First Time TCC Observations

[MickCPitlick]

So. I went to the Mid-Atlantic ISA competition, 5 April, at the National Arboretum in Washington DC. It was the first time I have seen an event.
.
First, the positives. Despite the blustery weather, the overall feeling of the event was warm - wives and kids, dogs, friendly. To my understanding, it was organized well and there were five trees side-by-side set up for
Work Climb, Belay Speed Climb, Aerial Rescue, Footlock, Throwline. The athletes are great.

Now, the negatives.
Gee. There's a lost opportunity to turn this into a spectator sport. Even as a semi-informed observer, I had no idea: a) Who was competing and from where, b) How they would be judged and how did they actually score.

Even a high school wrestling meet has more information available. My advice, post a program with agenda and names. Put someone on a microphone, have him announce each contestant, comment on the performance and results. Add some color and some entertainment. Hire a clown for the kids. Set up a video cam with a long lens and televise the fine points.

No women participants?! Why?

Also, why is there nor SRT, even for demonstration? No best practices for using knee ascender climbing, which is obviously the fastest. (Why do belayed climbing anyway). None of the new and innovative devices.

Why not attract ordinary civilian spectators and keep them informed? I'll bet the answer is budget. But if it was a stronger event, there would also be revenue opportunities to build the budget.

 

[easyphloem]

Sounds like you have some great ideas. You should try to get involved with your local chapter or regional tcc, and volunteer until you are sick of it ten years later, and become cynical, like me.

SZ

 

[GlennButler]

I was a scorekeeper yesterday at the MAC-ISA TCC and I can assure you that three women competed. Jocelyn Lohse was impressive as usual, footlocking faster than many male competitors to the same height.

 

[GlennButler]

And congratulations to James Earhart who won all five men's events yesterday. The Master's Challenge is currently in progress.

​

 

[Frax]

If you have enough MC style judges in the ring, you can generate that crowd buzz. Kristian Schultz is a master! He's all about stirring the crowd. At Prairie chapter comp, its de rigeur for the head judge to loudly proclaim each contestant as they enter the
ring, say where they are from and whether it's their first, second etc contest. I can tell you as a competitor in that chapter a few years ago that's it's a tremendous boost to the competitor and draws a crowd.

 

[Hulk]

So. I went to the Mid-Atlantic ISA competition, 5 April, at the National Arboretum in Washington DC. It was the first time I have seen an event.
.
First, the positives. Despite the blustery weather, the overall feeling of the event was warm - wives and kids, dogs, friendly. To my understanding, it was organized well and there were five trees side-by-side set up for
Work Climb, Belay Speed Climb, Aerial Rescue, Footlock, Throwline. The athletes are great.

Now, the negatives.
Gee. There's a lost opportunity to turn this into a spectator sport. Even as a semi-informed observer, I had no idea: a) Who was competing and from where, b) How they would be judged and how did they actually score.

Even a high school wrestling meet has more information available. My advice, post a program with agenda and names. Put someone on a microphone, have him announce each contestant, comment on the performance and results. Add some color and some entertainment. Hire a clown for the kids. Set up a video cam with a long lens and televise the fine points.

No women participants?! Why?

Also, why is there nor SRT, even for demonstration? No best practices for using knee ascender climbing, which is obviously the fastest. (Why do belayed climbing anyway). None of the new and innovative devices.

Why not attract ordinary civilian spectators and keep them informed? I'll bet the answer is budget. But if it was a stronger event, there would also be revenue opportunities to build the budget.

It

 

[Hulk]

It's a tight nit group with very very stiff competition. Mac that is. We need more folks to get involved to elevate it further as a competitor I'm just glad there are volunteers ! Let alone more than the family supporting us. The North American tcc is the next step.if that event can be a bigger event the local chapters would benefit from the PR the international is on the list for me as competitor.mmmmmm