Sun Valley, CA (May 27, 2025) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) celebrated the 33rd annual LADWP Lineman’s Rodeo with some major wins during this important skills competition, held Saturday, May 17th at the Truesdale Training Center in Sun Valley. Six LADWP teams placed in the top 10 in the various competition events
Sponsored by LADWP and IBEW Local 18, the event featured Journeyman level electrical line workers and Apprentice line workers participating in various challenging events. The Rodeo included teams from LADWP as well as competitors from Southern California area utilities and other parts of the Western United States. This family-friendly event provided an opportunity for the public to better understand and recognize the skills that line workers use in the course of doing their jobs. It also provides an opportunity for these professionals to receive recognition in their trades, which are critical to keeping the lights on and restoring power to Los Angeles, especially during emergencies.
“I’m very proud of the work our line crews do every day to keep our city running. The Rodeo is a celebration of their skills and dedication,” said Janisse Quiñones, LADWP CEO and Chief Engineer. “Their safety practices are unparalleled, and all the communities we serve should rest assured that no matter what the situation, our crews are going to be there to perform their work in a professional and safe manner to restore power as soon as possible.”
Although the event started out with light drizzling rain, the competition still went on, mirroring the variable weather conditions of daily utility work. Teams and individual competitors took on challenging events such as Apprentice Quiz, Insulator Change, Obstacle Course, Hurtman Rescue, Crossarm Change, Jumper Change and Pole Climb. Each event varied in degrees of technical difficulty and complexity as participants assembled and connected electrical infrastructure atop power poles.
“This event allows us to truly appreciate the incredible work our members perform every day,” said Gus Corona, IBEW Local 18 Business Manager. “We are here to support them at this event and out in the field with what they need to get the job done.”
“This event highlights the amazing skills of our line workers, as well as the technical, athletic prowess they use every day to build and maintain our complex power system,” said Richard Katz, President of the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners. “The women and men of LADWP work hard to provide us with the reliable electricity services we need to keep our city safe and running.”
LADWP took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the Apprentice overall category and first place in three of the five Apprentice events. Tyler Scurria, Electric Distribution Mechanic Trainee (EDMT), took first place in the Apprentice Obstacle Course. Brian Gobeli, EDMT, took first place in the Apprentice Insulator Change. The standout for LADWP Apprentices this year was Evan Pierre, EDMT, who achieved first place in the Quiz competition and the Overall category.
In the Journeyman category, LADWP teams took first and second place in the 4.8KV Crossarm Change. The first-place team was comprised of Dustin Rose, Tom Crevier, and Jorge Jimenez. The second-place team was comprised of Jonathan Garren, Michael Kolb, and Jeffrey Halstead.
First place in the Journeyman Pole Climb event was won by the LADWP team of Salvador Flores, Jesus Lopez, and Brian Lomeli. This same team also took first place in the Journeyman 4.8KV Open Jumper event and second place in the Journeyman Hurtman Rescue event.
LADWP took 2nd and 3rd place in the Overall Journeyman category thanks to great performances by the 2nd place team of Christopher Hitt, Kyle Morgan and Michael Beach, and the 3rd place team of Dustin Rose, Tom Crevier and Jorge Jimenez.
The top finishers will go on to compete in the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Overland Park, Kansas, which will be held October 15-18, 2025.
