Tree Climbers Compete

Thirty arborists from around Arizona will compete in Saturday's second annual tree climbing competition.

The Arizona Community Tree Council Inc., will hold its second annual Arizona Tree Climbing Competition on Saturday, February 12 at Reed Park in Mesa. Participants will compete in various challenges, in hopes of making it to the International Society of Arboriculture's Western Chapter competition in California, and then to the ISA world championships in Nashville, Tenn. The competition is an effort to unite arborists and promote the improvement of the safety and standards of the industry. Contestants will have to compete in such events as the Throwline, where they throw small weighted bags with a small diameter line attached; the Footlock, where upper-body strength is used to climb a 40-foot rope; and the Work climb, which involves climbing to four different stations on the tree and ringing a bell at each point. The top five contestants in each event will move to the Master's Challenge, where they will compete for advancement to the California regional. For more information and an update of the winners, check out Aztreez.org