Photos: Class in Cedar Rapids teaches tree climbing techniques ahead of Saturday competition

The Iowa Arborist Association offered an intro to competitive tree climbing class Friday in Cedar Rapids. The organization will host its annual Tree Climbing Championship Saturday at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Kevin Pendergast runs through a “work climb” after it had been set up for the Iowa Arborist Association’s Annual Tree Climbing Championship at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. In competitive tree climbing, the work climb is a timed event in which competitors climb from station to station to rings bells using tools or by throwing a pre-cut limb onto a target on the ground. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Participants in an intro to tree climbing class mime a bottom shift with Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. The class was offered Friday, ahead of the Iowa Arborist Association’s annual Tree Climbing Championship competition on Saturday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz discusses rigging systems during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. The class was held ahead of the Iowa Arborist Association’s annual Tree Climbing Championship at Daniels Park on Saturday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Dylan Hillyer ties a sheet bend knot during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz mimes rowing a boat while discussing bowlines during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Climbing equipment for the Iowa Arborist Association’s Tree Climbing Championship is laid out on picnic tables for a safety check at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. The competition will be held Saturday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Kevin Pendergast rings a bell with his saw during a test run of the “work climb” in preparation for the Iowa Arborist Association’s annual Tree Climbing Championship at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. Pendergast will be the judge for the work climb during competition on Saturday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz discusses the language of ropes and equipment during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

A hard hat was one of many pieces of equipment laid out on picnic tables for a safety check before the Iowa Arborist Association’s annual Tree Climbing Championship at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. The competition will be held Saturday at the park. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz guides Dylan Hillyer through making a sheet bend knot during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Matt Ghabel watches as Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz talks about different ways to set up a rigging system during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz discusses equipment safety during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Korey Schepers (far left), Mandy Leyken (left), Ashley Whittlesey (right) and Eric Whittlesey laugh as they mime milking a cow as Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz talks about cow hitch knots during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz guides Matt Ghabel through making a circus bowline knot during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz gets ready to rig up a pulley system during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)