The third annual Tower Rodeo, being held December 2-3 in Phoenix, has attracted a variety of tower climbers across several industries and that’s just how founder Kathy Gill likes it. This year’s field of competitors features tower techs and emergency management personnel from across the country exhibiting their skills and techniques learned on the job in a myriad of climbing-related situations.
Staged at Gill’s Tower Safety training facility, the event features around eight, two-man teams demonstrating their skills for rigging, rescue, and climbing. Gill announced the names of the participants and judges this week for the two-day competition. Categories cover: ‘#1 Rescue Team,’ ‘Safest Climber in Wireless,’ and ‘Best Technical Rigger Team in Wireless.’ A new event will be the ‘Fastest Rescue Team’ and ‘Fastest Climber.’ Gill said this is the first time a team and climber will be named the fastest and safest climbers in the cell tower industry.
Teams include:
- Team 1 – Micah Rush/Eric Christensen – Peak Rescue (First place in 2021)
- Team 2 – John Bailey/James Murphy
- Team 3 – Dylan Hartzell/Nick Nuttall – TRI County Tower
- Team 4 – Nicholas Rybicki/Anthony Magoulas – Spectra Inc.
- Team 5 – Michael Crider/Anthony Crider – Appalachian Towers
- Team 6 – Kristopher Dean/Jeff Sayer – STG Communications
- Team 7 – Cody Garrison/Robert Moulter – Dan Combs Consulting
With over 200 attendees last year, Gill is projecting an even bigger turnout in December as the competition has grown in recognition and travel concerns have lightened up.
“Everyone thought I was crazy to start this back when COVID was just becoming an issue but this is a tough industry. It didn’t slow down then. It couldn’t. And it hasn’t stopped yet,” Gill told Inside Towers.
The judges, Russ Dodge and Dale Stewart of AHS Rescue, are 30-year veterans of the tower business.
Reader Interactions