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2016 Prairie Chapter Tree Climbing Champion Jesse Antonation. (Supplied by International Society of Arboriculture Prairie Chapter)

Tree Climbing Championships coming to Lethbridge this weekend

Aug 19, 2019 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As many as 40 “industrial athletes” from across Western Canada will be in Lethbridge to show off their skills.

Chair of the Prairie Chapter Tree Climbing Competition Matt Vinet says almost all of the men and women taking part are professional arborists, or those who cultivate, manage, and study trees and bushes.

“It’s also a learning and training opportunity, so the majority of arborists are ISA-certified arborists, so it’s really a unique training opportunity because you get together with 20 or 30 of your peers and learn from each other.”

Vinet says the competitors will take part in five different events in the preliminary rounds – the throw line, the work climb, the belayed speed climb, the ascent event, and the aerial rescue.

The top three men and top three women will then move on to the “Masters’ Challenge” where all of the aforementioned events are combined into one.

“Some of the events, it’s like the last two minutes of a basketball game – just cheering and yelling and just intensity. It’s very exciting to watch,” says Vinet.

The Prairie Chapter Tree Climbing Championships take place at Kinsmen Park in Lethbridge.

The preliminary rounds are on Saturday, August 24th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, while the Masters’ Challenge is on Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.