Competitors from Miller’s Tree Service prepare for a day of climbing events. All photos courtesy of Miller’s Tree Service.

I’ve been climbing trees for 23 years now. In that time, I’ve seen our industry evolve in some incredible ways. I’ve also seen how dangerous this work can be when training and teamwork fall short. As arborists, we accept a certain level of risk every time we leave the ground. The responsibility we carry is to make sure that risk is managed, not ignored.

That’s why tree-climbing competitions have become such an important part of our culture at Miller’s Tree Service, and why I believe they play a critical role in improving safety and professionalism across our industry.

From competition to collaboration

Like many companies, we have climbers who want to push themselves and compete. The Florida Chapter of the ISA hosts an annual tree-climbing competition, but with a limit of four climbers per company, we found ourselves facing a challenge. We had more climbers than available spots, and I didn’t want to play favorites.

So instead of choosing who could go, we let performance decide. Along with my partners Bryan Wilson, Drew Miller and Clay Culpepper, we created an internal climbing competition. The top four climbers would earn the opportunity to represent us at the Florida Chapter event.

What started as a fair solution quickly grew into something much bigger – an event that now draws competitors and volunteers from outside our company and outside our region.

Every year it gets better. Every year it gets safer. And every year it brings people together in a way that mirrors how we should be working in the field.

Real skills, real pressure

One of the reasons climbing competitions are so effective is that they’re built around the actual tasks arborists perform on the job. Each event reflects a step in a typical workday.

It starts with the throwline event, because before any work can happen, you have to get into the tree safely and efficiently.

From there, climbers move into ascent events, including a footlock-style speed climb and a belayed speed climb – each testing different techniques and problem-solving approaches.

Once in the canopy, the work climb challenges competitors to plan their route, move efficiently and demonstrate control, balance and safety while simulating pruning tasks. This event isn’t just about speed; it’s about how smooth, intentional and safe your movement is.

Finally, there’s the aerial-rescue event – the one we all hope we never have to perform in real life, but we train for it like it could happen tomorrow. Competitors assess the scene, identify hazards, communicate with emergency services and execute a rescue within a realistic timeframe. In Florida, scenarios including bee stings and heat-related incidents aren’t hypothetical. Training these skills repeatedly, under pressure, builds muscle memory that can save lives.

Tree-climbing competitions bring arborists together, strengthening both individual skills and industry-wide safety culture.

Safety is a team sport

Tree work has long had a reputation for being rough-and-ready – grab a rope, grab a saw and figure it out as you go. And while that approach helped build the industry, it also contributed to far too many injuries and fatalities.

Climbing competitions give us a way to show that safety and efficiency are not opposites. You can still work quickly. You can still work hard. But you can do it with intention and with respect for the systems that keep you alive.

What’s equally important is what happens off the rope. At our events, we might have 19 climbers competing, but we’ll have 50 people volunteering their time to support them. Judges, belayers, ground support, trainers – everyone wants to see everyone else succeed.

That mindset carries back to the job site. When climbers trust each other, communicate clearly and understand the same standards, crews function better and safer.

Community impact

The benefits of this kind of training and collaboration don’t stop with our companies. They extend directly into the communities we serve.

When storms hit and neighborhoods are devastated, arborists from different companies end up working side by side. In those moments, we’re not competitors – we’re problem solvers. We’re focused on clearing roads, restoring access and helping people get back on their feet as quickly and safely as possible.

Climbers who have competed and learned together collaborate more naturally. There’s less ego and more trust. And that’s how communities recover faster.

Conclusion

At Miller’s Tree Service, everything comes back to our core values: compassion, commitment and making sure everyone goes home the same way they arrived. Our tree-climbing competitions support all of that. They make us better climbers, better teammates and better professionals. They’re a reminder that none of us does this alone – and that the safest way forward is together.

Tim Walters, BCMA, CTSP, is a partner and head of operations at TCIA-Accredited Miller’s Tree Service in Tallahassee, Florida.

Custom medals recognize top performances.