IREA linemen do well at rodeo

Seven of IREA’s most skilled linemen participated in late July’s 2018 Mile High Lineman’s Rodeo at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Linemen from electric utilities throughout Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Utah participated in the rodeo’s events, which included hurt-man rescue, pole climb and two “mystery” events, with competition divided into Journeyman Lineman teams and Apprentice Linemen individuals.

IREA’s Journeyman Lineman team of Coe Guthrie, Scott Van Gieson and Todd Waymire finished second among 33 teams in the hurt-man rescue and third in pole climb.

IREA’s apprentice linemen – Levi Collison, Zach Reynolds, Josh Robertson and Bryce Wasson – all had overall scores within the top third of the field of 145.

Wasson finished seventh and Robertson 10th in the pole climb competition.

Wasson finished second and Reynolds 12th in hurt-man rescue. In the first of the two mystery events, which tasked participants with replacing wedge clamps, Collison finished first and Robertson 12th. Wasson finished second in the other mystery event, which required knot-tying, armor rod- and hand tie-installing, and transformer hoisting.

Congratulations to IREA’s competitors and all other linemen who participated in this year’s rodeo!