A Weekend of Rope

I spent the weekend at two rope events up in Boulder.My new friend Leela in Denver–who recently dubbed herself my long-lost older sister–is a devoted rope bottom.

In the world of rope, you’re either a top, bottom, or switch. Much like gay sex: you’re either a top, a bottom, or verse (or side, though that doesn’t apply in rope). A rope top is the one who ties, while the bottom is the one being tied. A switch enjoys both rolls. 

Leela has been immersed in the rope scene for seven years, and she curated both the weekend’s events.The first was An Evening Entwined, a Shibari/Rope performance night followed by an open rope jam.Two pairs of tops and bottoms performed, each putting on their own rope scene. One pair were two local women from the Denver/Boulder area, and they were stunning to watch.

But the real showstopper was the second pair: Lola and Sascha, two exceptionally skilled German riggers (riggers being professional rope tops). They performed a full suspension scene that was breathtaking–intense and exquisite to witness.

There are many different styles of rope. Some are sensual and nurturing, while others lean heavily into the intensity and pain of the BDSM world. Sascha and Lola’s performance was firmly in the latter category, and it was absolutely  beautiful in my eyes. Here’s a short clip from their performance.

The next day was a full-day training, again organized by Leela. Lola–who had been the bottom in the performance–was the lead instructor, while Sascha supported. The class, Titled Steam Ties for Hot Nights, focused on partial suspension. In partial suspension, the rope bottom is lifted and supported by the ropes connected to suspension points, but at least part of their  body remains grounded.

Lola demonstrated each tie on her “rope bunny” – who literally wore bunny ears, a white fluffy tail, and call themself Thumper–before we practiced the ties with our partners. My rope bottom for the day was a man I hadn’t met before, connected to me through Leela.

We spent nearly eight hours working together on new ties, learning to secure up-lines (the ropes that connect to suspension points), and exploring the nuances and safety requirements of partial suspension. It was playful, sexy, demanding, and incredibly rewarding.

By the end of the day, my rope skills had leveled up significantly. I’ve been incorporating rope into my Sensual Dominance (BDSM) sessions, but until now, it’s been fairly basic. Suspension and semi-suspension are where rope becomes truly powerful–and they require proper training to minimize risk, since rope play carries inherent dangers. 

Sascha and Lola will be in Denver for a few more weeks, and I’m looking to book a private session with Lola so I can experience suspension. I’ve never experienced that before and watching her in action left me in awe.

I’ve also begun installing suspension points in my apartment–a process Lola graciously walked me through for safety considerations. Once they’re finished (likely within the week), I’ll be able to bring these new skills to my client sessions.

When I think about the Elements of the Erotic that rope engages, the most prominnent—aside from submission–is denial. By typing up the bottom, the top denies freedom of movement, heightening the erotic charge of the scene. Suspension and semi-suspension also give the top more creative control in how the bottom’s body is positioned and moved, since the rope supports a  significant amount of their weight. This opens up endless possibilities for erotic play and artistic expression.

I really can’t wait to finish the suspension setup in my space. It’s going to open up an entire new world of possibilities and bring both in my personal explorations and my professional sessions to the next level.

Thanks for reading.

For more on Leela, Sascha, & Lola, see their instagrams below: Leela's Instagram Sascha's Instagram

Lola's Instagram