Sorry all for my delay in replying. I will also apologize for a lengthy post! As public service announcement, if you are not interested in the intricacies of TCC work climb set up, tune out now, crack a cold beer and do something you find valuable! Allow me to also state that this whole post is not a challenge. I am throwing no gauntlets here! It is my attempt to share with this community what I think/ have learned about setting up an ITCC event. The idea is to share what I know, learn something new from you all and have a relevant discussion. Nothing more or less.
Tom,
I agree. We cannot let the peanut gallery in. I am fully aware that you cannot please all the people all the time, too many cooks in the kitchen and all that. However, I do encourage participation in the ITCC. My remark, while phrased flippantly, was double entendre. I meant at once if you can't show up on set up day, then sit back and cheer; as well as if it bothers you that much then do something about it!
Nothing would please me more than to see Riggs on the work climb set up team for ITCC. I respect his judgement, skill and ability to spot bullshit a mile away! I respect his comments and criticism while simultaneously deploring his writing style! (The writing thing is a "Tony" issue, I know!) I also realize and respect all Riggs does for the Penn-Del chapter TCC and understand his "spectatorship" at ITCC.
From a personal stand point, there is not much you can post online that will piss me off. Thick skin comes with wisdom, or is it the other way around? Life gets much easier and the drama of living much less when you get to a point in life where what others think fails to impact you on a personal level. Say what you like. I'll listen to the objective and dismiss the subjective. Like me if I make you think you are thinking, hate me if I really make you think, The choice is out of my hands and in yours.
Professionally I am not so smug to pretend I have all the answers. I appreciate the view from the outside looking in, even if I think it flawed. I make mistakes and will continue to do so, albeit while trying my dead level best. I realize my judgments may not be in line with others and will always keep an open mind. The key is to not let it get full of junk!
To the issue of the 2104 ITCC work climb:
Nothing would please me more to see a more international and multi gender presence on the work climb set up team. To this end I invite you all to volunteer your time, effort and energy as many great volunteers already do.
So you all have bit of backstory, the ITCC committee reviews the proposed competitions sites well before competition. The trees for events are narrowed, but not actuality selected until pretty much the wednesday before the comp. As head tech I try to get into town that wednesday, but most often I arrive latter that evening and do not see the selected tree until thursday morning.
As head tech, along with the head judge, I do have some say in the tree selection. If it is unsafe or unsuitable (due to aerial inspection) then we get another tree. Other than that, I realize the myriad of other logistical concerns in and ITCC, so I run with the tree I am given, trusting to the others on the whole ITCC team. The 2104 tree was what it was. It was safe an possible to put a work climb in. Where there different option in the area? Yes. Were there better options? This is not for me to answer. A key component of leadership is delegation. A key component of a leader is to recognize and respect that delegation. The tree was chosen, my job was to set it up to the best of the work climb team's ability. I trust those above me that the decision was made based on sound, logical judgement, just as they trust me and the head judge to accomplish the task given us, setting up a work climb
As for the actual climb, the tree was limiting. As always we try and showcase best working practices. Therefore, rope angles are maintain at 45º or less, Proper, effective and safe places to use you lanyard when at the work stations are necessary. Every tree is different, this one had only one real option for a challenging limb walk, based on the above criteria. Hence, the rest of the climb was built off that. We tweaked the limb toss to make the throw "difficult" because approaching the station was easy, do to honoring 45º rope angles. The pole saw station was set to be a bit misleading and "Stretch" the climber out opposite the lanyard. This was to show control and poise as well as distant judgement.
Because of branching structure large swing were not possible. We chose to make some "up and overs" forcing slack management. In the end We tried our best to construct a climb with many options and let the climbers climb. the only caveat was not to let climbers put themselves in an unsafe positions i.e. subject to fall, excessive swing or collision if something were to go wrong.
As for time, yes a three to four minute climb is logistically all that can be handled. At sixty plus climbers, every minute equals an hour. As it was, the day went smoothly and it was still a 8.5 hour day. Could we go longer? Sure, but we have to be realistic. Would I love to see a longer, more involved work climb? Yes, I am actively working to see significant change in the format of the ITCC. As for the present, I work within the confines of the event as it is now. The decision for a short climb is not from the "higher ups" but arrived at from math, good sense and a need to err on the side of caution. I principally, with the concurrence of the head judge, make the final decision of the length/difficulty of the work climb. I do this trying to balance the need for safety, efficiency and fun in that order.
We also have to address the very real possibility that something may go wrong during the climb. To that end, the climb may be restricted due to a "worse case scenario'" as if in a climber falls out there or slips of there we will not get to him or her quickly or he or she will smack the trunk. This is not defeatism, but a realistic look at the GAME we are playing.
Put on top of all this the health of the tree and as I hope you understand the decisions made are not trivial nor subjective.
The final detail I will discuss is the first station. Yes, it was a "give me station." But not without reason. I will start my explanation from the design standpoint. First the structure of the tree was limiting. There were only so many climb options. Do not forget we have to get climbers into the tree and ready to go. This occupies about 1/2 to 1/3 of the available "climbable" tree space.
From a safety standpoint, I like to set up a "easy" first station to evaluate a climber. One of the jobs as tech in the tree is to make sure the climber is able to safely climb. I make eye contact, ask questions, evaluate physical movement, check coordination, look for signs of fatigue, heat stress, nerves. I do much of this as the climber ties in. The act of climbing to the first station serves as a litmus test. I keep it close and easy. In my experience, if something is going to go wrong due to a physical issue with the individual climber, it will go wrong early. I plan the climb that way.
Having said all that, the 2104 Work Climb first station was easy. The structure issues already mention played a part. Also the rain the night before, as well as constant weighting of the T.I.P caused the slings that held the DMM hub that was the T.I.P to stretch. In effect, the T.I.P got about 4-6 inches lower on competition day than the set up day before. By the time I realized it it was too late to fix. There were other things I could have done to prevent a "lean back and ring" I choose not too. I choose to let climber's climb and not change mid event. This was my decision and mine alone. In retrospect, I would have moved the bell out on set up and used a more appropriate cordage to secure the T.I.P.
If this seriously affected any one's climb for the better or the worse, then I sincerely apologize. I shall not make the same mistake again.
It is my honest hope that these explanations have educated and informed. There is always room for improvement. I look forward to the day when I can construct the perfect work climb at ITCC. I will then follow in the foot steps of NFL great Barry Sanders' and leave the game at the top of mine! Until then I shall do the best with what I have been given. I shall continue to learn. Mostly I will continue to "pay forward" because the return on investment makes me and you better.
Respectfully,
Tony
