The City of Wichita Park & Recreation department will sponsor the 2018 North American Open Masters (NOAM) tree climbing championship this weekend at Oak Park. NAOM is a modern tree climbing competition that’s designed to demonstrate safe work practices in arboriculture as well as the art of tree-climbing.
The competition features 40 of the best climbers from Canada, Sweden, France, and the United States including two climbers from Wichita and last year’s defending champion, Bryan Brock.
Spectators are welcome and encouraged to come watch the competition, which begins Friday. It’s FREE and open to the public. When was the last time you watched a tree-climbing competition?
(Well, maybe last year when NOAM 2017 was held here in Wichita!)
The competition runs from 3 – 11 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Friday will start off with Aerial Rescue Training from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday’s main event will be an intense head-to-head race to the top of a tree while being surrounded by a laser light show.
Saturday’s events will be comprised of two master level challenges, a throw line challenge followed by an aerial rescue challenge.
Sunday will be the highlight event with the master’s challenge – a concluding match-up between the top five high scorers.
On Friday and Saturday, the competition will include a local disc jockey, activities for kids and food trucks.
Oak Park is at 1100 W. 11th St. N. in Wichita.
Tip: During the three-day event, 11th street will be closed to thru traffic from Oak Park Drive to Forest. Motorists are encouraged to use Oak Park Drive as a detour.