About ITRS
To bring this idea to fruition, an organization was sought to sponsor the symposium and back it financially. At the time, Steve Hudson of Pigeon Mountain Industries was a member of the NASAR Board of Directors and was instrumental in NASAR (National Association for Search And Rescue) becoming the first sponsor of NATRS (North American Technical Rescue Symposium).
In 1998, NASAR opted to discontinue its sponsorship of NATRS. Steve Hudson then contacted Jim Frank, founder of CMC Rescue, and suggested that PMI and CMC Rescue become sponsors, to which both parties agreed. The name of the symposium was changed to the International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS) and was held in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1999.
Today, ITRS is proudly co-hosted by CMC and PMI. The annual symposium is open to anyone who registers – up to 150 presenters/attendees. Those who attend represent a broad spectrum of the technical rescue community including fire, mountain, cave, urban, industrial and swiftwater rescue. Presenters share their own research, testing, and field experience for the benefit of all to consider and apply, and the symposium size provides an ideal setting for active discussion and learning.
Best Presentations
2024 Winners
Best New Research – Mike Gibbs – Aramid Rope Testing – a slow pull and drop testing examination of 9.5mm Sterling Tactical Response Rope
Most Thought Provoking – Jason Ilowite – Meat Anchors-Applying Force Measurement to Human Anchoring
Most Enjoyable – Thomas Evans – Using the Perry Scheme to Scaffold Technical Rescue Training
Best Paper – Ryan Allen – After Action Review of a Rescue on a 400 ft Ferris Wheel
Best Overall (Steve Hudson Award) – Jason Ilowite – Meat Anchors-Applying Force Measurement to Human Anchoring
2023 Winners
Best New Research – Mark Stambaugh-Getting a Grip on Mechanical Advantage Using Thinner Cordage
Most Thought Provoking – Rich Siemer for Exploring the Limits of Artificial High Directionals
Most Enjoyable – Kyle Gochenour for Heart of Gould Cave Rescue Recap
Best Paper – Rich Siemer for Exploring the Limits of Artificial High Directionals
Best Overall (Steve Hudson Award) – Justin Wheaton, Jonathan Wilson and Craig McClure –Is There a There? Small Diameter Rope Systems
2022 Winners
Most Practical – Educational Planning in Technical Rescue…Tom Evans
Best New Research – Rabbit holes and 8mm Systems What Should the Test Be? Craig McClure and Jonathan Wilson
Most Thought Provoking – Educational Planning in Technical Rescue…Tom Evans
Most Enjoyable – When Rides Break Down, 7 Years of Rescues in the Tourist Capital of the World Ryan Allen
Best Paper – Micro blasting: Another Tool on the Rescuers Tool Belt Jeff Lehman and Justin Wheaton
Best Overall (Steve Hudson Award) – Tom Evans
2018 Winners
Most Practical – Rocky Henderson and Dave Clarke
Most Thought Provoking – Tom Evans
Best New Research – Zephyr Farouk
Best Paper – Mike Forbes
Best Overall (Steve Hudson Award) – Zephyr Farouk
2017 Winners
Best New Research – Landon Wright & John Salmon
Most Thought Provoking Presentation – Russell McCullar
Best Paper Provided – Tom Evans
Steve Hudson Award (most votes overall) – Russell McCullar
2016 Winners
Best New Research – Mike Forbes and Matt Hunt
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Andrew Munoz
Most Thought-Provoking Presentation – Chris Feder
Best Paper Provided – Tom Evans and Sarah Truebe
Steve Hudson Award (most votes overall) – Kirk Mauthner
2015 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Tom Evans / Sarah Truebe – A Review of Webbing Anchor Research
Best New Research – John Morton – What if Trees Had Ratings in kN? Tree Anchor “Ratings” Based on Wind Loading
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Majid Sabetzadeh – Search and Rescue in the Middle East
Most Thought-Provoking Presentation – Richard Delaney – Rescue Tripod Instability
Best Paper Provided – Mike Forbes – The Sharp End of the Edge
Steve Hudson Award (most votes overall) – John Morton – What if Trees Had Ratings in kN? Tree Anchor “Ratings” Based on Wind Loading
2014 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Roger and Amanada Mortimer – Specific Teaching Practices to Increase Learning in SAR Training
Best New Research – DJ Walker and Russell McCullar – Slow Pull Testing of Progress Capture Devices
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Mike Gibbs – Rigging for Rescue
Most Thought-Provoking Presentation – Kirk Mauthner – Moving Beyond 10:1 SSSF
Best Paper Provided – Tom Evans – Empirical Breaking Strengths of Single Prussiks of 4 Diameters on 11mm Static Rope
Steve Hudson Award (most votes overall) – Kirk Mauthner – Moving Beyond 10:1 SSSF
2013 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Roger and Amanda Mortimer – Improving SAR Training
Best New Research – Cory Jackson – The Alpine Near-Miss Survey
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Allen Padgett and William “Buddy” Lane – A Complex Technical Rescue
Most Thought-Provoking Presentation – March Beverly and Stephen Attaway– Trackline Forces, Truth and Lore
Best Paper Provided – March Beverly and Stephen Attaway– Trackline Forces, Truth and Lore
Best Overall Presentation – March Beverly and Stephen Attaway– Trackline Forces, Truth and Lore
2012 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Jeremy Metz – Scrub Oaks – Viable Anchor Source
Best New Research – Mike Gibbs – Multi-Point Anchor Systems
Most Enjoyable Presentation – John Dill – How Long Did Amelia Last?
