Come to New Braunfels and see if you have what it takes to be the next Texas Tree Climbing Champion!

This year the competition will be held at Cypress Bend Park in New Braunfels, Texas. Gear check will be May 19th and the competition will be May 20-21, 2022.

The competition aims to 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 maneuver in a tree while performing work-related tree-care tasks in a timely manner.

Tree climbing competitions under ISA rules are held in countries around the world and here is an ISA highlight video from the 2019 International Championship to get you motivated!

The winners of the 2022 Texas competition will qualify to represent the Texas Chapter in the 2022 North American Tree Climbing Competition. 

This year's competition:

Mandatory gear inspection will be held on Thursday evening, May 19, at 5:00 pm at the pavilion in Cypress Bend Park, 200 Peace Ave, New Braunfels to be announced shortly.  Any competitor who is unable to arrive by 5:00 pm should contact Kirsten Schneider at 512.964.9573 to request an accommodation.

The competition will be held at in Cypress Bend Park. You are to arrive for the event walk-through at Cypress Bend Park Pavilion on Friday, May 20th at 7:30 a.m. sharp. If you experience difficulty arriving to roll call on time, please call Markus Smith 512-789-8733. If you are not present for roll call, you will be disqualified, and your entry fee forfeited. If you are not present with your rotation group when your name is called at any individual event, you will be disqualified from that event. All preliminary events are to conclude by the end of the day on Friday, May 20th, weather permitting. The Master’s Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 21. These events will be open to the public, so please feel free to bring family and friends!

Be sure to sign the insurance acknowledgement form and the release paper form. You will not be allowed to compete in the Texas Chapter Competition unless we have the insurance acknowledgement and the release form signed by you. You will be asked to sign these documents upon registration on the day of preliminaries, or you may also bring them with you already signed.

You will also find a blank gear inspection form, a completed example gear inspection form (including a brief understanding of the gear inspection process), as well as an electronic copy of the most recent rulebook on the ISAT Tree Climbing Championship web page. To streamline the gear inspection process, complete the gear check form before you arrive on May 19th. If you have questions, help will be on site to assist.

All forms and instructions can be found on the 2022 Texas Tree Climbing Competition Homepage here: https://isatexas.com/events/tree-climbing-championship/ 

Contact Markus Smith, Chair at [email protected] or 512.467.8733
or Jackson McIntosh, Head Judge at [email protected] or 512.740.0541
for more information

Overview the events:

Preliminary Events: 

The Ascent event tests the competitor’s ability to efficiently and safely use their selected and approved ascent system. The event assesses the competitor’s efficiency in attaching the ascent system to the ascent line(s), ascending to the bell, and transferring into a descent system. The actual descent is not part of the event. Points are earned for speed as well as for meeting predetermined safety objectives. Ascent Event Video

The Throwline is a timed event that tests the competitor’s ability to accurately place a throwline and/or climbing line in a tree. Competitors attempt to toss a throwline or climbing line through two of eight targets set in trees. Targets vary in difficulty and number of points earned. Each competitor is allowed unlimited throws within 6 minutes. Highest cumulative points total wins.

The Aerial Rescue event is a timed event that tests the competitor’s ability to climb to and safely lower a 160-pound climber who is unable to descend without assistance. Competitors shall perform a risk assessment, a pre-climb assessment, and an onsite casualty assessment, and should use all relevant techniques to ensure that the rescue process does not exacerbate the pre-decided injury. Points are allocated for performance throughout the event with highest points total winning the event. See a video here.

The Work Climb tests the competitor’s ability to move about the tree using a climbing system. Each competitor starts from a staging area in the tree and is required to visit five workstations throughout the tree, performing a specified task at each station. Competitors earn objective points for successfully completing the task at each station and ringing the bell (or sounding the horn) with either a handsaw, pole pruner, or hand, as indicated. At certain stations, a competitor can earn points for completing the additional tasks. Competitors can also lose points for failing to properly complete certain other tasks. Competitors earn subjective points based on safety, control, style, poise, and creativity at the discretion of the judges. Finally, a competitor can be penalized for unsafe or uncontrolled acts at the discretion of the Event Head Judge that could result in disqualification. The time limit for this event is 5 minutes. See a video here.

The Speed Climb tests the competitor’s ability to climb a predetermined route from the ground to 50 feet up a tree with a belayed climbing system for safety. The event is timed, and the competitor who reaches and rings the final bell of the course in the least amount of time wins.

