Western Park venue for tree climbing competition

Western Park venue for tree climbing competition

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Auckland’s Western Park will host this year’s New Zealand Arboricultural Association and Husqvarna Auckland/Northland Regional Tree Climbing Competition on Saturday 8 March 2014.

New Zealanders and current world tree climbing champions, Nicky Ward-Allen and Scott Forrest, will be at the event, with Nicky climbing on the day.

Preliminary events kick off at 8:00 am – these test a competitor's ability to professionally and safely manoeuver in a tree, while performing simulated work-related tree-care tasks in a timely manner.  Those with the highest total score from the 5 events will qualify for the National Tree Climbing Championship in Rotorua this year for the men’s and women’s national titles.  The national champions qualify for the International Tree Climbing Competition held in the USA

This event provides a competitive but educational opportunity for working arborists to demonstrate and exchange new climbing techniques, equipment and safe work practices.  It provides positive public exposure for the profession, demonstrating some of the skills of professional arborists.  

Organiser Craig Webb encourages everybody to head along to Western Park for the competition: “Entrance for spectators is free and it’s a chance to see some of the very best competitors in action.  We’re very lucky to have such a big talent pool in New Zealand and our climbers are consistently among the top in the world.”

Craig Webb adds: “Western Park is a spectacular setting with some outstanding trees.  If you have never seen one of these events before they’re well worth checking out – the skill level is incredible and you might catch a world champion in action.”

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