Canada is at the top of the heavy equipment operator world after Alberta's Jaus Neigum captured the championship crown in Caterpillar's Global Operator Challenge at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020.
Neigum, owner of Industrial Backhoes in Medicine Hat, AB, was one of nine competitors from around the world who faced off in Cat's Operator Stadium at CONEXPO's Festival Grounds in Las Vegas. The finalists competed in three events: a wheel loader load and carry competition, some mini-excavator golf and a precision trench dig using a Cat excavator fitted with Grade 2D technology.
Neigum scored the top spot in the load and carry – in fact, he was the first operator onto the dirt to start the day and set the bar for his opponents, who found his time too tough to beat. He also had the best time in the trenching, and had the lowest time on all three events to take the win in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
More than 10,000 entrants competed to be part of the Global Operator Challenge. Thanks to his victory, Neigum will head home to Alberta with bragging rights as the best operator in the world.