Master's Challange: 

The Masters’ Challenge is the final round of the competition. The top men and top women finishers from the preliminary events advance to the Masters’ Challenge to compete for the title. The Masters’ Challenge is designed to judge the competitors’ overall productivity and skill. Competitors are judged and scored on their knowledge and their ability to demonstrate mastery of different climbing techniques, use of equipment, poise in the tree, and safe working practice.

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ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT In consideration of my participation in the TEXAS TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP, and with the understanding that my participation in the event is only on the condition that I enter into this agreement for myself and my heirs and assigns, I assume the inherent and extraordinary risks involved in tree climbing, in the use of tree climbing equipment, and in any other activities connected with this event in which I may voluntarily participate. I waive any claim I may later have as a result of any and all illness or injuries to my person or property as a result of my participation in the TEXAS TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP, my use of any tree climbing equipment, and any other activities connected with this event in which I may voluntarily participate.

I expressly assume the risk of and accept full responsibility for any and all illness, injuries (including death) and accidents that may occur as a result of my participation in this event, and release from liability all hosts and sponsors of the event, including the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, City of New Braunfels, its volunteers, employees, and others working on behalf of the entities referenced above, against any and all claims, demands, suits, or loss, including all costs connected therewith, and for any damages which may be asserted, claimed, or recovered against or from including the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISAT) and the City of New Braunfels.

I agree to indemnify all of the organizations, associations, societies and persons named above as well as any other sponsors or hosts of the TEXAS TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP, for all claims, including attorney fees and costs, that may be brought against any of them by anyone claiming to have been injured or gotten ill as a result of any injury or illness to me or my property or anyone else’s property that may occur as a result of my participation in the event. I also agree that this release and all its particulars include the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, City of New Braunfels, its volunteers, employees, and others working on behalf of the entities referenced above, against any and all claims, demands, suits, or loss, including all costs connected therewith, and for any damages which may be asserted, claimed, or recovered against or from including the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), ISAT and the City of New Braunfels.

EVENT INFORMATION: The Texas Tree Climbing Championship is a lot of fun, but in order for the day to go smoothly and safely, it is important that everyone agrees to any and all rules. You must attend the mandatory meeting and gear check on Thursday, May 19th at 5:00 pm sharp at the Location. The competition takes place on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 in Cypress Bend Park (503 Peace Ave). If you experience difficulty arriving to the Friday 7:30 am roll call on time, or feel that there will be an issue with arriving on time, please call Markus Smith (512-789-8733) with a valid reason (emergencies only). Time is critical to running an efficient competition. If you are not present for roll call, you will be disqualified and your entry fee forfeited. If you are not present with your rotation group when you name is called at any individual event, you will be disqualified from that event. PLEASE NOTE: NO WALK UP ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. ONLY PRE-REGISTERED COMPETITORS WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPETE.

UNDERSTANDING RULES: Rules of the competition will follow the latest International Tree Climbing Championship standards and regulations published by ISA as closely as local restraints allow. They are available online at http://www.itcc-isa.com/rulesregulations/index. It is the contestant's responsibility for their own safety to know the rules. You will be allowed to ask questions about rules during the mandatory meeting, however, since the rule book is available to you before the competition, and since time is pressing during competition set up, please be sure any and all questions are not already clearly explained in the ITCC rule book. If you cannot access these rules online, please call Markus Smith at the (512) 789-8733 at least 3 weeks prior to the competition.

COMPETITOR DETAILS: The Texas Tree Climbing Championship welcomes all of those interested in competing, but since the winner of the competition could represent the Texas Chapter, only Texas residents can be declared winner. Those who reside outside of Texas can enter to compete (but their number may be limited - first come first served), but no matter what they place in the preliminary events, they will not be permitted into the Masters’ Challenge. All scores for out-of-state competitors will be held separately of the Texas resident competitors.

WINNERS: The first-place winners in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 2022 Texas Tree Climbing Championship will represent the Texas Chapter ISA at the 2022 North American Tree Climbing Championships and will receive a stipend for airfare and hotel to attend. If the 2022 winner cannot make it, then an alternate may be granted permission to represent the Texas Chapter.

MORE INFORMATION: You can contact Markus Smith, Chair at [email protected] or 512.467.8733 or Jackson McIntosh, Head Judge at [email protected] or 512.740.0541 for more information Please see the 2022 Texas Tree Climbing Championship webpage at https://isatexas.com/events/tree-climbing-competition/ for the latest information. See you in New Braunfels!

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Texas Chapter International Society of Arboriculture | 2013 Oakwood Trail, College Station, TX  77845 | office: 979-324-1929 | website: www.ISATexas.com | ISAT Facebook

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