DETAILS

Purpose

Tree climbers are professional athletes. The daily work is what they get paid for and where they practice their "sport." Unlike many other athletes, tree climbers usually only get one opportunity per year to test their skill in open competition. This event is intended to:

1. Raise the standards of safety and productivity for climbers and their respective companies/municipalities.

2. Give climbers a reason to hone their skills in the "off season."

3. Provide an opportunity to practice under the coaching of experienced TCC competitors.

4. Better prepare climbers for the Western Tree Climbing Championships and thereby be even more competitive at the International level.

We will allow 30 competitors to participate. Invitations will be sent first to CAA members. We will also invite participants in the previous year's Western Chapter Tree Climbing Championship. Registration will be open to all others after September 30, 2007. There will be an entrance fee of $80 for members and $95 for non-members. Lunch will be provided and a commemorative T-shirt will be provided to all competitors. Top competitors will be eligible for prizes.

The contestants will be separated into 6 groups of 5 by random drawing. One coach will be assigned to each group. The coach will keep the score sheet for his group. THIS YEAR'S COACHES will be listed here as soon as they are confirmed.

Line Setting
10 points possible

This event will test the contestant’s ability to quickly set a climbing line to access a tree. There will be two marked crotches in a tree approximately 50’, and 40’ above ground. The goal is to set a climbing line in a crotch. This is a timed event. Time will start when the contestant enters the flagged off area around the tree. The contestant that sets a climbing line in a targeted crotch in the least time will get 7 or 10 points, depending on which crotch he hits. Time will count only as a tie breaker. There will be a 5 minute time limit including set-up time. Contestants that exceed 5 minutes will receive 0 points for that event.

Contestants that lose required safety equipment during the event, break a branch larger than 1" in diameter, or throws a line out of the flagged area more than one time will be called out of the event and receive 0 points. Two timers will time the event. The two times will be averaged to determine the official time. A sudden-death throw off will decide any ties.

Footlock
30 points possible

This event tests the contestant’s ability to quickly ascend a doubled climbing line using the footlock technique. This is a timed event. The contestant with the fastest time will receive 30 points. Second fastest will receive 29 points and so on. A contestant that fails to complete the climb in 1 minute, loses required safety equipment or reaches above the fall protection knot will be called out of the event and receive 0 points for that event. Two timers will time the event. The two times will be averaged to determine the official time. A head to head footlock event will decide any ties.

Belayed Speed Climb
30 points possible

This event tests the contestant’s ability to quickly ascend a tree by free climbing on limbs and/or using body thrust technique. This is a timed event. The contestant with the fastest time will receive 30 points. Second fastest will receive 29 points and so on. A contestant that fails to complete the climb under a predetermined time limit (to be decided before event begins, based on height and difficulty) or loses required safety equipment will be called out of the event and receive 0 points for that event. Two timers will time the event. The two times will be averaged to determine the official time.

55 points possible

All contestants will do a work climb. There will be two pre-set lines in the tree so you can either foot lock or body thrust into the tree and then step off and flipline in at a staging station. You will be judged on how smoothly and efficiently you accomplish this. Then you will transfer over to a predetermined tie in point and work your way from there to three different stations around the tree and then exit onto a landing station.

There will be a predetermined amount of time for both the entry station and the actual work climb portion of this event. Anyone that does not complete either portion in the allotted amount of time will be called out of the tree and will receive the total amount of points he has up to that point in the work climb.

Time will only count in the event of a tie, and it will be the tie breaker.