I was lucky to travel down to Sydney for the international tree climbing championships held in Parramatta Park & Prince Alfred Park, Parramatta (Sydney), Australia, Saturday, July 23, 2011 and Sunday, July 24, 2011. While the weather was less than perfect with Sydney experiencing its worst rain fall in some 60 years, the comp brings together the world’s best tree climbing arborists to compete for the world title.
The International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) began in 1976, this competition has grown and expanded promoting safe working practices, demonstrated improvements through equipment and techniques and provided industry recognition to the public.
The comp is set out to test and simulate working conditions of arborists in the field. Male and female competitors perform five different events during preliminary rounds. Each event tests a competitor’s ability to professionally, and safely manoeuvre in a tree while performing work-related tree-care tasks in a timely manner. Competitive tree climbing also introduces the public to the skills professional tree climbing arborists must use for safe, professional tree work.
There are five preliminary events Aerial Rescue, Belayed Speed Climb, Secured Footlock, work climb and Throwline.
The top 3 female and 5 male and competitors from the preliminary rounds move on to the masters challenge which puts all those skills from the preliminary events together with a time limit . This event places a large amount of pressure on the climbers as every little move is being closely watched by a panel of judges.
This year the top 4 male competitors where split by only 2 points out of a total of 300. Well done for winning Scott Forrest (NZ) and 2nd Joe Harris (AUST).
