: Sideways Easel A-Frame Resultant Insight
    • 4.9 Quiz
  • 5
    Unit 5: Dynamic Directional Offset
    • 5.1 Dynamic Directional: Building A 9:1 System Using 2 x 3:1 Systems Insights
    • 5.2 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional: Building a 9:1 System Using 2 x 3:1 Systems Insights
    • 5.3 Dynamic Directional Connection Point Insight
    • 5.4 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional Connection Point
    • 5.5 Dynamic Directional Jag Directional Insight
    • 5.6 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional Jag Directional Insight
    • 5.7 Dynamic Directional Main Side, Part 1
    • 5.8 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional Main Side, Part 1
    • 5.9 Dynamic Directional Main Side, Part 2 (Includes Both Sides)
    • 5.10 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional Main Side, Part 2 (Includes Both Sides)
    • 5.11 Dynamic Directional: A-Frame Resultant Effect Insight
    • 5.12 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional: A-Frame Resultant Effect Insight
    • 5.13 Dynamic Directional: A-Frame Resultant Effect with High Anchors Insight
    • 5.14 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional: A-Frame Resultant Effect with High Anchors Insight
    • 5.15 Dynamic Directional: A-Frame Resultant Effect with Low Anchors Insight
    • 5.16 Video Tutorial: Dynamic Directional: A-Frame Resultant Effect with Lower Anchors Insight
    • 5.17 Quiz
  • 6
    Unit 6: SMC Vector Backcountry Gin Pole
    • 6.1 SMC Vector Gin Pole Overview
    • 6.2 Video Tutorial: SMC Vector Gin Pole Overview
    • 6.3 SMC Vector Gin Pole Insight
    • 6.4 Video Tutorial: SMC Vector Gin Pole Insight
    • 6.5 Quiz
  • 7
    Unit 7: Wrap Up
    • 7.1 Wrap Up
    • 7.2 Gear Buying Guide

Added Perks

Additional features Rigging Lab Academy Members are enjoying

  • Certificate of Completion

    Download your personalized Certificate of Completion after completing the course.

  • 100% Self-Paced

    Go through the course material as fast or as slow as you'd like.

  • Private Discussion Board

    Ask questions, meet other students, and even chat with the course instructor.

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