November 1, 2018
Canadian wins tree climbing event
Krista Strating of Hamilton, Ont., earned the Women’s International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) title for 2018. More than 70 male and female arborists and tree climbers from 20 countries competed at this year’s event, held Aug. 3-5, in Columbus, Ohio. James Kilpatrick of Hamburg, Germany, won the men’s world title.
Strating bested other female climbers in five preliminary events, each of which simulated work-related tasks when pruning and caring for trees. She was among female competitors who scored the highest in the preliminary events to earn a spot in the Masters’ Challenge championship round and battle for the title of women’s world champion.
ITCC competitors are some of the best in the industry who earn the opportunity to compete by winning local and regional competitions held by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) chapters and associate organizations around the world. Strating’s prior titles include the 2014 and 2017 Women’s North American Tree Climbing Champion.
The 42nd annual ITCC, organized by the ISA showcased these industrial athletes to educate the public about professional tree work, and the training and expertise it requires to be done safely.