(ST. LOUIS) – Expert arborist Mark Chisholm has done it again. The two-time world champion took his 15th top-five finish in the International Tree Climbing Championship, hosted by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). He finished in 3rd place overall.
In a field of 37 competitors, which included this year's champion, Bernd Strasser, who is sponsored by STIHL in Germany, Chisholm finished Saturday's preliminary competition in overall first place and took the following finishes in advance of Sunday's Master's Challenge:
- Belayed Speed Climb – Chisholm took 2nd place with a time of 48.87 seconds in this event that tests the contestant's ability to climb up a predetermined route from the ground to about 60 feet up a tree with a belayed climbing system attached for safety.
- Aerial Rescue – Chisholm finished in 2nd place with a score of 44 points in this timed event that tests the contestant's ability to climb to and safely lower a 120-pound dummy representing a climber who is unable to descend without assistance.
- Work Climb – Chisholm took 3rd place with a time of 84.015 seconds in the work climb, which tests the contestant's ability to move about the tree using a tree-climbing rope and saddle to several work stations, where they are given in-tree tasks to complete.
He held his secured footlock world record of 13.8 seconds.
Chisholm has placed among the top ten at the ISA's International Tree Climbing Championship for the past 17 years. He recently won his 16th straight title at the New Jersey Arborist's Chapter of the ISA’s Tree Climbing Competition – which qualified him for this year's international competition.
"This competition is always very tough, and I'm proud to be working among the best in the industry here," said Chisholm. "An event like this does so much to raise awareness for the importance of caring for trees – one of our most important renewable resources."
One part acrobat, one part expert rope climber, one part tree physiologist, and several parts competitor and thrill seeker, Chisholm works as a professional arborist with his family-owned Aspen Tree Expert Company in New Jersey. A STIHL spokesman since 2001, Chisholm travels the world conducting safety and education training on behalf of STIHL among numerous professional groups, most recently in Italy at the annual European Congress of Arboriculture. STIHL manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws, which Chisholm uses professionally and personally.
Learn more about Chisholm's work at http://www.treebuzz.com/ or http://www.stihlusa.com/.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at http://www.stihlusa.com/.
For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to http://www.stihlcareers.com/. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.
