Puneet Varma (Editor)

Stihl Timbersports Series

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Formation
  
1985

Stihl Timbersports Series

Website
  
http://www.stihlusa.com/stihl-timbersports/

The Stihl Timbersports Series is a series of woodsman or wood chopping competitions where the athletes compete in the use of axes and saws in manners typical for lumberjacks. It was founded in 1985, and currently include six different disciplines, with both professional and collegiate divisions. The terms 'timbersports' and 'timber sports' are trademarked by Stihl Inc.

Contents

History

Stihl Timbersports began in 1985, and the earliest broadcasts were made from a field in Wisconsin, USA, using a single camera on a forklift. At this time, there was no overall Series championship. Instead, awards were given for performances in individual events on venues around the country. Stihl, however, had a vision of a series that would bring the best athletes together and let them compete in several events and thus determine who was the best overall lumberjack.

With the help of Granite State Lumberjack Shows, the Series evolved and has become a very prestigious competition. Athletes from all around the world take part in the Series with European athletes taking part in the Series since 2005.

The Series has also spawned a college series, the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Series, involving over 60 collegiate woodsman teams in the US and Canada. The winner of this series automatically receives a seed for next year's professional series.

The Series celebrated its 30th anniversary in the spring of 2015.

World Records

  • Springboard - 32.77 seconds, set by David Bolstad in 2000, with a wood diameter of 11".
  • Stock Saw - 9.445 seconds, set by Martin Komarek in 2010, with a wood diameter of 16".
  • Standing Block Chop - 12.11 seconds, set by Jason Wynyard in 2003, with a wood diameter of 12".
  • Underhand Chop - 12.28 seconds, set by David K. Bolstad in 1999, with a wood diameter of 13".
  • Single Buck - 9.395 seconds, set by Jason Wynyard in 2007, with a wood diameter of 19".
  • Hot Saw - 5.085 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2003, with a wood diameter of 19".
  • Relay - 47.22 seconds, set by Australia teammates Delosa, Meyer, Argent and Head in 2015.

    • American Records

  • Springboard - 39.96 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2004, with a wood diameter of 11".
  • Stock Saw - 9.67 seconds, set by Logan Scarborough in 2015, with a wood diameter of 16".
  • Standing Block Chop - 13.15 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2003, with a wood diameter of 12".
  • Underhand Chop - 14.04 seconds, set by Arden Cogar Jr in 2007, with a wood diameter of 13".
  • Single Buck - 10.34 seconds, set by Dave Jewett in 2015, with a wood diameter of 19".
  • Hot Saw - 5.085 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2003, with a wood diameter of 19".
  • Relay - 51.45 seconds, set by American teammates Jewett, Cogar, Lentz and Willard in 2015.

    • Hall of Fame

    Each year, starting in 2015, the Stihl Timbersports Series celebrates athletes who have made an impact in the sport by inducting them into the Timbersports Hall of Fame. Here are the inductees:

  • Carson Bosworth - 2016
  • Harry Burnsworth - 2016
  • Spike Milton - 2016
  • David Bolstad - 2015
  • Matt Bush - 2015
  • Rolin Eslinger - 2015

    • Television Coverage

    The Series is currently seen by over 20 million viewers annually on a variety of networks across 62 countries, including ABC, ESPN, Eurosport, The Outdoor Channel and more. It is recognized as the longest running show on ESPN other than SportsCenter. Tommy Sanders has served as on-air host of The Series since 1992.

    Events

    The Series currently involves six disciplines.

  • Springboard - The competitor uses two spring boards to ascend to the top of a nine-foot pole and chop a firmly attached 12" diameter block from the top of the pole. The block must be chopped from both sides.
  • STIHL Stock Saw - Competitors begin with both hands on the log. When the signal is given, the sawyers, using identical STIHL professional MS660 chain saws with a 20-inch bar and 33RSC3 chain, make two cuts through identical logs. No more than 4" of wood, which is marked by a black line, can be cut.
  • Underhand Chop - The competitor stands, feet apart, on a 12"-14" log. At the signal, he begins chopping through the log. Before chopping all the way through he must turn and complete the cut from the other side. Time ends when the log is severed completely.
  • Single Buck - Competitors make one cut through 18"-20" of white pine using a single man cross cut saw. The competitor may have a helper to wedge the log and keep the saw lubricated. Time ends when the block is clearly severed.
  • Standing Block Chop - Competitors race to chop through 12"-14" of white pine. The competitor must chop from both sides of the log and the time ends when the block is severed.
  • Hot Saw - In this event the competitor uses a customized chain saw with a modified engine. At the signal, the competitor starts the saw and makes three cuts. The competitor must cut no more than 6" from the log which is marked with a black line.

    • Timbersports Champions

    Each year across the US and World, Timbersports athletes battle to be named series champion. The Timbersports Series champions since the competition's inception are:

    Series Champions

    1985 - Mike Sullivan
    1986 - Mel Lentz
    1987 - Rolin Eslinger
    1988 - Mel Lentz
    1989 - Rolin Eslinger
    1990 - Mel Lentz
    1991 - Mel Lentz
    1992 - Mel Lentz
    1993 - Rolin Eslinger
    1994 - Matt Bush
    1995 - Mel Lentz
    1996 - Harry Burnsworth
    1997 - Jason Wynyard
    1998 - Jason Wynyard
    1999 - Jason Wynyard
    2000 - Jason Wynyard
    2001 - David Bolstad
    2002 - Jason Wynyard
    2003 - David Bolstad
    2004 - David Bolstad
    2005 - Matt Bush
    2006 - Jason Wynyard
    2007 - David Bolstad
    2008 - David Bolstad
    2009 - Jason Wynyard
    2010 - Jason Wynyard
    2011 - Jason Wynyard
    2012 - Jason Wynyard
    2013 - Brad De Losa
    2014 - Jason Wynyard
    2015 - Jason Wynyard
    2016 - Jason Wynyard

    World Relay Champions

    2010 - New Zealand
    2011 - Australia
    2012 - New Zealand
    2013 - New Zealand
    2014 - Australia
    2015 - Australia

    European Champion

    2002 - Thomas Gerber
    2003 - Martin Komarek
    2004 - Martin Komarek
    2005 - Martin Komarek
    2006 - Martin Komarek
    2007 - Dirk Braun
    2008 - Dirk Braun

    European Champion Crew

    2004 -  United Kingdom
    2005 -  France
    2006 -   Switzerland
    2007 -   Switzerland
    2008 -  Czech Republic

    References

    Stihl Timbersports Series Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA