Statewide Tree Climbing Competition a Big Success

For the last three years, Tarrytown has been the host of an event that has benefits felt around the world.

With the Hudson River and Tappan Zee Bridge providing the background and Lyndhurst providing the trees, the 16^th annual New York State Arborist Tree Climbing Championship took place this past Saturday.

Twenty-one men from New York State competed in five events to determine the state champion and who would compete at the International Tree Climbing Championship July 23-24 in Chicago.

The competitors, who mostly work for landscape or tree care companies from across the state, take the skills that are used on the job and compete for the chance to become the champion tree climber.

"There's a tight knit group out here," said Brian Krawczyk, the defending champion. "It's a fun competition and were always trying to help each other out. If you can make somebody a better climber, then more power to everybody."

One of the main components of the competition was to pick the right trees for the different events that were going to be in the championship. Members of the New York State Arborist came prior to the event and made sure they found the right trees.

Joel Greifenberger, an arborist from Long Island and the head of the event, spoke about what went into picking the right trees for the contest.

"What we want to do is prepare the guys for the international," he said. "It's important that when we do pick the trees, that they are prepared and have an event that will simulate what they are going to see on the international level."

The five stations that were used in the preliminary round were the throwline, footlock, speed climb, aerial rescue and work climb. The top three competitors competed in the masters event to determine the champion.

The masters challenge came down to the wire, but it was Jorge Orbando who came out victorious, just beating out Krawczyk. He will head to Chicago for a chance to be the world champion in tree climbing.

"Definitely, definitely excited," said Orbando when asked about winning the competition. "Lots of good climbers out there, so I'm looking forward to be climbing with the best climbers in the world."

At the end of the day, the importance of getting the word out about saving trees was what mattered most to Greifenberger.

"Trees and plants are the closest we come to Mother Nature, along with the animals who live in them, so it's important," he said.