General

‘It makes you a better lineman’

OPPD line technicians show off their skills at the International Lineman’s Rodeo

The rodeo called, and OPPD responded.

In the span of just a few hours, line technicians repaired more than a dozen transformers damaged by “squirrels,” climbed poles as fast as they could with eggs in their mouths and rescued a lot of mannequin dummies hanging from power poles.

OPPD’s line technician rodeo team powered through a lot of simulated challenges at the International Lineman’s Rodeo. The rodeo – an annual competition in Bonner Springs, Kansas – celebrates line-working skills.

“We had a very good group of guys, and they all showed up to compete,” said Aaron Prohaska, an OPPD line technician who coordinated and planned the trip. “They represented OPPD very well.”

OPPD fared well in several categories. In the Municipal Utility Division, which includes OPPD, apprentices Rio Woodyard, Ben Dolezal and Gil Zarazua came in sixth, ninth and 12^th places respectively out of 73 competitors.

Woodyard came in 30^th overall out of 380 apprentice line technicians from across the nation, while Dolezal finished in 40^th place and Zarazua ranked 49^th. OPPD’s journeyman team and several other apprentices logged perfect scores in different individual events, with no point deductions.

The rodeo gives line technicians from around the country the chance to test themselves, network and learn about new tools and developments in their trade.

‘A big stage’

Many line technicians are naturally competitive, and the rodeo lets them show their skills, said Tony Liston, a journeyman line technician who served as a chief judge in the rodeo.

“It’s a big stage and it’s fun,” Liston said. “It gives them a reason to get out, see what other companies are doing and talk to other linemen. You can see things that are new in the trade.”

The competition emphasizes safety, precision, accuracy and, to a lesser extent, speed. Competitors get deductions for not following directions, safety violations and making technical mistakes.

The event allows line technicians to test themselves in a fairly low-stakes environment, with no electrified lines and no customers eager to have their power restored, Liston said. Judges scrutinize every event with stop watches and clipboards, watching for the smallest of errors.

“You want to run smooth and clean,” he said. “It doesn’t necessarily pay to be the fastest if you’re dropping stuff.”

Solo challenges and teamwork

OPPD sent 13 apprentices and three journeymen to compete. The utility has hired more apprentices in recent years to serve growing demand for electricity and maintain reliable service for customers.

Unlike apprentices, who compete in solo events, journeymen work in teams of three. In the “hurt man rescue,” which simulates the rescue of an injured person stuck on the pole, two journeymen climb up to save the mannequin while one assists from the ground.

In another competition, apprentices speed-climb poles with an egg in their mouth. Those who climb smoothly return to the ground with the egg unscathed. Those who don’t get points deducted, along with a mouthful of broken eggshell and raw yolk.

The rodeo lets line technicians get to know one another, especially those who work in different parts of OPPD’s service territory.

“It’s a good team-building opportunity,” Liston said.

A chance to learn

The rodeo can be a good learning opportunity, Zarazua said. While waiting in line for his turn to compete, he said he watches others and sometimes notices little tricks that can help him.

“When you’ve got guys coming in from all over the country, you’re bound to see new stuff,” he said.

Each competition carries lessons that line technicians can take back to their regular work, he said.

“If you don’t follow the rules, you get deductions,” Zarazua said. “The focus is on how smooth you work and how well you can follow the directions. That’s obviously something that translates to our real work: doing the right thing, working smoothly, things like that.”

Woodyard said he plans to compete in future rodeos, and the prospect of doing even better next year motivates him to keep learning on the job and study his apprentice textbooks even harder.

“I think it makes you a better lineman,” he said. “It’s just fun to compete, and there’s a lot of camaraderie.”

Support from OPPD

Some challenge events aren’t revealed to competitors until the morning of the rodeo. In one event – fixing a transformer damaged by a fake, stuffed-toy “squirrel” – Woodyard said he relied on the specialized skills he learned while shadowing OPPD’s more experienced troubleshooters.

“It’s a challenge,” he said. “You don’t know what to expect. You just hope that the skills you’ve gained will be enough to carry you through the event.”

OPPD worked hard to ensure rodeo participants had everything necessary to prepare and compete, Woodyard said, especially Prohaska, who handled logistics for the group.

“He absolutely made sure we had everything we needed,” Woodyard said.

The event also draws line workers’ families and friends, who get a firsthand glimpse of what it takes to do the job day-to-day.

“This is a stage for our line workers to show their talent to their loved ones, coworkers, and many others around the world,” said Aaron Mercer, manager of OPPD’s Papillion Service Center and a former line technician. “I used to compete in this event quite often when I was a line tech. Now I’m like a proud parent every time I attend this event. The rodeo is always something to look forward to every year.”

The OPPD line technicians who participated were Seth Marek, Richie Terrian and Derek Moore on the journeyman team, along with apprentices Woodyard, Zarazua, Dolezal, A.J. Walter, Andrew Hansen, Nick Wolf, Tyler Jensen, Beau Malcom, Matt Kampschneider, Shayel Menges, Noah Rash, Gage Champion and Erik Woodyard.

OPPD Line Techncians Liston, Austin Lopez, Ben Kuhr, Chad Metschke, Sam Brester and Construction Inspector Gary Martin served as judges. Prohaska and Field Supervisor Ernie Ross helped coordinate the event.