Editing Abseiling (section)

== Styles/techniques ==
[[File:Australian Rappel.jpg|thumb|[[Australian rappel]] demonstrated at a dam in Norway]]
[[File:Figure eight descender with rope.jpg|thumb|Rescue-style (eared) figure eight descender and rope]]

* [[Australian rappel]] — Used in the military. The abseiler descends facing downwards allowing them to see where they are going.
* Tandem or spider abseiling — Used in [[Rock Climbing|climbing]].  Involves two climbers descending on the same belay device. This is useful in rescue situations when one of the climbers is incapacitated or the descent needs to be done quickly. The set-up is similar to a regular rappelling, with the incapacitated climber suspended from the descender (and backed up on the primary climbers harness).<ref>[https://studyrockclimbing.com/rappelling-from-a-spider Spider Abseiling] – StudyRockClimbing.com</ref>
* ''Simul-rappelling'' or ''simultaneously rappelling'' — Used in climbing and canyoning.  Two climbers descend simultaneously on the same length of rope, where one climber's weight counterbalances the other. Generally the technique is considered less safe than the regular rappelling; however, it is useful in case of emergencies, or for rapping off opposite sides of a fin or spire where there are no anchor points. This is common in places like the [[Needles (Black Hills)|Needles]] of [[South Dakota]]’s [[Black Hills]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Drummond|first1=Liz|title=How to Simul-Rappel|journal=[[Climbing (magazine)|Climbing]]|date=August 12, 2013|url=http://www.climbing.com/skills/how-to-simul-rappel/|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>
* Counterbalance abseiling — Used in climbing. This rescue technique is typically used by a leader to reach an injured [[Glossary of climbing terms#second|second]]. The leader abseils off on one strand of rope, using the incapacitated second's weight on the other strand of the rope as a counterbalance.
* Releasable abseil — Used by guides. This safety technique allows a leader to descend with inexperienced abseilers. A rope about twice the length of the descent is anchored with a [[Munter hitch|munter mule hitch]]. The client descends on a single isolated strand of the rope. If the client becomes stuck halfway down the guide will be able to unlock the other strand and lower the client to the ground using the hitch as a belay device. This could be useful if the client panics, or gets clothing or hair entangled in the descender.
* Classical (non-mechanical methods), e.g. the [[Dülfersitz]] — Used in emergencies. These technique are more dangerous than modern alternatives and only used when no other option is available. They involve descending without aid of mechanical devices, by wrapping the rope around the body, and were used before the advent of harnesses and hardware.
* [[South African Abseil|South African classical abseil]] (double-roped) — Used in emergencies. This is a type of classical abseil where the user has a spare hand.
* Fireman's Belay — Safety backup. A partner stands on the ground below holding the rope(s). If the abseiler begins to fall they will be able to pull down on the rope to arrest the descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chockstone.org/TechTips/RapBackup.htm |title=Backing Up An Abseil |publisher=Chockstone Climbing in Australia}}</ref>