Considered one of the most strenuous and physically demanding of the events, tree climbers must ascend an 80-foot tree which tapers off at the top, and fly back down again before their competitor. Because of the size difference in the pole from bottom to top, adjustments to the climber’s rope are made throughout the two-way climb. A lightning-fast twenty seconds or less is all it takes for top competitors to finish this exciting event.
Open climbers ascend all the way to 80 feet and back down; however, the competition is made a little easier for intermediate and novice classes to encourage as much participation as possible. Intermediates climb to the 60-foot mark and back down. Novice climbers also go to the 60-foot mark, but the trip back down is not timed.