Scott Forrest scales new heights – winning New Zealand’s best tree climber for the fifth time
New Zealand arborist, Husqvarna brand ambassador and H-team member Scott Forrest is reaching new heights after being
named the nation’s best tree climber for the fifth time.
In Dunedin at the weekend he won the Masters title at the 2018 NZ Arboriculture Association Husqvarna National Tree
Climbing Championships (NTCC).
Scott said winning his fifth national tree climbing title was intense. “I felt so many emotions, I don’t know the best
way to describe it. I was extremely happy and satisfied with the win and I hope it shows people to never give up.”
As he’s a multiple winner, Scott gave his prize haul of Husqvarna gear and equipment to his fellow competitors.
Scott won the same national title in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 and has won the International Tree Climbing Championships
(ITCC) in 2011, 2013 and 2014. New Zealand has a reputation for producing many world-class tree climbers. The current
2018 ITCC champion is New Zealander James Kilpatrick, who competed alongside three other New Zealanders at the ITCC in
Columbus, Ohio this year.
Competitive tree climbing involves five preliminary events which replicate activities arborists do in their daily work.
Events include the Aerial Rescue, the Work Climb, the Secured Footlock, the Belayed Speed Climb and the Throwline. The
top competitors in these events then complete the Masters challenge and are judged on skills and speed. The tree
climbing championships are run by the NZ ARB which was established in 1989. The competition runs in conjunction with the
NZ ARB Association annual conference, which was attended by about 340 people this year.
Husqvarna has a long-standing partnership with the NTCC. In total, 31 climbers took part in the competition where they
scaled the linden trees in the Otago Museum reserve. The female winner was Stephanie Dryfhout who also captained the
under-21 New Zealand women’s Canoe Polo team at the 2016 World Games in Italy.
Scott has qualified for 2019 ITCC which will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, in August. The Asia Pacific
preliminaries are being held in Christchurch next April and Scott will be competing.
The H-Team is group of Husqvarna ambassadors handpicked from the best forest and garden professionals in the world. Scott Forrest
is New Zealand’s H-Team representative.
About Husqvarna
Husqvarna is a brand within Husqvarna Group. Since 1689, Husqvarna has manufactured high performing products and
delivered industry-changing innovations such as anti-vibration and automatic chain-break on chainsaws, as well as the
world’s first commercial robotic mower. Today, Husqvarna offers a broad range of high performing outdoor power products
for parks, forest and garden, and represents technological leadership in the key areas; chainsaws, trimmers, ride-on
mowers and robotic mowers. Husqvarna products are sold in more than 100 countries, mainly through servicing dealers.