If you have a fear of heights, this competition would not be for you.
About 20 professional arborists from across Atlantic Canada took over part of King’s Square in Saint John on Saturday for a tree climbing competition.
They completed five activities designed to test their speed and skill, including aerial rescue, work climb, throw line, speed climb and footlock.
Thomas Blight, a Moncton native who works as an arborist in Fredericton, was one of the competitors.
“I felt pretty good in some of the higher scoring events, which can give you confidence for the others one,” Blight said. “I don’t always do that well at throw line, as you might have seen in the finals here, but knowing you’re in a good position kind of takes the pressure off.”
Being an arborist is definitely not for people who aren’t a fan of heights (like myself). pic.twitter.com/wXiod3T0rb
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) September 15, 2018
Blight was one of three finalists who faced off for a chance to go to the international competition in Tennessee next August.
He was asked what was going through his head as he climbed the 30-metre tree with dozens of people watching.
“You take all the details of the tree in as you’re going up,” Blight said. “It looks different once you’re up there, so you just take note of where certain limbs are or what the angle is like from where your rope is and how it’s going to be to access different parts of the canopy.”
Blight said an event like this also gives competitors a chance to learn new techniques and skills to apply on the job.
And if climbing the tree wasn’t hard (and nerve-wracking) enough, there’s also walking along limbs high above the ground. pic.twitter.com/g4ES8dEDFO
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) September 15, 2018
The competition was part of a three-day conference of the Atlantic Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture being held in Saint John.
