Safety, Skill, & Speed Take Center Stage at ArborSPORTS™ Debut

The inaugural ArborSPORTS™ competition made a thrilling debut at ArborEXPO™ ’25, electrifying the show floor with sawdust, sweat, and the unmistakable camaraderie of the tree care profession. In partnership with North American Training Solutions (NATS), the event brought teams of arborists into a high-energy, head-to-head arena where precision, safety, and teamwork were tested in fast-paced challenges.

From chainsaw finesse to technical rigging mastery, ArborSPORTS™ was designed to showcase not just individual talent but the vital coordination and safety protocols that define professional crews. Over two days of action, top-performing teams demonstrated what the future of tree care looks like — skilled, efficient, and deeply focused on doing the job right.

Winners Who Rose Above

The event culminated in two standout victories:

Thursday, March 27: Gap Arborist Supply’s Avery Sharpless and Chris Kinsey, representing John B Ward & Co Tree Experts, clinched the win with a final time of 3 minutes, 37 seconds.

Friday, March 28: Adam Hilton and Richard Cleary of Clear Choice Tree Service took top honors, posting an impressive 2 minutes, 59 seconds in the finals.

Despite the competitive atmosphere, the true win, as organizers emphasized, was in bringing a new level of public visibility and professionalism to the field of arboriculture.

Raising the Bar for Tree Care

Ed Carpenter, director of operations at NATS and the head MC and judge for the event, sees ArborSPORTS™ as more than just a spectacle. For him, it is about redefining public perception and reinforcing the industry’s standards.

“The ultimate goal of ArborSPORTS™ is to really have the general public who’s purchasing tree care services from tree care professionals to look at us as a profession, to look at us as skilled trade workers,” Carpenter said.

In an industry where safety records can easily fall off the radar, the event provided a controlled yet realistic environment to reinforce best practices.

“The tree care industry has not had a great track record of safety,” Carpenter added. “So, the fact that we have folks coming in teams… and being able to compete in a head-to-head environment, both inside and outside, it’s just great.”

Indeed, the event was a showcase of technical excellence — but also an educational opportunity. Carpenter noted that while some safety violations did occur during the competition, they provided teachable moments that can ripple out into daily work.

“Safety is the biggest skill,” he emphasized. “We have the opportunity to correct it here in a fun and competitive environment, and they take those lessons from here and apply them on the job site.”

A Team-Based Industry
Highlighted

Unlike individual climbing competitions, ArborSPORTS™ is rooted in the realities of the trade. The format reflects the way arborists actually work—side by side, relying on communication and mutual trust.

“This is team-based, this is crew-based, this is company-based, and that’s how the industry is structured,” said Carpenter. “When you see folks that are wearing all the appropriate protective equipment, they’ve got work protocols, they’ve got established drop zones… they’re doing it in a safe and efficient way. It’s a way to help promote that professionalism.”

Champions Speak: Team Clear Choice

Winners of the Friday final, Adam Hilton and Richie Cleary of Clear Choice Tree Service, shared what set their team apart. For Cleary, the edge came down to trust, coordination, and a unified mindset.

“If you can work separately at the same task… that’s a good commodity for you,” Cleary explained. “It’s about having the same focus and the same game plan, and that goes along with the safety. Everybody knows what everybody’s doing.”

Their partnership highlighted how seasoned crews often move with a kind of shared rhythm, making quick decisions while staying aligned on safety and efficiency.

Hilton, a vocal advocate for continuous training, attributed their success to consistent practice and an emphasis on fundamentals.

“Practice every day that you can,” he advised. “Try to set up some kind of course… just practice cutting notches, proper notches, proper tension cuts.”

But more than speed or even precision, Hilton believes the key to strong performance is building a culture of safety from the ground up.

“Teaching our guys how to be safe with the proper equipment and the proper techniques [is] definitely the number one thing,” he said. “It also [comes down to] more efficiency than speed. I think just being smooth and efficient with proper techniques, it will definitely get newcomers up to par.”

That spirit of lifelong learning is something Hilton holds closely.

“There’s always something to learn in this industry, whether it be regulations, requirements, skills, or even new equipment,” he said.

A Culture of Professional Growth

ArborSPORTS™ is more than just a flashy addition to a trade show — it represents a growing movement within the arboriculture community to elevate the industry’s image, reinforce safety as a foundational skill, and inspire the next generation of tree care professionals.

By creating a competitive format that rewards not just speed but precision, teamwork, and professionalism, the event sends a clear message: arboriculture is a skilled trade, and excellence is both expected and celebrated.

Looking Ahead

With the success of its debut, ArborSPORTS™ is poised to become a cornerstone event for the tree care industry. The momentum built at ArborEXPO™ ’25 suggests that more teams, more companies, and more industry leaders will be lining up for a shot at the title—and a chance to represent the very best in tree care.

For those who missed it this year, the competition was more than worth the watch. And for the crews who stepped into the arena, it was a chance to test their skills, refine their practices, and walk away with more than a trophy: pride in their craft and a renewed commitment to doing the job the right way.