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Mick Lee
Event: Tree topping
2000 GOG Finish: Gold Medal
Hometown: Colville, Wash.
Age: 42
Height/weight: 6'1/170
Marital status: Married
Children: Two
Nickname: Mick
Occupation: Pharmacist
Background: Lee learned to climb while working in the high-lead logging industry on the west side of the Cascade Mountains back in 1977. In 1989, Lee heard of a logger sports team at Washington State University. He joined up and supplemented his income with his winnings from logging shows. Because of his thin framing, he is better suited to climbing events that chopping, so he ended up pursuing tree-topping.
Records held: Briefly held a show record at Morton for a 21-second speed climb on 90-foot poles; holds the show record at Squamish for the 100-feet top with a record time of 1:02; had the fastest 100-foot speed climbs in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994; held the record for tree topping in 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1999 at Squamish, British Columbia
Strengths: Great endurance: "The taller the tree, the better for me."
Weaknesses: slight build and low muscle mass
Injuries: Three knee surgeries on both knees; broken right tibia that still has screws in place (sustained during a speed climb when he locked his knee and bent it the wrong way on the drop. Lee did, however, finish the last 50 feet and won the Canadian Championship with that climb); a broken left ankle and six breaks in his right hand
Sponsors: Precision Tree Work and Miling, Colville, Wash.; Riverview Orchard, Kettle Falls, Wash.
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Mick Lee tops Greg Hart for the championship.
Mick Lee felt endurance played a big role in his victory.