Lineworkers Rodeo

Lineworkers Rodeo | Colorado Springs

Lineworkers Rodeo | Colorado Springs

In what is estimated to be the largest national event of its kind, the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Lineworkers Rodeo is coming to Colorado Springs on Saturday, March 30. The event is estimated to bring in more than $1 million to the local economy, with hundreds of competitors and spectators arriving later this week from around the United States.

Competition events are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a large parking lot near two of Colorado Springs’ most unique and celebrated parks — Rock Ledge Ranch and Garden of the Gods. Please see attached map for event locations/details.

While the event is free and open to the public, no event parking will be permitted at Rock Ledge Ranch, Garden of the Gods, 30th Street or Chambers Drive. All spectators must park at 2424 Garden of the Gods Road. Free shuttles will bring spectators to the event location throughout the day.

More than 78 lineworker teams and 125 lineworker apprentices will participate in various events throughout the day. Events run the gamut from the popular “hurtman rescue” to the more technical-sounding endeavors such as the ‘12kv Pole Transfer”.

Competitors are rated based on time and number of technical and safety errors committed, among other factors.

Colorado Springs Utilities will be represented at the event by five, 3-person journeyman teams and seven apprentices.

A lineworkers job requires a commitment to continuous learning, safety and to be adaptable to an ever-changing industry. An event like the Rodeo provides our crews with opportunities to learn about the latest tools and techniques from others in the profession.

Springs Utilities’ excellent power quality and reliability is a testament to our dedicated lineworkers. Our customers enjoy power that is on 99.99 percent of the time and we are one of the top utilities in the nation when it comes to restoring power during an outage.

Planning for the event has involved the temporary installation of 115 power poles near 30th Street. Springs Utilities’ lineworkers installed the poles in less than three weeks, and will remove them within two weeks after the event (weather permitting).

The western red cedar poles – 40 feet in length and buried six feet beneath the surface — were sourced from Idaho and Eastern British Columbia. After the event, many of the poles will be placed in Springs Utilities’ inventory for future use throughout the electric service territory.

To support the competition and help offset event costs, more than 100 Springs Utilities employee volunteers will donate their own time on March 30. Such community support is indicative of employee volunteerism year-round. In 2018, 891 Springs Utilities employees (and family) volunteered for 115 community projects – donating 4,549 hours of their time on weekends and after hours.

For more information about the Rodeo and the APPA, please visit: publicpower.org/rodeo. Additionally, people can follow the event on social media with the hashtags #publicpower and #LineworkersRodeo; and #LineLife on Instagram.

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