Santa Barbara, CA, March 11, 2022 – CMC™ is excited to host its second GRIMP™ North America March 24-26, 2022. GRIMP North America is an international rescue skills challenge that will bring together 12 professional teams from around the world to compete in complex rope rescue and confined space rescue scenarios. The competition is designed to foster learning and collaboration within the global rescue community, as teams work together to sharpen their skills and response capabilities.
GRIMP North America will take place aboard the Battleship IOWA, an award-winning Los Angeles museum exhibit and interactive tour located on the LA Waterfront in San Pedro, California. Spectators are welcome to attend the action-packed event to enjoy views of the above-deck challenges, product demonstrations and tours of the battleship itself.
The 12 teams invited to participate hail from the United States, Canada, Belgium, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Netherlands, Malaysia, and Germany, and possess an extensive and diverse range of experience in rope rescue, rope access and confined space rescue. For many of the participants, this will be a first competition, while others are seasoned competitors in similar events like Belgium’s annual Grimp Day. Event sponsors include CAMP Safety, Courant, KONG USA, Never Let Go (NLG), Rock Exotica, Society of Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT), Sterling, STREP, Teufelberger, TEXORA, and Traverse Rescue.
The Battleship IOWA is located at 250 South Harbor Boulevard, San Pedro, CA, 90731, at the Los Angeles Waterfront. For complete details on GRIMP North America visit the CMC website at https://cmcpro.com/grimp-na/.
About CMC
Since 1978, CMC has been dedicated to making reliable equipment and providing the best training for professionals working in the most demanding, high-risk environments in the rescue and work-at-height industries. As co-founders of the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT), the International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS), and the International Technical Rescue Association (ITRA), CMC remains committed to innovating across all work-at-height industries. An employee-owned company, CMC is an ISO-9001 certified manufacturing facility. For more information, visit www.cmcpro.com.
CMC™ GRIMP North America FAQ
What is it?
The second GRIMP North America is an international skills challenge that brings together rescue professionals from around the world. Modeled after the popular Grimpday in Namur, Belgium, GRIMP North America creates an educational environment where teams can learn from each other as they solve a series of technical rescue scenarios in friendly competition. Their performance is evaluated within an established set of rules, circumstances, and time. All scenarios involve rescuing a live victim who must be properly packaged and transported.
Who is involved?
This is a gathering of 12 professional rescue teams from around the world who are ready to put their skills to the test. GRIMP North America is overseen by CMC School Instructors and supported by CMC and the event sponsors. Spectators are encouraged to come see the action.
Why put it on?
GRIMP North America facilitates the open exchange of ideas and techniques with the ultimate goal of making rescues safer worldwide. This is as close to performing an actual rescue as the teams will get in a training environment. The realism of the scenarios, along with the pressure of executing complex maneuvers in limited time, creates a learning experience like no other.
When and where?
March 24-26, 2022
Battleship IOWA, 250 S. Harbor Boulevard, San Pedro, CA, 90731
What can spectators expect?
A rare and up-close opportunity to watch highly skilled rescuers conduct difficult technical rescues under stressful, realistic conditions.
How many teams applied?
Over thirty teams from around the world applied to participate in GRIMP North America.
What was the application process?
Rescue teams applied online, via CMC’s website. Teams were vetted for experience and technical expertise.
What was the selection process?
From the list of qualified teams, 12 were selected at random and announced in October 2021.
What kinds of challenges will the teams participate in?
Each team is faced with six scenarios that test their skills in rope rescue and rope access (ascending/descending). Two scenarios are held above deck and four below deck. The ship’s features are incorporated into each challenge to create unique, unforgettable settings for high-angle and confined space rescue. To support team education, techniques and methods are reviewed before and after each scenario. GRIMP North America 2022 2
Each rescue scenario will be:
● Appropriately challenging
● Realistic but unique/unusual
● Developed to require efficient execution, yet allow for creative problem-solving within a set time frame (90 minutes/challenge)
How are teams being judged?
Each scenario will have a scorecard. Teams will garner points on a number of elements of their techniques as well as the time it takes to complete each scenario.
There are clear objectives for each course, judged on a combination of:
● Planning/Thought process
● Safety
● Efficiency/Quality
● Speed
● Victim Comfort
How will teams be awarded?
Small award tokens will be presented to the top three scoring teams. Additionally, the top 3 can enjoy the status of being regarded as an elite rescue team among the international rescue community long after the competition is over.
What does GRIMP mean?
GRIMP stands for “Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention en Milieux Périlleux”. This roughly translates into English as “Dangerous environment search and intervention team”.
History of Grimpday www.grimpday.com – Grimpday is an international challenge that brings together search and rescue teams from around the world (firefighters, civil defense, military, and police). The event takes place in Namur, Belgium, where teams compete against each other through exercises involving the unique elements related to search and rescue in hazardous environments. Members of Namur’s regional fire department created this event in 2006.
The general opinion is that Grimpday has become a reference in the world of rope rescue, and the forefront of modern techniques. The closing awards ceremony is more popular than ever and the event organizers are already busy coming up with new ideas for the next edition.
Is the public welcome to attend the event? GRIMP North America 2022 3
Full access, which includes access to the evening social events is not available; however, spectators are welcome to attend the event during the day at no cost by registering at the
CMC/GRIMP Registration table on the day of the event and receive a GRIMP NA wristband. Spectators are welcome to watch the scenarios that are open to the public. A museum pass is required to board the ship in order to observe the scenarios and visitors will receive a discount on admission by showing their GRIMP NA wristband. Full event details can be found at cmcpro.com/grimp-na/
Are children of all ages permitted?
Children of all ages are permitted on the ship; however, parents and guardians must supervise children at all times.
Are dogs permitted?
Please contact the Battleship Iowa Museum for information.
The event is kind of a practice/learning experience for the professionals, but what is the appeal for the audience? Is it kind of like watching a stunt show?
Audiences will have the opportunity to watch live rescue situations unfold before their eyes on the West Coast’s only battleship that is open to the public.
The Battleship Iowa’s unique features allow for complex settings, adding an additional technical challenge to each scenario. Rescuers must draw on both their skills and resourcefulness in approaching each challenge in order to negotiate the ship’s unique environment.
What else should I know about this event? What makes it unique or special or fun?
For spectators, this is a rare and up-close opportunity to watch highly skilled rescuers conduct difficult technical operations under stressful, realistic conditions. It is the only event of its kind in North America and the only event of its kind that takes place on an historic Battleship.
