Sky Is The Limit
March 24, 2010
At the sixth annual Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition
April 10th in Waterbury's Fulton Park, twenty-five
of the state's most experienced arborists will compete
for prizes in an obstacle course sixty feet above
ground. Winners will qualify to climb to the top of
the ISA New England Tree Competition in June. The
Connecticut Tree Protective Association, Inc. (CTPA),
a nonprofit organization based in Northford, is sponsoring
the event.
"The emphasis of the competition is to demonstrate
safety as well as skill," CTPA President Chris
Donnelly said. Eligible climbers must be experienced
members of Connecticut's tree care industry. Competitors
will maximize their strength and creativity in five
simultaneous events throughout the day, including
the Secured Foot Lock, Throw Line Accuracy, Belayed
Speed Climb, Work Climb and Aerial Rescue. Each event
is timed. Men and women compete separately.
"The Secured Foot Lock is an ascent of up to
fifty feet," CTPA Chairman and Head Judge Charlie
Iselin said. In Throw Line Accuracy, climbers must
secure three different lines of rope in specified
parts of the tree. The Belayed Speed Climb is similar
to The Secured Foot Lock, except climbers can scale
heights of up to sixty feet.
In Aerial Rescue, competitors must rescue a dummy
placed high in the tree's branches. "Statistically,
there are more tree-related accidents than you might
think," Iselin said. "Serious injuries can
be sustained far up. It can take a long time for emergency
crews to rescue the victim."
As a result, Iselin encourages homeowners to use professional
assistance with tree maintenance. "Our event
strongly encourages safety and professionalism,"
he said. Arborists, he continued, are trained to conserve
and remove trees responsibly.
The competition's most complex event is the Work Climb.
Competitors must move down a tree completing various
tasks, including hitting strategically placed cowbells
and balancing weights placed at the ends of limbs.
Points are lost if the weights fall. Finally, climbers
must land squarely on a target mat. The smoother the
climber lands, the greater their number of points.
Winners compete in the Master's Challenge, the botanical
equivalent of a grand finale. The potentially tie-breaking
climb combines aspects of each prior event. "The
camaraderie among the competitors is wonderful,"
Iselin said.
One of the CTPA's goals is to encourage its number
of women participants.
"While we've had female competitors in the past,
we would love to see more," Donnelly said. "There
is a great support system within the local industry
that is very encouraging."
In addition to the opportunity to advance in regional
competition, winners receive new tree gear, including
ropes and saws. Sponsors from industry manufacturers
provide the prizes. Donnelly said the event is still
open to potential climbers and sponsors. A maximum
of twenty-five climbers is set "for logistical
reasons," Donnelly said. Sponsors are encouraged
to give at the Bronze ($50), Silver ($100) and Gold
($500) levels.
Event preparations are already well underway. "We
had several crews recently pruning the trees,"
Donnelly said. Fulton Park will be the CTPA's most
localized venue yet. Last year's event took place
at Beardsley Park in Bridgeport. In past years, arborists
have converged in parks in greater New Haven. "We
try to have our competition throughout the state because
there are so many tree care providers throughout Connecticut,"
Donnelly said.
The event is free, rain or shine, and open to the
public. It will be held in Fulton Park's south-end
corner, at the corner of Cooke and Pine Street, from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To learn more, visit the CTPA website at www.CTPA.org
or call Chris Donnelly at (203) 484-2512. To acquire
more information on local arborists for tree care
needs, visit the New England chapter of the International
Society of Aboriculture's website at www.newenglandisa.org.
Sky Is The Limit
www.fairfieldweekly.com
- Sky Is The Limit
