extreme sport

treebear · May 27, 2005

In my community there is an extreme sport festival in the end of june. http://www.ekstremsportveko.com . Many people have urged us to take part with treeclimbing, but I have a little mixed feelings about it. On the one hand it would of course be a way to market our trade but on the other hand - do we really want to be looked upon as extreme?
We fight on daily basis to be taken serious as professionals. Would participating in an extreme sports festival be a pro or con?
Whats your opinion?
Svein
www.hogstogrydding.no /forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif

glens · May 28, 2005

Wow, Svein, what a good question!

There are elements of both an "honest profession" and an "extreme sport" involved. I guess if I had to decide, I'd opt to not participate, since in my mind (anyway) seeing "extreme sports" in action usually makes the thought "get a real job" pass through my head. But that's just me...

Glen

Treespotter · May 28, 2005

Go for it Svein.

If there are some nice big trees over there at the site, round up some friends and set a cours in one or two trees. A Work Climb and a Footlock would do the trick.
Don't see it as a participation in an Extreme sports event but as a socializing day with other treeclimbing enthousiasts.

Don't look down on your own work, to us it's a dayjob (can't think of another one), but the rest of the world thinks we do magic in those trees.

This year we have a total of four of these events besides the official TCC's.

It's a way of relaxing and talking shop in a friendly atmosphere.

Wolter

JasonCraig · May 28, 2005

Do it. We are extreme, no denying that. Lets not forget, climbing trees seems real crazy to most people. /forum/images/graemlins/jamminz.gif /forum/images/graemlins/wildmonkey.gif

charlieb · May 28, 2005

I'd like to second Jason's reply that we are already perceived as extreme or weird or unusual to say the least, especially when the public sees us putting on all that weird gear and using it to climb which they don't can't even begin to perceive technique which makes it even weirder(?) to them. So just do it anyway to promote our culture and the details of what we do and then one day maybe to the public it won't seem so weird.
Along this line I'd like you all to check out a great forum entitled "Get Out of That Tree" which really nails this concept down and illustrates how the public perceives us and is somewhat comical. You can read it at www.treeclimbing.com, go to Message Board, then to General Discussions.
I'd would also like to share my personal experience that I posted there also which I can repeat here as only one example to illustrate the point of how we are perceived.
"Today I went to the City Park here in New Orleans, LA and since I'm new to climbing I just randomly picked out a nice wide canopy Live Oak to climb on, but this Oak was about 200 or so feet from the main street that goes through the rear of the Park and the tree was up against a levee. So I thought I was out of sight, right? Well for a while I thought I was. As I pulled out my rope, no problem. As I threw my throwline, no problem. As I set the rope saver, no problem. As I brought the rope back down, no problem. BUT then I put on my New Tribe saddle, with QAS, and double bungie rope walker and gear bucket, then I happened to look up and some cars seemed to be slowing down and looking. As I began to climb SRT quickly, I noticed more cars slowing, Then as I switched over to rappel and I was hanging there about only 25ft. up some cars started blowing their horns. As I rapelled, there was almost a traffic jam! I forgot to mention I had my helmet on too. Anyway, it wasn't till I got dressed in all my gear that you would have thought the people were watching Spider Man or something. Needless to say I left quickly before any Policmen came and I learned my lesson and will go completely NINJA and stealthy like you guys.
So for all you Spider Men out there, watch it!! Haha.
So I say the more we promote who we are and the details of what we do, the more the public will understand that we're not so weird.
CharlieB.

R_Schra · May 28, 2005

IF i participated in such i would present the treeclimbing as professional trade. NOT as fun for all when ever you like to get a rush from extreme .... ITS WORK not a sport. (thats for me the reason why i never done a TCC /forum/images/graemlins/9lame.gif)

I am just afraid that unexpierenced, whithout the propper techniques, people maybe get hurt or randomly climbed trees are damaged.

Only last week we had a belgium guy, ex circus acrobat, that did 'freeclimbing' trees for fun. So we got in to that discussion whit about 5 treeworkers about pro/cons for sharing techniques etc. Last night we went to the city Gent in belgium where we met in a 130year old park. We expected the 'acrobat' to show up and maybe he was crazy enough to climb without gear. Instead he called in to say he couldnt make it, he broke his arm the other day falling from 2.5 meters out a tree /forum/images/graemlins/blush.gif He told us he was cured from 'freeclimbing' trees.... /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

So in such case as taking part in an 'extreme' sports festival, Is it only treeclimbing thats asked as profession or also high altitude workers as in skyrizer construction, windowcleaners, utillity workers, scaffold builders etc etc.

It looks to me that such a festival can be a point to interrest people for such trades, as they like and are used to extreme situations. (i do treeclimbing for a living and have fun in doing it, so why not people who do climb/go extreme for fun making a living in it.)

R
o
n
a
l
d
/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif

R_Schra · May 28, 2005

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Als antwoord op:</font><hr />

This year we have a total of four of these events besides the official TCC's.

It's a way of relaxing and talking shop in a friendly atmosphere.

Wolter

[/ QUOTE ]

Who What and Where Wolter ? Tell me so i can hook up.....can i?

/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif

R
o
n
a
l
d