Like Tarzan, Oliver Eigner swung from branch to branch in the willow on the northern shore of Lake Pleschinger – but unlike his literary role model, he did not swing from a liana, but rather from a rope that was well secured. “I’m used to the heights, but the time pressure does bring a certain thrill,” said the tree surgeon from Hagenberg.
He was one of the finalists at the Austrian Tree Climbing Championships, which took place in Linz on Sunday. The goal: to climb the tree in 30 minutes, solve various tasks and return safely to the ground.
Qualification for European Championship and World Cup
A large proportion of the participants work as tree surgeons, explained Mariella Smith, head of the organisation: “It is also a small industry meeting for us, where we can exchange ideas.”
The Viennese woman and her husband Damian, with whom she runs a tree care company, have been organizing the Austrian championships for the “International Society of Arboriculture”, the international association of tree care professionals, on a voluntary basis for several years. Around 35 volunteers support them. “It is important to us that people have this opportunity to exchange ideas and qualify for the European or World Championships,” said Smith.
45 participants from ten nations took part in the first round on Saturday. Six of them qualified for the final on Sunday – Kaspar Bühler was also there. “The most important thing is to keep a good overview in the tree,” explained the 28-year-old from Switzerland. The participants have to reach various stations in the tree and complete tasks there – for example ring a bell or get a piece of wood out of a bucket and hit a target on the ground with it. “The whole thing is based on work processes in tree care – in a competition, all steps are simulated,” said Bühler.
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Image: Antonio Bayer
Source: Nachrichten
