NO KONG GEAR AT TCC'S!!!!!

C

Colin

Administrator
Administrator
NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

NO KONG GEAR AT TCC'S!!!!! they will not cover jay butchers medical bills because the gear was used at a tree climbing competition!!! which they say is inappropriate use of their standard gear. so: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC'S!!!!! they said it was jays fault for trusting an unmarked ring sold from a reliable company. so NO KONG GEAR AT TCC'S!!!!! if their standard gear isn't good enough to last through the light action it sees at a comp then why should we trust anything they make? once again................. NO KONG GEAR AT TCC'S!!!!!
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

If Kong openly states it will not support it's product in a competition setting then I feel that it's extremely important that Kong products not be used in a comp. That will protect the climber and tcc for any issues
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

I think that items that meet strength requirements should be allowed...however, I would not approve any ring or carabiner that is not clearly marked with the breaking strength and manufacturer. This might indirectly remove some Kong products from TCCs. Limbwalker as a company doesn't buy Kong products anymore. I have been appalled at Kong's response to this issue. They need to act professionally in this matter.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

I would love to ban Kong from TCCs but if we did it on the grounds that Kong doesn't sanction use of their gear in TCCs then we could be excluding a whole lot of gear makers. It would be a good thing to clear that up though. Which manufacturers will warrant their products if used in TCCs?

TCCs are odd in that competition duty is considerably lighter than everyday work.

I think you'd get into a sticky area in that ONLY gear from sanctioned sources would be allowed and then, you know, people start trying to control things. One maker might expend a lot of energy trying to discredit another maker just to get them out of the arena.

If you wanted to ban just Kong, I think that would have to take place grass roots style at the chapter or individual competition level.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

[ QUOTE ]
If your not pissed off, your not paying attention.
Screw you Kong.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree 100% with the above quote.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

Be careful of expecting a ban on any unmarked gear.

I have some stainless steel rings that I bought at West Marine with no markings. The rings are rated at 8k#. I use one on my bridge as a second attachment. At the Geezers a couple of years ago the ring was questioned at gear inspection. I told the tech that I could get the documentation from the WM website but that wasn't needed. I have to trust WM to source quality gear and back up what they sell. So far, I trust their integrity.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

Unmarked gear is clearly disallowed at any well run TCC. I would have told you that the documentation of the ring was needed and wouldn't have allowed that ring to be used otherwise.

If an item isn't labeled with its strength ratings, then it is the climbers responsibility to provide documentation of the items ratings. You should expect a good manufacturer to put their name and the strength rating permanently and clearly on the piece of equipment.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

KS,

There are many examples of unmarked gear allowed into comps unfortunately.

I agree...documentation is a must though.

In the case of the SS rings, it wouldn't be practical to mark them but I can provide documentation, including a sales receipt if I knew that it was needed on comp day.

What about the unmarked rings on Buckingham FC's as an example. We have to take B'ham's word that they are proper and have been proof tested even though they aren't marked.

Do splices need to be labeled? What if a person splices their own ropes? If I ever have splicing questions at a comp I can usually find someone there to help me out. If not, a phone picture and text message to one of the splicing gurus can usually solve the issue quickly.

http://tinyurl.com/328g3wm
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

I think it's well within the rights of judges to dis-allow unmarked gear, especially in light of the ring failure incidents. I'd have to change out a ring to compete, I use a Fixe SS ring on my bridge... totally trustworthy but not marked.

I think dis-allowing Kong at the competition level is a reasonable response by us as a union of arborists. It would send a powerful message that risking someone's safety to save a buck is NOT ACCEPTABLE and if you do it even once, you're out of our business.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

Banning unmarked gear??? I understand the concept but not the reality.

Go look at the life support hardware on any harness. I haven't seen many markings...maybe I'm missing something.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

You have a point, my BFII has no rating on it, just a weight capacity and some standards.

Isn't it about time manufacturers stopped playing games like that? Better yet, isn't about time the law made it favorable to inscribe a harness with a rating?

Enough with the games, all life support gear should be strength tested and rated. So what if a harness isn't rated for 22.5KN, it will never see that load without killing the occupant anyway. Build it and rate it at 5KN or 7.5KN, something reasonable.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

Then maybe there should be Tom. Who's to say that we aren't all climbing on "kong" crap rings on our life support gear?

Oh. I know. Treemagineers that's who. My rings may not be marked but they for damn sure were made and distributed by Treemagineers.

I think it's to a point Noe where it's irresponsible to allow ANY unmarked gear. I can go buy rings not rated for what I need but look the part all day long. Just the other day I caught our second climber using an unrated unmarked twist link that I know for a fact was under rated for his application because I'm the one who owns it (I use it ad a friction retrieval link)

Like I said. Ban all unmarked gear.
 
Re: NO KONG GEAR AT TCC\'S!!!!!

Easy , now Boyz I have some Kongs toys on the bottom of my gear bag .. Petzl, CMI ,Black Diamond , DMM and the list goes on .. Just read the label and use some smarts , Climb Safe ...


Later from SO-CAL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom