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During the belayed speed climb, fellow competitors cheered and
clapped as climbers raced to the treetop under a sunny, blue
sky. Spectators in camping chairs craned their necks to watch
the arborists weave through branches to find a dummy during the
aerial rescue event.
E.J. Turner’s favorite event is the work climb, where
competitors scramble through the 80- to 100-foot trees and ring
bells at the end of branches to simulate cuts an arborist would
make on the job. Turner, a third-generation climber and winner
of five Midwest chapter competitions, said participants are
graded on speed, route planning and poise.
“It’s a lot more climbing involved, and a lot more movement
throughout the tree, jumping and swinging,” Turner said. “It’s
kind of like being a kid.”
Along with the belayed speed climb, aerial rescue and work
climb, climbers will participate in ascent and throwline events
during the first round. Those with the highest scores will
advance to the Masters’ Challenge.
The championship shows what arborists do in their day-to-day
jobs, said Caitlyn Pollihan, CEO of the nonprofit International
Society of Arboriculture, which puts on the event. Many of the
52 men and 39 women in this year’s contest have competed against
one another before.
“There’s this just fascinating camaraderie that you wouldn’t
necessarily expect at a competition,” Pollihan said.
The first International Tree Climbing Championship was hosted in
St. Louis in 1976. Pollihan said they chose to host the
competition in the same city as a nod to the first contest.
Organizers plan to make speeches and hand out keepsakes to mark
the 50th anniversary.
“We have some fun nods to the fact that this is a big
milestone,” Pollihan said.
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