“You’ll never be suspended, you’re to big.”
I saw a post on IG yesterday from a beautiful woman. She was in tights and a set of perfectly symettrical double futos. The rope work was clean. Her shape was sexy. It was geneuinely an all around pleasing photo of her in her own rope work. Then I made it down to the caption. To summarize, the caption stated that she was having trouble finding inspiration to tie lately. That she kept telling herself that her body was beautiful in rope even after being rejected by so many riggers. This gorgeous girl, was plus sized.
Now let me start by saying I don’t actually know this girl. But as I read her post I felt absolutely devastated, shocked and apalled that a rigger would even say that. Like, I’m sorry who the hell made you the bondage police? But, I digress. So then later, during a break from a lab session with some friends, I start telling them about this post and how I wrong I felt it was. Then one of them says to me, “it’s happened to me too.” Shocked for the second time that day I ask very eloquently, “What the fuck? Why?” He proceeded to tell me that he had been rejected by 2 riggers. Both told him, “you’ll never be suspended. Your’re to big.”
My response:
FUCK. THAT.
I am 5 feet 1 and approximately 190 lbs. Most of the people I tie with on a regular basis are over 6ft. Tall and between 250-275lbs. I have been rigging at a suspension level for less than a year. If I can do it, then surely YOU, Mr. Domly McRiggerson can. I guess my point is: FIGURE IT OUT!!
Are there challenges to overcome when tying someone heavier than the 120lb rope models you see plastered all over the internet? Absolutely. Does that make those people any less willing or capable of bottoming in rope? HELL NO! As a rigger, YOU learn new ties that work with your bottoms body. YOU figure out what style of hanger is safest. YOU adapt. Can’t lift past a certain point in a level change? Put yourself underneath them, grab the upline and freaking PULL.
It is hard to lift someone larger than you? YES. Am I a sweaty mess that is just as sore as they are by the end? YES. Do I occassionally require the spotter to help with a little extra muscle? YES. Does it ruin our scene? NO. Does it effect any part of thier experience in a negative way? NO.
So to any rigger out there reading this that has ever told anyone they are “too big” for suspension: SHAME ON YOU!!!
How dare you make someone feel as if THEIR body isnt good enough simply because YOUR to weak and scared to try? The problem is NOT that a tall/curvy/thick/plus sized person is to much to lift. The problem IS that YOUR ego is so much larger than the bodies to whom you deny the pleasure of rope.













