The Quebec Tree Climbing Championship is a competition of skill and movement in the trees. Participants from all over Quebec compete in five events related to the trade of tree climber, in order to crown the Quebec champion. This is a competition involving professionals in the trade. The male and female winners of the events will then be invited to represent the Quebec chapter at the International Tree Climbing Championship. Several free activities are organized in conjunction with this competition, including a fun climb for children, tree giveaway, awareness activities, a gear and equipment exhibition and much more. For more details on each event, keep scrolling.
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 as well as safety. They showcase the highest level of professional skills and safe work practices, providing a competitive learning environment for those working in the industry.
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.
Competitive tree climbing also introduces the public to the skills professional tree climbing arborists must use for safe, professional tree work.
THE EVENTS
WORKCLIMB
Workclimb measures the participant's ability to move through a tree using a work rope. From a designated location in the tree, tjeu must move through the tree's crown to different work stations and then safely climb down the tree. The climber earns points for successfully completing the exercise at certain stations but may be penalized or disqualified for not completing the tasks properly. The event is timed.
BELAYED SPEED CLIMB
The Belayed Speed Climb tests the participant's ability to climb a tree to a height of approximately 18 metres, using a securely attached work rope. The event is timed and the participant must reach and ring a bell located at the top of the tree. The winner is the climber who is the fastest to reach the bell.
AERIAL RESCUE
The Aerial Rescue is a timed event that tests the participant's ability to reach an injured tree climber and lower them safely to the ground. A decoy (the victim) is placed in a tree, in a harness and working cable, +/- 8 metres above the ground. The participant must climb the tree using a cable already installed 4-6 meters from the victim. The participant has called 911 and is advised by the judge that the victim is not breathing and must be brought to the ground safely within the time allotted for this event.
ASCENT
The Ascent Event tests the competitor's ability to safely and effectively use an approved ascent system. It assesses the climber's effectiveness in attaching an ascending system to the access rope, ascending to the bell and transferring to a descending system. Points are earned for speed as well as for meeting predetermined safety objectives.
THROWLINE
The Throwline Event is a timed event that tests the participant's ability to place a working rope in a tree at a height of 16 to 18 meters. The participant attempts to reach a target by throwing a rope with a throw bag attached to it. The targets are rated according to the difficulty of the throw. Each participant has an unlimited number of throws in an allotted time (approximately 6 minutes), but can only use one target per tree.
THE ULTIMATE EVENT
THE MASTERS' CHALLENGE - THE FINALE
Final event of the Tree Climbing Championship, designed to judge a participant's overall efficiency and ability to use a positioning cable and harness in a tree. The participant must demonstrate mastery of climbing techniques, and techniques for the safe use of their equipment. At the start of the timer, the participant enters the event area, performs a preliminary inspection of the tree, installs a working rope and enters the tree, moves through the tree to perform different stations and finally descends and unties the rope.