AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Don't look down -- that's what most of us would be thinking if we were stranded 35 feet in the air.
But for these fearless electric linemen, it's just another day on the job.
"You know everybody, when you first start climbing is kind of hard. Hard to get used to, scared of heights. But you get used to it", says one journeyman, Shane Woodard.
Thursday, a local group of linemen were scaling practice poles in preparation for the weekend's Lineman Rodeo. But, probably not the kind of rodeo you're used to attending.
"It's very much like when you think of a ranch rodeo, those cowboys are coming in and show-casing their skills and that's what these guys do. There's no horses or bulls or anything involved in this, they're going to be climbing poles. And they're going to be doing safety exercises, various things like that, showing skills with their hands", says spokesman for Xcel Energy, Wes Reeves.
Saturday, these linemen will compete in various events, showing off their skills despite the danger.
"You have a speed climb event, a hurt man rescue and two mystery events", says Woodard.
"Climbing 110 feet in the air, now we've got steel poles that go 140-145 feet, so yeah, it's dangerous, you're not in an office all day", adds another competing journeyman, Joe Habiger.
Even though we don't always see them, it's the skills they demonstrate every day that keep our days running smoothly.
"We take for granted that our lights are going to be on. We're going to flip the switch and they're going to be there and when those times happen when they're not, these guys are sort of the heroes, they come to the rescue", says Reeves.
"It makes it completely worth it. Helping everybody throughout the day, knowing that if we weren't out here doing this job you wouldn't have power", continues Woodard.
So whether they're on the job or preparing for competition -- the sky is the limit.
This is the 20th year for the Lineman Rodeo. It will be held at Xcel Energy's Amarillo Technical Center on East Interstate 40. It will start at 8 o'clock Saturday morning and will run past lunch.
It's open to the public and there will be food and drinks available, and even games for kids.
