NEC-ISA - Tree Climbing Competition

Want to help with this year's competition?
Call: Bill Conn at 802-282-2299

TCC RESOURCES

Gear Inspection & Waiver Form
Download 2009 Rule Book
2009 Score Sheets

TCC HISTORY

WHAT IS A TREE CLIMBING COMPETITION?

Every year, ISA Chapters hold their own tree climbing competitions (TCC). Local
TCC's are made up of safety-oriented tasks and practices that allow tree working
professionals to win prizes for outstanding abilities and performance. Each
regionally based competition sends a winner to the grand finale, known as the
ITCC (International Tree Climbing Competition) that is held in a different part of
the world each year.

TREE CLIMBING EVENTS - brief description

BELAYED SPEED CLIMB - Competitors are timed as they race or speed
climb up 40-60' up a tree while on belay
SECURED FOOTLOCK - Competitors are timed while "inch-worming"
(called footlocking) up a rope to hit a bell aloft. (m = 15 meters | w = 12 m)
THROWLINE - competitors are given 6 minutes to install two throwlines
and climbing ropes into set targets within the tree
WORK CLIMB - competitors are timed while completing five work stations
in the tree. Each station is worth designated points, time ends when
climber unclips their climbing rope from their saddle.
MASTER'S CHALLENGE - The top competitors from each division will
advance to this final event. Similar to work climb except climbers have 20
minutes to complete three stations from a ground start and time ends
when all gear is removed from the tree.

AERIAL RESCUE
The Aerial Rescue is a simulated rescue event. It is designed to measure the
climber's ability to respond to an emergency situation involving an injured worker
in a tree. The climber is responsible for notifying emergency services, inspecting
the work site for possible and/or existing hazards, administering preliminary first
aid, and working efficiency.

The 'dummy' (injured worker) is installed in a tree 20 to 40 feet above the
ground. The event is timed and the climber is judged and scored while performing
the rescue. The clock starts when the head judge says "go." The time is stopped
when the climber has landed with the dummy on the ground and unclipped the
climbing line from the dummy's saddle. The dummy is then prepared for the
Emergency Medical Technicians.

BELAYED SPEED CLIMB
The Belayed Speed Climb is a timed event that measures the ability of the
contestant to climb a tree while using the branches and fixed rope.
The climber is on belay while ascending the set route to the top of the tree. Time
begins when the climber's second foot leaves the ground and stops when the
climber rings the bell installed approximately 60' aloft.

SECURED FOOTLOCK
The Secured Footlock event tests the climber's ability to ascend while footlocking
a set distance up 2 parts of rope while being timed.

The climber stands on the rope while advancing their prussik knot above them.
The climber is also attached to a belay line from a dorsal attachment (on their
back) from the full body harness they are wearing.

Time begins when the climber's second foot leaves the ground and stops when
they ring the bell. The height of the bell is placed at 12 meters for the women
and 15 meters for men. It is a real test of strength, speed and endurance.

THROWLINE
The Throwline event tests the climber's ability to accurately throw a weight,
attached to a rope, through targets placed in a tree at heights of approximately
40, 50 and 60 feet.

The targets are worth 3, 5, and 7 accordingly. If a climber installs a climbing line
on a scored target they are awarded 3 additional points. Each contestant is
allowed 6 minutes to attempt to score two targets and install two climbing lines.

WORK CLIMB
The Work Climb is an event designed to judge the contestant's balance and skill
with a rope and saddle in the tree. The climb is timed as a means of assessing
overall productivity and not as a speed event. In the event that points are equal,
time is used to break the tie.

Contestants are judged and scored on safety, technique and poise in the tree. At
the head time signal "go," all contestants start from a designated tie in point aloft
in the tree. The contestant proceeds to three work stations within the tree and
rings three bells, two by hand and one with the pole pruner that is hanging in the
tree at the station. One of the stations, the limb walk station, will have a plumb
suspended from a limb.

If the contestant applies too much weight on the limb, causing the plumb to drop
past a certain distance, points will be deducted. Each contestant has the option
of choosing the order and route in which to approach each work station. A
minimum time to complete the event will be specified in advance. Failure to
complete the event within the minimum time will result in disqualification.

MASTERS CHALLENGE
The Master's Challenge is an event designed to judge the top climbers' (from the
preliminary events) overall productivity and skill with a rope and saddle in the tree.

Climbers are judged and scored on their knowledge and ability to demonstrate
mastery of different climbing and rigging techniques, use of equipment, poise in
the tree, and demonstration of safe working practices. Contestants have a set
amount of time to enter tree and must perform task at four work stations and
ascend safely to ground. The time stops when all of the climber's equipment is
out of the tree.

Resources

animated knots

TREE CLIMBING COMPETITION
Save the Date: June 5, 2010 (rain date: June 6)
Location: UMass Amherst

TREE
ArborMaster*
Cleaves CO
National Grid
Rhode Island Tree Council
Samson Rope*
Yale Cordage
VELCO

SAPLING
Asplundh
Bishop Company
Buckingham*
Husqvarna*
Mayer Power Products
North American Training Solutions
Oregon**
Shelter Tree
Sherrill Arborist Supply*
Silky Saws*

SEEDLING & ACORN
Watch for our
summer newsletter

*TCC Champion Prize Package
**Spirit of Competition Award