Competition Heats up in the 2018 Ideal National Championship

Apr 15, 2018

Things are starting to heat up across Canada, and we’re not just talking about the winter thaw. This adrenaline-fueled event puts Canadian electrician’s skills to the test in the quest for the title of National Champion.

After the first full month of competition, hundreds of electricians, apprentices and students have already put their skills to the test at the 19 events held so far. They are competing for a shot at making it to the Championship Weekend this December, where after two days of electrical skills challenges, someone will walk away with US$75,000 and the title of National Champion. (Shown in photo: Lance Giesbrecht, current leader in the professional category for Canada East.)

These events take place at distributor branches, trade schools, union halls, and contractors’ locations, where participants complete a seemingly simple wiring challenge, using Ideal tools, while racing against the clock. The challenge uses skills that electricians normally wouldn’t think twice about — pulling, stripping and terminating wire; connecting to a switch and outlet; testing for continuity — but once the clock starts ticking, the adrenaline starts flowing, and you can’t predict who will bow to the pressure, and who will walk away a winner.
At each qualifying event, Ideal awards a National Championship hoodie to the professional electrician and the apprentice or student who complete our challenge with the best times. Those with the fastest times might also find their names at the top of the leaderboard for the territories Canada East and Canada West. At the end of the qualifying round, the leaders from each territory in Canada and the U.S. will be invited to compete at the Championship Weekend in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

At the time of writing, Ideal’s Canadian leaders are:

• Canada East — Lance Giesbrecht, ELG Electric (Professional); Travis Wood, Ryman Electrical (Apprentice/Student)
• Canada West — Rankin Hofer, Acadia Colony (Professional); Bradley Waldner, Maple Grove (Apprentice/Student)

Are you ready to get involved with the 2018 IdealAL National Championship?

Competitors, visit www.IDEALnationals.com to register, find an event near you, and see our current leaderboard.

Contractors, if you are interested in hosting a qualifying event at your location, call Ideal’s Marketing Manager, Erin Hawley, at 905-683-3400 x2242 to discuss arrangements.