Open master challenge

[Jman]

I've been following what the Australians have been doing and before I go to all the trouble with the ground work. Is anyone interested in an open master challenge near Philly?

Isa rules but not worth points or anything. I would like to get sponsors and prizes but i think for the first few it's going to be just for fun.

I would need a few volunteers for judging and safety techs. Preferably 3 judges and 2 techs.

Let me know. I'm shooting for late summer or early fall. I'll try to get a date that doesn't fall on any ISA comps.

 

[Jesse]

Don't think I could make it but sounds like a great idea to me.

 

[Jeff_Cochran]

i would love that

 

[countryboypa31]

I'm in!

 

[John_Hartenburg]

We did that splicing symposium out there last spring and had a great time in this area. Yea...I could see using this as a business trip that would be worthwhile...

That Philly downtown area was neat, the guys an I spent an evening there...loved it.

 

[PUClimber]

I would say I'd probably rock out and judge or tech.

 

[Jman]

Getting a site doesn't seem like an issue this far. I'm looking at potential liability for myself and the property owner. Also I would like to keep the event as open as possible but it will be a master type climb so I might have to limit some of the contestant spots to experienced climbers. Something like 2 years climbing experience.

The regular competitions have the first 5 events to prove the skill of the contestants. I won't have the same "test" so to speak. I just don't want someone who is green get into a situation in a big tree.

Also, I have been kicking the idea around of a non-typical climb. Something with a twist to it like an aerial rescue mid masters climb, 3 stations then an aerial rescue to save your co worker you have been working the tree with.

I'm just really shooting ideas off the hip right now.

So far I've got about 3 volunteers and about 3 climbers.

Anyone know off the top of their head where I should start to look for insurance for something like this? I'm wondering if simple waivers would work or would insurance would be the way to go.

 

[countryboypa31]

Jared A was talking about a masters comp as well. I thought he had a great idea about having many ribbons in the tree you have25 min and can get as many as possible in that time certain ones would have higher possible point values than others.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I've worked through most of the details of a pruning component for a competition. Its patterned after the way I scored the practical part of the final exam for the arbo class that I taught at a tech college. It is NOT hard to run the 'test'.

Alex Shigo wished that pruning was a scored part of the competition.

 

[Jman]

ooooo do a combination of both put a bunch of bells and have them hit only the ones they would prune out.

 

[SCOTTYNC]

Give me a call and I'll hook you up with some help on Ins. and stuff. (704-421-5213)
Scotty

 

[marlinspiker]

jman i got all the insurance hookups.

 

[SuperK]

Jman,

I would be interested. Not the best competitor but its always great to meet more new people, and learn new things. Fall i think would be a great time.

 

[Tara2]

The open Master's is a great idea.

We ran one recently on the same model as has been used up in Auckland over the last few years: Find a tree, put some stations in it, print out some score sheets, get the word out.

The one in Auckland in December 2011 was in two trees with a zip line between them (which the climbers enjoyed).

The one we did earlier this month in Whanganui was more traditional.

We also had the climbers judge each other - so that they could see the exercise from a judges point of view.

Big plus for us is not having to worry about insurance.

Have fun with it.

It's a great way to full the time between TCCs.

 

[Daniel]

How about setting up a spar, and doing some negative blocking, even if it is worked from a bucket for safety. Be nice to see some arborist comp involving cutting and pruning skills..