Re: European TCC results
To all involved in the organisation of the ETCC
After a week of trying to get back to normal after an intense weekend in Copenhagen and having slept over it a couple of times, I would like to share a couple of thoughts about the event.
Over the years of taking part in tree climbing competitions I’ve come to the conviction that as climbers it’s really up to us to make these events as good as we can by participating, taking an active role in what goes on around the competition and contributing where we can to make a positive difference.
To be able to do this it helps if the event is well organised. This was definitively the case in Copenhagen: The event ran like clockwork, friendly people all around and a good atmosphere, food was good (even veggies catered for, believe it or not), so a big thank you should go out to the folks who put in many hours behind the scenes putting this all together: Tage, Lars and all the people at the Dansk Traepleje Forening, you folk did a great job!
Not to forget Claus who acted as tireless speaker during three days, I bet you didn't say a word for a couple of days after!
The line-up of sponsors was also impressive, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before, from the classic Stihl all the way to Hewlett Packard and Nokia... apparently when the Danes do something they do it thoroughly!
Another thing that can make or break such an event is the scoring: Slow scoring can really derail the whole timescale. Again: in Copenhagen this was no issue. Scores posted as they came up with no long waits in between. I feel a big thank you is due to Sybs and the scoring team.
Thanks also to all the volunteers, techs, judges and, and, and... without you there wouldn't be an event!
To the other competitors I’d just like to say – once again - that I think what really takes guts is coming to these competitions despite of the knowledge that you might be last. It really makes all the difference. If the TCC’s go too far down the road of professionalism, in the sense that people train really intensively for them, I think they will loose part of their charm. Also they shouldn’t be reduced down to being exclusively about minutes, second and tenths of points, it should be about the spirit and sense of community among tree folk.
One revelation for me this year was the Czech team... what a crowd. They brought a lot of energy and enthousiasm to the event. It’ll be interesting to see how the czech climbers develop in the years to come, there’s definitively loads of raw talent there!
To my fellow Masters’ competitors I’d like to say that I’m glad I didn’t have to judge it! I saw Michi and John’s climb and I think they did a stunning job. So did Roger, whose climb I missed for apparent reasons. I’d like to especially mention John and Roger, first-timers at an ETCC masters’ for their great show of skill!
This weekend gave us a glimpse of what’s in store for us in the years to come with many gifted young climbers out there climbing and learning. To these I’d like to say: Join in and take part in the competitions and share what you have to offer!
Regards, Mark.
Basel, 22. June 2005
