— 2023 Texas Tree Climbing Championships

The 2023 Texas Tree Climbing Championship
Richard Moya Park, Austin
May 19-20, 2023

2023 Champions
Dustin Goodman and Star Quintero

Thank you to all of the amazing competitors, sponsors, exhibitors, judges, techs, volunteers, and the behind-the-scenes people who made this event possible – see you in 2024!!!

Here are some 2023 TTCC pictures

Event Information:

The purpose of the Texas Tree Climbing Championship is to provide a competitive learning environment for those working in the industry and to showcase the highest level of professional skills and safety. This event is open to the public at no cost. See details below for more information.

Professional tree climbing competitions are held around the world to provide a platform for arborists to learn about the latest in climbing techniques and innovations in equipment. The competitions 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.

Competitive tree climbing also introduces the public to the skills professional tree climbing arborists must use for safe, professional tree work. Bring your picnic supplies and folding chairs and enjoy the competition.

Winners of the 2023 Texas Tree Climbing Championship competition will qualify to compete at the 2023 International Tree Climbing Competition in Albuquerque on August 11-13.

Overview of 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 Rules and the Ascent Event Visual Guide

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 work stations 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.

Final: 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.

Competitor Information:

Mandatory gear inspection will be held on Thursday evening, May 18, at 5:00 pm at 1910 Jeese E Segovia, Austin, Texas 78702. It will be in the large park pavilion and there are parking lots on either side. This is Festival Beach Park and NOT where the Competition or Workshop is being held. If you have an emergency and are going to be late call Marcus Smith (512) 789-8733. If you have issues finding the location, you can contact Kirsten Schneider (512) 964-9573 or Gene Gehring (817) 307-0967. You can be disqualified and not be able to compete if you miss roll call. Please bring your signed release and indemnity agreement and code of conduct forms (linked above). These will need to be turned in or you will not be able to compete. In order to streamline the gear inspection process, we ask that you please fill out the gear check form before you arrive on May 18th. If you have questions, help will be on site to assist.

The preliminary events will be held on Friday and the finals will be held on Saturday in Richard Moya Park. You are to arrive for the event walk-through at the park on Friday, May 19th at 7:30 a.m. sharp. If you are experiencing difficulty arriving to roll call on time, please call Markus Smith 512-467-8733. 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 19th, weather permitting. The Master’s Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 20. These events will be open to the public, so please feel free to bring family and friends!

Hotel Information:

There is a block of rooms reserved at the Super 8, Waxahachie for TTCC. You may call 972.351.8559 to utilize the discounted rate and make your reservation. The discounted rate is good from May 15 to May 18 and you must mention that you are reserving for TTCC. You must make your reservation by May 1st for this rate!

Texas Tree Climbing Championship Links:

Registration Links

Competitors Registration - Closed

Registration for Event Judges, Technicians and Volunteers is here - Closed

Sponsors and Commercial Exhibitors can register here - Closed

Other Links

Contestant and Volunteer Release and Indemnity Form to Sign

Contestant and Volunteer Event Code of Conduct to Sign

2023 Gear Check Form

Event Rules and Regulations

The International Tree Climbing Championship Home Page

Campeonato Internacional de Trepa de Árboles - LIBRO DE REGLAS - Válido hasta 1 de julio de 2024 - Traducción: Asociación Mexicana de Arboricultura A.C.
(Spanish translation of the 2022 reviewed ITCC Rule Book from our friends at the Mexican Tree Climbing Competition Organizing Committee of the Asociación Mexicana de Arboricultura A.C.)

1983 – 2022 Texas Champions List

2022 TTCC Event Info Here and 2022 TTCC Pictures Here and 2021 TTCC Pictures Here

2023 Prize Package

The Texas Chapter ISA is pleased to announce the 2023 ArborMaster Climbing Kit Prize Package for the Tree Climbing Champions.

This climbing kit is being offered to the Texas Chapter champion (both man and woman)! The package is intended to help equip the chapter representative(s) for the International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) Competition.

Each prize package includes:
Silky’s Zubat Professional 330mm Hand SawBuckingham Mfg’s Tree Squeeze™ 2.0 & BuckBack Pro
Greenworks Commercial Logo’ed 24-Can Double Pocket Cooler
OREGON® Professional Maintenance Kit & OREGON® Logo’ed Backpack
Vermeer Logo’ed 32oz Bubba Trailblazer Bottle – Double Wall Stainless Steel Thermal Bottle
Portable Winch RopeWizer™ – The Easy Splice
ArborMaster® – 50% savings for a 2-Day or 3-Day Hands-On Training Module

Contact Markus Smith, Chair at markusloud@gmail.com or 512.467.8733 for more information

See you in Austin!