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History of the International Tree Climbing Championship
The International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC), previously named ISA Tree Trimmer's
Jamboree, was initially proposed in 1975 by Dick Alvarez from Atascadero, California. Alvarez began running
a number of events in his own company, Arbor Tree Surgery, with the intent to preserve the classic skills
that would prepare a climber equipped with nothing more than a rope to have the ability to save a life in
an aerial rescue. The competition grew as Alvarez invited other companies to attend his annual company picnic.
Eventually, it became a chapter sanctioned event and attracted the likes of ISA members Bailey Hudson, City
Forester City of Santa Maria, CA and Don Blair, President Sierra Moreno Mercantile Co. Both men assisted
Alvarez with his bid to have the event held every year at the ISA Annual Field Day.
The ISA Board of Directors approved the first ISA Jamboree to be held at the conference
in St. Louis, Missouri in August of 1976. At that time, each chapter was allowed to send two contestants
to compete as a team in four events the Work Climb, Aerial Rescue, Rope Throw, and the 40' Footlock or
Body Thrust Speed Climb. Contestants had the option to compete in both Footlock and Body Thrust Speed Climb
events but were allowed to only earn points in one of the two events; only a selected few preferred the
footlock over the body thrust method to enter the tree. Afterwards, the total scores of the events were
accumulated at the end of the competition, and the climber with the highest total score was announced the
winner. Tom Gosnell of Santa Barbara, California, was the first ISA world champion tree climber!
Between 1987 and 1988, the Jamboree was discontinued as a result of a lack in insurance
liability coverage. The ISA Board of Directors, recognizing the educational value of the event, responded
by establishing a committee to work through the insurance issue. After two years of research and negotiations,
an insurance program was found in time to reinstitute the Jamboree at the ISA Annual Conference & Trade Show
in August of 1989 at Morton Arboretum. With new regulations, climbers were required to be tied in at all
times during the competition. The Footlock event was withheld from this competition and was deemed unsafe
because there was no protection from an open fall.
During the 1989 Jamboree, Randy Haupe of the Western Chapter introduced the Prusik Loop
system to then Jamboree Special Advisor, Sam Noonan, a two time ISA Jamboree Champion. The Prusik Loop system,
composed of a length of rope tied into a loop using a double fisherman's knot is used to attach the climber's
saddle with a Prusik knot to the climbing line. This provided protection from an open fall when using the
footlock to enter a tree. Impressed by the system, Noonan allowed climbers using a Prusik to footlock into
the Work Climb tree. In 1991, the Footlock was reintroduced as the Secured Footlock event, requiring the use
of a Prusik Loop, and became a mandatory event for all competitors.
As a result of the renewed Jamboree activity, a committee was appointed to develop a
formal rule book and training video to standardize ISA Jamborees. The first European Chapter representatives
entered the competition in 1994 at the ISA Annual Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. European climbing methods,
which had developed with a strong rock climbing influence, differed from North American practices. Judges
were inspecting gear, knots, and hitches that were foreign to them. Consequently, several of the climbers
were not allowed to climb using the valdotain tressé , a friction hitch developed for rock climbing that
is commonly used by many today.
In 1995, after attending the 1994 European Congress held in Versailles, France, ISA
President, Ken Meyer, requested the Jamboree committee review the policies and rules to suggest changes
to "internationalize" and improve the entertainment and education value of the competition. It was clear
the Jamboree experience was popular and the interest was spreading across international boarders.
In the spring of 1996, a team of ISA volunteers, including three time ISA Jamboree
Champion, Ken Palmer, and Jamboree Chair, Herschel Hale, met to develop and test a series of changes
inspired by Palmer's attendance at several European Climbing Competitions. Three new events emerged as
a result of hybridization of European and North American competition design. The Body Thrust was transformed
into the Belayed Speed Climb event. The Rope Throw was replaced by the Throwline event. Last, the Footlock
became the Secure Footlock event. Also, the Masters' Challenge, a final championship round, was created,
consisting of only the top five contestants who have accumulated the highest combined point total in the
preliminary events. The new format was introduced at the ISA Annual Conference & Trade Show in Cleveland,
Ohio in 1996. Frederick Mathias of France, Chair of the European Tree Climbing Championships, added an
international flair as the multi-lingual Emcee provided commentary in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
The winner of the first Masters' Challenge was Rip Tompkins of the New England Chapter!
In 1999, at the 75th anniversary and homecoming ISA Annual Conference & Trade Show held
in Stamford, Connecticut, Bernd Strasser of Germany became the first non-U.S. member to win the Masters'
Challenge. ISA Tree Climbing Championships are now hosted in 20 countries around the world, attracting and
bringing together the world's best climbers. At the 2001 competition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christine Engel
of Germany became the first ISA Women's Division ITCC World Champion. The ITCC is still expanding, and today
over 1,000 contestants participate at over 50 local competitions worldwide. The purpose of the event has also
expanded to promote safe working practices, demonstrate innovations in equipment and techniques, and provide
industry recognition.
In addition, the ITCC has reinvented the tree climbing equipment and care industries. The
competitions have brought the end users and manufacturers together, and the result has been an explosion of
inventions and products specifically designed for tree care applications. Industry safety standards in nearly
every participating country have benefited from these innovations. It has also instilled a respect for the
role of the climber and a strong focus for the individuals of the climber community to improve the work
environment for all tree care workers.
If you have questions regarding ITCC please contact us at
itcc@isa-arbor.com.
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