Most Thought-Provoking Presentation – Kevin Dennis – Compatibility: Your Connection
Best Paper Provided – Matt Jacobs – It’s 2 am
Best Overall Presentation – Mike Gibbs – Multi-Point Anchor Systems
2011 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Garin Wallace – Carabiner Rigging for Dummies
Best New Research – Michael Callahan – Extended Care Medical Technologies
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Ken Phillips – IKAR 2011 – Air Rescue Report
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Billy Masterson and Cloud – The Device That Saved Us
Best Paper Provided – Roger Mortimer – Suspension Trauma Revisited
Best Overall Presentations – Roger Mortimer – Suspension Trauma Revisited
2010 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Rick Weber- How to Determine Tree Strength & Build Tree Anchors
Best New Research – Lang, Borowski, Onorato – The Impact of Controlled Conditioning on Prusik Loop Strength
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Kelly M. Byrne – The Defenestration Sensation
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Jeremy Metz – Lessons Learned from Aurora Fire Dept. High Angle Rope Training Accident
Best Paper Provided – Shelia Huss – Liability in Search and Rescue
Best Overall Presentations – Kelly M. Byrne – The Defenestration Sensation
2009 Winners
Most Practical Presentation –Jeremy Metz Crew Resource Management
Best New Research – Richard Farnham, Tim Holden, Bill May Utility of Rescue Randy
Most Enjoyable Presentation – IKAR Team 2009 IKAR Congress
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Garin Wallace High Cycle Fatigue Tests
Best Paper Provided – Philip Spinelli & David C Pylman Drop Testing for Viability
Best Overall Presentations – Mike Gibbs Parallel Plaquettes
2008 Winners
Best Overall Presentations – Beverly and Attaway – Ice Climbing Anchor System
Most Practical Presentation –Eady –NFPA – 1006 Technical Rescuer
Best New Research -Childs – EPRI – Rope Dielectric Test
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Red Mtn. School Bus FTX – Rooker & Miller
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Smith – 3-D Rigging
Best Paper Provided – Beverly and Attaway – Ice Climbing Anchor System
2007 Winners
Most Practical Presentation – Mike Gibbs
Best New Research – Mike Gibbs
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Mike Gibbs
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Jim Moss
Best Paper Provided – Charles Shimanski
Best Overall Presentations – Mike Gibbs
2006 Winners
Best Overall Presentations – Mike Gibbs
Most Practical Presentation – Mike Gibbs
Best New Research – Mark Beverly
Most Enjoyable Presentation – Ken Laidlaw
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Tom Myer
Best Paper Provided – Mike Gibbs
2004 Winners
Best Overall Presentations – Mark Denvir
Most Practical Presentation – Mark Denvir
Best New Research – Mike Gibbs
Most Enjoyable Presentation – John McKently and Bruce Parker
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations – Tom Finch
Best Paper Provided – Eric Johnson
2003 Winners
Best Overall Presentations –
Most Practical Presentation –
Best New Research –
Most Enjoyable Presentation –
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations –
Best Paper Provided –
Not sure who got what but the checks were to: Jim Kovach, Mike Gibbs, Grant Pratley, Jeff Issac (2) and Peter Popall
2002 Winners
Best Overall Presentations –
Most Practical Presentation –
Best New Research –
Most Enjoyable Presentation –
Most Thought-Provoking Presentations –
Best Paper Provided –
Not sure who got what but the checks were to: Charley Shimanski, Art Fortini, Jeff Issac, Phillip Bishop and Steve Attaway