Is competition climbing a waste of time for industry training?

[Tom Dunlap]

After rereading Graeme’s question I think it’s being misinterpreted

If 300 hours of training is required in an entry level class is there enough value gained from 10 if those hours attained at a Comp?

My preference would be to have the curriculum use those ten hours in a more structured way. List any hours gathered by volunteering or attending a Comp as extra credit or required but don’t tally the hours

in many training programs an internship, sometimes paid many times unpaid, are required.

 

[ATH]

After some digging I found this (which is new info to me):

Enforcement Policy Regarding Arborists, SIC 0783 (Ornamental Shrub and Tree Services). | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

www.osha.gov

I'll do more research on the topic, Don't want to detail this thread.

Let's do this bit in another thread. I'm sure the conversation has been had here more than once, but always worth knowing where we as an industry stand!

Go there for the OSHA discussion.

OSHA/ANSI/Tree care industry

I'm sure this has been hashed out before, but @Phil brought it up in the "Are climbing competitions waste" thread. Rather than distracting too much there, I thought I'd start anew. @Tom Dunlap - you were on ANSI Z133 committee, right? This started with a link to a logging standard, to which I...

www.treebuzz.com

 

[ATH]

I know you're arguing ad obsurdum, but there is certification required in the states in some places. You're talking about a massive country with different requirements in every state. Where I'm at, you have to pass the ISA exam.

I believe that if climbers had to spend 10 hours learning about the innovative side of climbing that it would do a lot to progress our industry.

(I believe if climbers had to spend 10 hours learning about basic tree biology , we'd see HUGE strides in our industry - but that is another topic too!)

I like the "sprint/marathon" analogy that @flushcut used. I ran cross country and long distance in track when I was in high school. We would periodically do sprints. It worked on different muscle groups. It helped us finish races stronger, catch a few at the end just before the finish line. I don't care if I can sprint through the tree...but I think learning how would force me to be a little more smooth when work climbing as well as teaching me some new techniques.

 

[southsoundtree]

Climbing helps in learn about climbing.

Climbing doesn't teach about working.

I don't even want employees going to "pee real quick". I tell them to take all the time they need. Don't rush and pee on yourself.

Same thing all day long, steady and predictably productive. Done safely, correctly and completely the first time.

 

[evo]

Climbing helps in learn about climbing.

Climbing doesn't teach about working.

I don't even want employees going to "pee real quick". I tell them to take all the time they need. Don't rush and pee on yourself.

Same thing all day long, steady and predictably productive. Done safely, correctly and completely the first time.

Way way back when I was green I had a hard time pacing myself. My mentor called for a block and some other gear. He was down and up a tree on a bluff, back yard and around the corner from the truck. I jogged (slow run) to go get it and get it quick.
Upon my return I got a stern lecture about keeping a professional pace. “Professionals don’t run, there are plenty of times in this industry where you have to run, getting me a tool isn’t one of those times”

 

[owScott]

yes

 

[rope-a-dope]

Hot Take:
Competitions are mostly sport, as in recreation. They have value, but likely not much as training for noobs. The most enlightening event is the rescue, as the time spent executing, watching and thinking through an emergency response is hugely important, even for non-climbers.
I believe it was @Frax that wrote something once like, "climbing is just part if the commute." It takes skill and is critical to learn, like driving, but it doesn't pay unless you are just inspecting!